Tornado Warning - show us your GR'/IDS'/ECR'

[stuart n]

RIAT 2015


Luftwaffe Panavia Tornado IDS 45+88 by stu norris, on Flickr


RAF Panavia Tornado GR4A ZA372 by stu norris, on Flickr


RAF Panavia Tornado GR4A ZA372 by stu norris, on Flickr


Tornado GR4 ZA456 IX(B) Squadron RAF Marham by stu norris, on Flickr

[Cole]

IMG_1684 (2) by CharlieGolfPhotography, on Flickr

IMG_0047 (2) by CharlieGolfPhotography, on Flickr

[reheat module]

Well, what a blast.
Superb.
Had to search for my beloved 20 &17(F) though!
Look at that international artwork, we've never had a decent artist since Constable...

[Ian G]

Managed to grab the Granby Tornado low-level before it went!


The hills are alive . . . by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

[Tommy]

One of the best I've seen of the Op Granby Tornado, Ian. Nice one.

[TBPhoto]

Just a few from me as I haven't taken too many of these birds!

RAF Tornado GR.4 - ZG750/128 - 12 Sqn by Tommy, on Flickr

RAF Tornado GR.4 - ZG750/128 - 12 Sqn by Tommy, on Flickr

RAF Tornado GR.4 - ZG750/128 - 12 Sqn by Tommy, on Flickr

GAF Tornado ECR - 46+54 - TG-51 by Tommy, on Flickr

[Ian G]

One of the best I've seen of the Op Granby Tornado, Ian. Nice one.

Ah thanks! The crop was quite accidental as the mouse had a bit of a fit in lightroom when cropping but I quite liked it when I saw it!

[blackcat]

German AirForce Tornado IDS 46+54,51 Tigers in 4-Tank fit.CR (1 of 1) by Mark Ranger, on Flickr

Tornado at Rest ZA447 (019)A Gulf War 1 Veteran."Mig Eater" by Mark Ranger, on Flickr

Tornado GR4T ZA548 on Alpha Ramp CR (1 of 1) by Mark Ranger, on Flickr

Tornado GR4 ZA456 IX(B) 100th Special CR (1 of 1) by Mark Ranger, on Flickr

[FarnboroJohn]

Two from Saturday at RIAT:

20170715 (34)_Panavia_Tornado_IDS by John Dixon, on Flickr

20170715 (38)_Panavia_Tornado_IDS by John Dixon, on Flickr

Brightened up a grim morning!

John

[buccs2b]

A couple from 1992

1. ZA353
Tornado_ZA353_TA_1 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

2. ZA330
Tornado_ZA330_TA_2 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

[Spiny Norman]

Sadly don't have photographs scanned in of the first one seen on public display (1982) but have a few taken over the years.

On a grim and grey Leuchars air show in 2008 the Tornadoes performed a rare display assisted by ground approach radar!



(Smaller because it is cropped heavily).

2008 again



F.3 breaking for landing in 2010.



F.3 of 111 Sqn taking to the air in 2010.

[Tolatrafi]

Some brilliant shots of one of my favourite aircraft! Thanks for posting!

[King Cobra]

Four from Marham a couple of weeks back.

ZA369/003 Tornado GR4 9 Sqd RAF Marham by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

ZA560/EB-Q Tornado GR4 41 Sqd RAF Marham by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

ZA588/056 Tornado GR4 9 Sqd RAF Marham by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

ZA588/056 Tornado GR4 9 Sqd RAF Marham by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

[Ian G]

A few of Marham 63 from the loop.


"Marham 63" - Tornado GR4 ZA612 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr


"Marham 63" - Tornado GR4 ZA612 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

[buccs2b]

Lossiemouth, September 1995

Lossie95_0017 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

Lossie95_0015 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

Lossie95_0019 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

Lossie95_0020 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

95_Tornado_Lossie by Tony Adams, on Flickr

[stuart n]

Tornado GR4 ZG750 | 12(B) Squadron | RAF Marham by stu norris, on Flickr


Tornado GR4 ZG750 - 128 "Pinky" - RAF Marham by stu norris, on Flickr

[AndyXH558]

580A7939 by andrew abbott, on Flickr

580A3639 by andrew abbott, on Flickr

tonka tonka stick it up your honka! by andrew abbott, on Flickr

TONKA-TONKA by andrew abbott, on Flickr

[ErikNZ]

[Tommy]

God, I'm going to miss these machines. Nothing grunts like the pair of RB-199s

Summer Storm by Tom Jones, on Flickr

Chow Bella by Tom Jones, on Flickr

Tornado Warning by Tom Jones, on Flickr

Tough Guys Wear Pink by Tom Jones, on Flickr

Litigator by Tom Jones, on Flickr

[Tommy]

For a number of years I've had the objective of taking a picture a Tornado low level in the snow. Trouble is, whenever it does snow, I'm usually snowed in at home.

Thursday just gone proved to be the winner, though only just. I was at points wading in snow drifts above my knees to get up there. Anyone who has ever been to the Loop knows how rocky and ankle-twisty it can be in places, and with snow covering said rocks, it was very slow and very careful going there and back. Had I not known the place as well as I do, and had I not had the correct gear, and all the usual common sense stuff like people knowing where I was, fully charged phone, shelter, food, and spare clothes etc, I wouldn't have even tried. And even then I only went as far as I felt safe and able to return, so I only managed about 2/3 of the way up.

The Loop's hard, man. A lot of people use that "go for the scenery, the jets are a bonus" line, and it's not incorrect, but at the same time, F the god-damned scenery, at least after your first couple of visits. It was cold as balls, everything damp, freezing winds, camera equipment struggling with the elements, to say nothing of the hours of boredom, and the frustration of Typhoons and F-15s twice calling for low level before going "naaah... weather is too poo. RTB." (actual official military speak, that).

That's why I think many who talk about the Loop (and there are a great many these days) miss the point when they talk about how magical a place it is. It's great, but it's hard. It's an absolute slog, and it's bloody frustrating and difficult, and sometimes so much effort and mileage come to absolute zilch. Second chances are few and far between if you balls-up your camera settings. The weather can close in within minutes and completely ruin your day, when the rest of the country is in gorgeous sunshine. Which is what makes the place so appealing. Because when you finally get the photo(s) you want and that you're happy with, they're all the sweeter for it. But the point is that the Loop isn't wall-to-wall easy and walk-in-the-park photography. It's very doable, which is why so many do it, but by no means a given. And when you've been sat on your soggy arse for three hours staring at a fixed point in the valley with sweet foxtrot alpha happening, the majesty of the scenery quickly becomes something you forget. Especially at this time of year (granted, summer is obviously likely to be a lot nicer/easier).

Aaaaaaanyway, I'm prattling and no-one's reading this (arseballsboobs - see?) so I should probably get on with the posting.

Not got enough photos/diversity to start a thread on its own ( I really should create a Low Level themed photo thread, but hey oh. Some other time, perhaps) so I'm dumping the dumps here. Light wasn't great, and it wasn't a full sweep, but I'll take what I can get.

Mighty Finland by Tom Jones, on Flickr

Snowed In by Tom Jones, on Flickr

Tankless T by Tom Jones, on Flickr

Cold But Bold by Tom Jones, on Flickr

Storm in a T-Cup by Tom Jones, on Flickr

Tornado Warning by Tom Jones, on Flickr

Cheers for looking,

Tom

[harkins]

Missed these somehow. Terrific photos Tommy and certainly far far from common. And much kudos to you for heading up there in those conditions . Well worth the effort and doubly so as the chance of seeing a Tornado go through there in snow must be less than winning the lottery now.

[blackcat]

Tornado GR4 Into the sun cr (1 of 1) by Mark Ranger, on Flickr

Tornado GR4s Back Tracking cr (1 of 1) by Mark Ranger, on Flickr

Tornado Back Tracking cr (1 of 1) by Mark Ranger, on Flickr

[scudpilot]

Granby Tornado taxiing at Farnborough 2016, she arrived very fast, very low, and totally unannounced, so no time to take photo's before she touched down.
I will so miss the Tornado.

Operation Granby Tornado at Farnborough 2016 Airshow by Jim Pritchard, on Flickr

[stuart n]

A-200 Tornado CSX7041 / RS-01 - 311 Gruppo - Pratica di Mare Air Base by stu norris, on Flickr


Tornado GR4 ZG750 - 12(B) Squadron - RAF Marham by stu norris, on Flickr

[stuart n]