RAF Strike Command 1968-2007: Aircraft, Men and Action by Kev Darling

Author:Kev Darling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS027140: HISTORY / Military / Aviation
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9781783378548
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2012-12-18T16:00:00+00:00

The first prototype would fly in August 1974 while the final pre-production machine would undertake its maiden flight in March 1979. Two months later the Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE), to be based at Cottesmore, was authorized with the first aircraft, ZA320, which was delivered in July 1980. The TTTE began its first conversion course in January 1981. As the Tornado was a highly advanced aircraft it became obvious early in the programme that a dedicated weapons conversion unit was required. This came on line in June 1981 based at Honington with the reserve unit number of No. 45 Squadron being applied in 1984.

While the strike version of the Tornado was settled the RAF was on the hunt for a long-range interceptor to replace the remaining Lightnings and the Phantoms then in use. The answer was to develop the Tornado as the Air Defence Variant. The primary visible change was the extension of the forward fuselage to house extra fuel, while underneath troughs were created to house four Skyflash missiles. The extended radome was home to the Marconi/Ferranti AI.24 Foxhunter, although in the early days serious problems with this system meant that the initial aircraft were fitted with ballast weights known within the service as the Blue Circle radar unit. The two ADV prototypes both flew in 1980 and were used for initial development trials. Even as the RAF was reequipping with its numerous new aircraft events would unfold in the South Atlantic that would stretch the service to its limits and accelerate the replacement of other types earlier than at first planned.

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