Typhoon, why can't I get enthusiastic?

[tankbuster81]

Am i the only person who simply cannot get enthused by the Typhoon,especially as a display aircraft?? To me its almost a right lets nip to the loo display item.Is it the shape,the routine,i really can't put my finger on it,but it is so bland in my eyes.Maybe I've been spoilt over the years with Phantoms,lightnings,F111's etc etc.And yet i adore the F16 displays,particularly the Belgians,as there seems to be an element of pizaz about them,from the routine to the colour scheme.I'm aware the Typhoon is still going through development stages,but to me it's just plain boring.The Tornado role demo excites me much more.Does anyone else see the aircraft in this way????

[jules48]

I live near Northolt and as you know they were based here for a couple of weeks for Operation Guardian and to see them on full afterburner taking off half way down the runway was actually more exciting than any display I have seen.It is as if the fly by wire technology limits its performance and stops it doing certain manouvres

[MarkL]

I can't agree with posts and comments like this. Its a warplane, end of. I feel lucky we still get to see any displays from our Armed Forces and enjoy them all. I DO understand what you are saying, but I think there is a bigger picture here.

Regards,
Mark

[blackcat]

Saw the Typhoon Display at Southend yesterday.
Fantastic and far better then previous years.
Well done.Scott and team.
Mark.

[tankbuster81]

It's quite simply MY personal opinion.

[LN Strike Eagle]

Same. The novelty of being new has worn off and I just find it to be a rather soulless machine. Don't like any of the latest generation of fighters tbh.

[tankbuster81]

"Soul less" That's basically what i was trying to say.

[DeanW]

I do know what you mean. As far as looks go the aircraft doesn't seem to have a whole lot of character - unlike aircraft such as the Phantom and the Jag.
But display wise I still find it exciting, particularly at smaller shows such as Southend yesterday when the whole crowd stop to watch it.

[Abingdonman]

I disagree about the Typhoons looks,for me its a great looking aircraft,probably as capable as anything else around...and I'm sure there will be a few dynamic displays to come .......

[Rory76]

Have to disagree myself, think its a wonderful aircraft and can't wait to actually get to see it do a display somewhere.

Having said that I can see what you mean as I felt the same about the Tornado F.3 and, to a degree, the Phantom.

Each to their own I guess!

[03brad]

To be honest I agree , I always feel the RAF don't like the typhoon pilot throwing there latest toy around , to me it was always seemed like they don't show what the aircraft actually capable off , for example RIAT 2011 , Rafale vs. typhoon , Rafale had a lot more rolls more tight turns more climbs which also shows with any other demo team like the f16s , but as typhoon makes a lot of noise still a joy to watch but can't help thinking it can do a lot more then the pilots showing

[RoverDriver]

.

[tankbuster81]

The dull grey dosent help matters,and probably the fact that similar shaped generations of aircraft such as the rafale and gripen have been around far longer.And the weirder thing is i enjoy both of them???????????

[Abingdonman]

Strange isnt it....some like to see the aircraft in carnival/psychodelic colours.....I always preferred to see the forces aircraft in their actual 'boring' combat colours ...

[Flyforfun]

I think the display has got better but there is or was too much showing how slow it will go, i want to see a jet going fast and phantoms, jaguar etc thats all they could do !
F16 is great display aircraft.

[DanH]

I agree about the colour schemes and I would love to see the display jet painted up nicely but that isn't the main issue for me. We know the Typhoon to be a highly manoeuvrable aircraft, but when it is displayed by the RAF I've always had the impression that we are only shown a very low percentage of what it is actually capable of, and am then left feeling somewhat underwhelmed. The Belgian F16 over the last few years has been the prime example of this. Mitch Beulen managed to pull so much performance out of that jet in a dynamic and exciting display that showed off the F16 and what it is capable of very well. If the Typhoon was shown closer to its full potential the display would be a lot more exciting.

Also I'd like to express my views on the point that a lot of people are making about how the Typhoon isn't there for our enjoyment as a display item. I agree with this, but they do display it all the same, and one of the reasons they do this is for recruitment. I can't help but think that a potential future pilot is more likely to want to join the RAF after seeing a display that is than a display that is

[aviodromefriend]

Am i the only person who simply cannot get enthused by the Typhoon,especially as a display aircraft??

Have you ever seen displays by the other countries operating the Typhoon, or are you only talking about the RAF? I can understand these feelings about British displays, but not about the Austrians or Italians.

[StevenH]

I've got nothing against the Typhoon as an aircraft, and the colour scheme an aircraft is painted in is irrelevant to me when judging it (to do so is frivolous in my view, it's a warplane not a fun fair attraction). However, what I have got something against is the manner in which the RAF display it. I remember seeing the Typhoon displayed by an Italian test pilot (?) at RIAT 2003 and, whilst admittedly being extremely distant, he showcased the aircraft in a far more dynamic way, particularly in regards to its roll rate. For the most part the RAF routines seem to avoid this, instead focusing on presenting something which, at times, almost appear to be little more than an F3 display with a tighter turning circle and a couple of slow speed passes (except the takeoff of course, which is always a winner). Now, I'm not being critical of the pilots, as they fly the routine impeccably, but are the RAF placing restrictions on what their pilots can do? As already highlighted in this thread, in comparision to the Rafale displays we've seen at RIAT the Typhoon comes out second every time, with the French pilot throwing his aircraft about with far more aplomb.

[PD31]

Now, I'm not being critical of the pilots, as they fly the routine impeccably, but are the RAF placing restrictions on what their pilots can do?

+1

Its always seemed to me that other nations have displayed similar types more effectively than the RAF. The Germans always seemed to chuck the Tornado around more then the RAF did; similarly, the most recent Italian Typhoon display is streets ahead of our Typhoon (haven't seen this year's RAF routine yet to comment). I do remember a comment from Roger Hoefling (sp?) a few years ago at a show where he said it was the norm for Belgian F-16s to be 'worked much harder' then their Dutch colleagues...as if it was an official policy from the BAF. Certainly the last few years have borne that out.

This has been posted before but certainly worth another watch.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybP0prTa ... plpp_video

[tankbuster81]

The thread is predominantly aimed at the RAF.

[Trevsy]

Eurofighter has always been a case of the "emperors new clothes" we are always told just how unbelievably manoeuvrable it is, Britain's 'new' fighter. However in terms of all out jaw dropping manoeuvrability  what we see is not anymore impressive than the likes of countless Viper and Hornet displays that we have seen over the last 20 years. 

The display also does the aircraft few favours; it's distant and somehow lacks the aggression of the BAF or KLu F-16 displays or the Rafale. How many times I have been stood next to people to hear "why dont they just copy an F-16 display?" The signature manoeuvre; the high alpha cockscrew leaves me feeling cold.

The design itself is again old sold as new. It doesn't have the futuristic photogenic looks of the Raptor (it was difficult to take an image of the F-22 last time at RIAT that didn't look good), neither does it share graceful lines and blended wings of perhaps its most common contemporary the Rafale. For me the single seater as far back as the start of the wing roots looks ok, but then as you look further back along the fuselage it looks completely non-descript and lacking dynamism or grace.  It all makes for a very beige experience.

[Ben H]

With regard to looks, am I the only one who thinks that the twin-stick looks better than the single seater? Same with the Lightning, Hunter and F-15E vs C...

I agree with the thoughts on the display though; it doesn't really have any standout 'wow' features. How about a take-off that keeps things low and all of a sudden stands the jet completely on it's tail a la Raptor? I mean, if the Lightning can do it...

[kalachnik]

I just got back from the Duxford Airshow and the Belgium F16 display was a lot better today than the Typhoons.

I do like the Typhoon as an aircraft, but its displays have never really impressed me. I like the bombed up display at Riat last year and Farnborough the year before, and I would go as far to say that this years display does not seem anymore maneuverable than the bombed up display.

The Rafale seems to pull off much better displays with 4000lbs less thrust, hmmmm.

[RJC1878]

The Rafale seems to pull off much better displays.

One of the best on the circuit - Typhoon looks poor in comparison.

[x1x]

Agree with the boring campaign aswell i am afraid.

Very average display up until now, lets hope it improves, I saw the Italian display video last year and it did change my peception a little and would like to see it display in the U.K, but the UK displays i find quite boring too and the emporers new clothes description does sum it up pretty well for me.

As for looks, I Just have an urge to redesign that tail and stick a bit of curvature to the wings,add some bumpy bits, oh and that intake looks a bit like the Radiator from an Atkinson Borderer truck and thosenozzles need sum beauty treatment. ahah, i sense a letter to pimp my ride