Ratch Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 The BAC TSR-2 has undertaken many roles since entering RAF with No. 40 Squadron at RAF Conningsby in the autumn of 1967. Many Canberra squadrons were re-equipped with TSR.2 B.2 Eagles as were several of the V-Bomber squadrons by the mid 70’s. By 1983 11 squadrons were equipped with the TSR.2 B.2 and GR.1 Eagles with a GR.3 variant undergoing development. The West German Air Force equipped two squadrons with B.2 Eagles.The "standard mission" for the TSR-2 was to carry a 2,000 lb (900 kg) weapon internally for a combat radius of 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km). On that mission 100 nautical miles (190 km) was to be flown at higher altitudes at Mach 1.7 and the 200 nmi (370 km) into and out of the target area was to be flown as low as 200 ft (60 m) at a speed of Mach 0.95. The remainder of the mission was flown at Mach 0.92. If the entire mission were to be flown at the low 200 ft (61 m) altitude, the mission radius was reduced to 700 nmi (1,300 km). Heavier weapons loads could be carried with further reductions in range. The range of the TSR-2 was increased by fitting external tanks: one 450 Imperial gallon (2,000 L) tank under each wing or one 1,000-Imperial gallon (4,500-L) tank carried centrally below the fuselage. If no internal weapons were carried, a further 570 Imperial gallons (2,600 L) could be carried in a tank in the weapons bay.It was equipped with de Havilland Firestreak missiles; a rear-aspect, fire and forget pursuit weapon, with a field of attack of 20 degrees either side of the target, and was eventually replaced in service by a developed variant, the Hawker Siddeley Red Top. West German TSR.2s were unique in that they carried both missiles for a period. Red Top was originally a rationalised, upgraded version of the earlier Firestreak air-to-air missile. In 1956, de Havilland Propellers started work on the Blue Jay Mark 4 (its development codename) and Firestreak Mk. IV. Such were the changes that it was effectively a new missile. It arranged its components in more logical fashion than the Firestreak (which had its warhead in the tail), with an improved "Violet Banner" seeker, "Green Garland" IR fuze, and a more powerful "Linnet" booster rocket. It also had a larger warhead, at 31 kg (68.3 lb) against 22.7 kg (50 lb). The Red Top was faster, and had greater range and maneuvrability than the Firestreak, and its more sensitive infrared seeker enabled a wider range of engagement angles. Being more sensitive it could home in on a target that had been warmed by air friction heating. The Red Top entered service in 1964 and with further development continued in service until 1998. 9519 wears this distinctive livery for the Tigermeet at RAF Upper Heyford, United Kingdom, 12/09/1990 - 17/09/1990. 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeusa Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 That is definitely one fine Tiger Meet aircraft. I love your scheme and the execution of it is great. This took an immense amount of imagination. You pulled it off with aplomb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Good grief. Possibly the most imaginative and best looking TSR.2 scheme I have ever seen. Well done sir, well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivers3162 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Fantastic looking colour scheme - well done!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Top wiffing that man! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Great looking WhIf!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Now to see one in that scheme would of been something special. How aviation history could of been so different Gorgeous build and great idea 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luis Alfonso Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 SIMPLY WIONDERFUL RATCH!!! congratulations for doing A TRUE MASTERPIECE!!!!! Thank you very much for sharing and Happy New Year 2015 to you and to all here and there!!!! Cheers, Luis Alfonso 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 Thanks for your generous comments gents, I really appreciate them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawty82 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Awesome airbrush work there 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 WHIFFERY!!!! What a stunner. Everybody needs a dose of whiffery now and again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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