Panavia Tornado F2 ZD936 (AP) Interceptor Fighter Twin Engined Jet. GAVM 2042-85
The Tornado F2 (sometimes written as ) was the initial version of the Tornado ADV in Royal Air Force service, with 18 being built. It first flew on 5 March 1984 and was powered by the same Mk 103 engines used by the IDS Tornado, capable of four wing sweep settings, and fitted to carry only two underwing Sidewinder missiles. Serious problems were discovered with the Foxhunter radar, which meant that the aircraft were delivered with concrete and lead ballast installed in the nose as an interim measure until they could be fitted with the radar sets. The ballast was nicknamed Blue Circle, which was a play on the Rainbow Codes nomenclature, and a British brand of cement called Blue Circle. A total of 165 Tornado ADVs were ordered by Britain, the majority being the Tornado F3. 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 agile dogfights with various types of enemy fighters. In order to perform its anti-bomber primary mission, it was equipped with long range beyond visual range missiles such as the Skyflash, and later the AMRAAM; the aircraft also had the ability to stay aloft for long periods of time and remain over the North Sea and Northern Atlantic in order to maintain its airborne patrol. The Ministry of Defense acknowledged the Tornado ADV was not significantly superior as an aircraft to the Phantoms it had replaced in the air-defense role, however the capability of its weapon systems was a dramatic improvement; in particular the radar and onboard computer facilities. Compared with the Phantom, the ADV has greater acceleration, twice the range and loiter time, and is more capable of operating from short 'austere' air strips.
Size: 5818px × 4229px
Location: RAF Leuchars, Fife. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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