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Was the RAF Tornado any good?
Yes, the Tornado F.Mk 3 was effective at the end of its career. But all of the good systems that were integrated onto the F.Mk 3 would have been more effective on an aircraft of higher performance. Again, this is case of Tornado succeeding in spite, not because, of its design.
Are any Panavia Tornados still flying?
Although the type is still in service with the German Air Force, Italian Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force, it is likely that its mission will not continue beyond 2030. However, the three remaining air arms that operate the platform are still set to use the Tornado in combat operations for a few years to come.
What aircraft did the Tornado replace?
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
Originally Tornados equipped five fighter-bomber wings (Geschwader), with one tactical conversion unit and four front line wings, replacing the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter.
| Panavia Tornado | ||
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.2 clean | Mach 1.8 with stores |
| Cruising speed | 921 mph | 1,482 km/h |
| Range | See Notes |
What happens if a tornado forms over water?
Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water, or move from land to water. This type of waterspout is generally not associated with thunderstorms. While tornadic waterspouts develop downward in a thunderstorm, a fair weather waterspout develops on the surface of the water and works its way upward.
Why is the tornado called Tonka?
Nicknamed the “Tonka”, the aircraft’s first use in live operations was during the Gulf War in 1991, when 60 Tornado GR1s were deployed from bases in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
What happened to RAF Tornados?
After almost 40 years serving the UK on military operations across the world, iconic RAF Tornado jets have returned home for the last time. The Tornado will be officially retired from service at the end of March and will only be used for training purposes over the UK in the intervening period.
What is the fastest fighter jet at sea level?
The Top 13 Fastest Fighter Jets in The World
- Chengdu J-10 (1,687 mph)
- Mikoyan MiG-25 Foxbat (1,900 mph)
- Mikoyan MIG-31 Foxhound (1,900 mph)
- Fastest Jet Aircraft.
- Mikoyan Ye-152 (1,883 mph)
- North American XB-70 Valkyrie (2,050 mph)
- The Lockheed YF-12 (2,275 mph)
- Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (2,500 mph)
How does the F15E compare to the F-3 tornado?
An F.3 close in to a F15 would be in a world of hurt, now that ASRAAM is integrated to Tornado the F15’s advantage would be greatly reduced as long as the F15 was using earlier Mike model sidewinder. The F15E is arguably a more sophisticated strike platform then the GR1 with a good bombload and range with refueling.
What is the Tornado air defense variant?
The Tornado Air Defense Variant was selected for development from the original Tornado IDS GR1 attack aircraft in the late 1970s as the RAF’s dedicated fighter. The Tornado ADV has an 80\% commonality with the Tornado IDS attack aircraft.
Why was the Tornado ADV so special?
The Tornado ADV was designed to serve in the role of an interceptor against the threat of Soviet bombers, rather than as an air superiority fighter for engaging in prolonged air combat manoeuvering with various types of enemy fighters.
When did the Panavia Tornado air defence variant first fly?
The Panavia Tornado Air Defence Variant ( ADV) was a long-range, twin-engine interceptor version of the swing-wing Panavia Tornado. The aircraft’s first flight was on 27 October 1979, and it entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1986.