not long left till it's a classic!

ukmil · Post by **ukmil** » 06 Aug 2006, 12:25

the F3

available at UKMIL

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 06 Aug 2006, 13:20

Seems bizarre, the Tornado ADV only entered service in what about 1986/7 for the F.2 variant and 1989 for the F.3? The IDS entered service about 5/6 years earlier and yet it will continue until 2017? :think:

Btw, nice flames :tab:

ukmil · Post by **ukmil** » 06 Aug 2006, 13:57

but the GR had a mid life update,from Gr1 to GR4 which grants extra life, but the F3 has not had the update

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 06 Aug 2006, 13:58

What do you think of the Tornado as a piece of kit?

ukmil · Post by **ukmil** » 06 Aug 2006, 14:04

i have spent 11 years on it so i am biased, but i think they are great. give me the GR over the F3 anyday

ukmil · Post by **ukmil** » 06 Aug 2006, 14:56

anothe anniversary colour

43 sqn

Hot_Charlie · Post by **Hot_Charlie** » 06 Aug 2006, 15:36

ukmil wrote:i have spent 11 years on it so i am biased, but i think they are great. give me the GR over the F3 anyday

I'd agree - but then again the GR should be the "better" aircraft as it does exactly what the airframe was originally designed to do.

Having said that, the F3 has done a more than decent job as an AD aircraft... and looks nicer too. Shame about it's legendary servicability...

andy · Post by **andy** » 06 Aug 2006, 16:03

TobyV wrote:kit?

You spelt it wrong, Toby.
Last two letters are right, tho'!!!

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 06 Aug 2006, 17:48

Well it occured to me the other day - and I should point out I'm not really a military man - how many British designed aircraft that we rave about have actually proved their worth in combat?

The Lightning (in UK service, dont know about Saudi or Kuwaiti) though fast had a pathetic range and carried two IR guided missiles (good ones admitedly) and later ones had a cannon and in its service life claimed one Harrier (from which the pilot had already decided to eject due to technical difficulties). Obviously the Canberra has put in good (but not well known) service as a recce aircraft but presumably its only major conflict in its original role was Suez? Perhaps Warton's best ever production was the one that was never even given the chance to have a go

The Vulcan didnt really acheive an awful lot, though we can be thankful that it was never called upon for its originally intended task. During the Falklands it didnt do an awful lot other than the psychological effect we debated the other day.

The Buccaneer probably put on its best show in the Gulf War. For me though, the consistantly most useful fighters seem to have emerged from Kingston-upon-Thames. During WWII, the Hurricance shot down more Germans than the Spitfire and then there were the Typhoon, Tempest and Sea Fury that followed (the latter even claimed a MiG 15 in Korea I believe!) and finally the Harrier proved itself worthwhile in the Falklands.

So I think there are some un[der]sung heroes and some oversung ones. I'm just curious as to how successful the Tornado has been as opinions of it seem to vary a lot. Has the F.3 ever actually shot anything down in combat?

ukmil · Post by **ukmil** » 06 Aug 2006, 17:58

the GR is no doubt, worthy of any acoloade, and proves it's worth in any battle it has been emplyed. the F3 has NEVER shot in anger yet, and contrary to it's 'F' tag, it was never bought as a fighter, but more as an interceptor. the weapons systems on the F3, inc the radar, when working :think: are actually hands down better than many others, but it is plagued by servicability problems. However, it is a go deterent, as many forces know, as a stand off platform, it can kill at well over 100 miles. a dog fighter, it is not.