[ZS-VAN]

Guys, Thunder City have 4 airworthy Lightnings. I've posted shots of the 4 ship in flight under airshows. AAD, check it out. These birds are awesome, they'll run down the runway on full afterburner and then pull straight up to the vertical as they leave the CTI, awesome, a sight to behold!

At the previous 2 airshows Thunder City broke 2 South African time to height records in them. On the 2nd one at Ysterplaat AFB a Brit who won an auction in the UK for a ride during the record attempt got a little more than he bargained for when the chute failed to deploy properly and they had to bolter and scamble for Cape Town International on fumes! Great flying though. He REALLY enjoyed the ride!!!

I have AA32306 in polished metal finish, very nice model. Check out Tricatus's site. They were purely interceptors so probably more comparable to the Dart and Dagger.

[ZS-VAN]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

I may be reaching here, but the Lightning (And to a slightly lesser degree the Hunter) are the quintesential British jets.

There are not that many modern front line interceptors that the Brits have produced. (I could be wrong, but the Tornado has been primarily a fighter-bomber like the F-105 and not an interceptor like the F-15 or F-16.) When the Lightning appeared, it qualified. It was certainly the fastest jet around at the time. (Or damn near it.)

Then again, I'm from the U.S. so what the Hell do I know?

The Tornado was produced in collaboration with Italy and West Germany. Two versions were available; the IDS / GR 1 - 4 (RAF) multi-role versions, and the F3 interceptors used by the RAF. I'm not sure who else used the F3. It differed from the IDS in having a slimmer, sharper nose profile, 1 27mm canon as opposed to 2 30mm canon and different radar and avionics suite.

[ZS-VAN]

For those looking for a Lightning try planecrazy.biz Chris Lem had these specially commissioned, last year I think.

[DCRanger]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

For those looking for a Lightning try planecrazy.biz Chris Lem had these specially commissioned, last year I think.

And IMPO it is one of the best

[von hitchofen]

Originally Posted by jim

I envy you. it must have been awesome

my primary school was fighter jet heaven
Lightnings, Tornados, Harriers, Cranberries, Tin Triangles, Buccaneers, Phantoms and Jags [before they painted em dull grey all over]
on a fairly regular basis and Mirages, F15s, F16, F5s and A10s if there was an exercise on!

I'm still on the flight path for Donna Nook bombing range so my roof tiles are occasionally shaken by Strike Eagles!

jeez that one last month was low!

[ssc41]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

The Tornado was produced in collaboration with Italy and West Germany. Two versions were available; the IDS / GR 1 - 4 (RAF) multi-role versions, and the F3 interceptors used by the RAF. I'm not sure who else used the F3. It differed from the IDS in having a slimmer, sharper nose profile, 1 27mm canon as opposed to 2 30mm canon and different radar and avionics suite.

Afraid the GR1/4 had two Mauser 27mm not 30mm. The Mauser was the standard cannon on most if not all Tornados.
The F3 also had longer tail pipes and a revised fuel system to get more thrust from the RB199 engines.
The Royal Saudi Air Force is only other air force to use tornadoes.

[ZS-VAN]

Appreciate the correction ssc41. I suspected that the Saudis operated the Tornado but don't know which version/s.

[ssc41]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

Appreciate the correction ssc41. I suspected that the Saudis operated the Tornado but don't know which version/s.

They have both GR4 and F3. I don't think the Italians or Germans where too impressed with the performance of the concrete that was put into the nose of the early F3s. Although I did hear a rumour that the concrete outperformed the first radar installations that when in them.

[DCRanger]

The Italians have operated the F3. I saw one at Fairford a while back. Don't know if they are stil in service.

Just found this pic of an Italian F3 in a tiger suit.

http://members.tripod.com/MIX1976/PH...IORNATA/f3.jpg

[timbo]

The Italians leased surplus RAF F3's to plug the gap between the F104 and the Typhoon.

They were returned a while back and replace by surplus USAF F16's.