LucaP Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 hi guys, please would someone let me know if technically the Tornado F.3 can fly with 4 fuel tanks? (2x 2250 lt. Hindenburg underwing + 2x 1500 lt. standard underbelly) and if yes, the shoulder pylons are the same of GR.1/4s?I read in an old thread that they had flown so for long transfer journeys, but I can not find pictures.thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotthldr Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I would say no, they couldn't carry any stores under the fuselage except for Skyflash/AMRAAM as these were recessed stations unlike on the IDS/GR variants. The F3 had an extra internal 909 Ltr fuel tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 The Tornado 'EF.3B' had the underfuselage pylons fitted to enable it to carry ALARMs, so I guess that technically it could have carried tanks as well. Whether it ever did I think is probably unlikely, as I doubt it could have carried Sky Flash or AMRAAM as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotthldr Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Although the EF-3 had standard under fuselage pylons fitted were they plumbed for drop tanks, I very much doubt it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucaP Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 thanks. I read here (2nd post from the top): http://www.e-goat.co.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-36759.html I have two spare 1500 lt. tanks so I could like to use them together with the Hinds. regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 The only ADV I can recall with underfuselage tanks was one of the prototypes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirfixAndy Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Spot on Dave ......Ive only seen the F2 prototypes carry 4 tanks and even then just 4 of the smaller tanks . http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/7/5/1/1257157.jpg Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Spot on Dave ......Ive only seen the F2 prototypes carry 4 tanks and even then just 4 of the smaller tanks . http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/7/5/1/1257157.jpg Andy I saw a picture of this in a Tornado book by Jon Lake with the aircraft taking of from Boscombe Down, in it's prototype colouring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike7451 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 thanks. I read here (2nd post from the top): http://www.e-goat.co.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-36759.html I have two spare 1500 lt. tanks so I could like to use them together with the Hinds. regards That was my post from a few years ago,not in it I said 'I gather' which means,to me anyway,can they/Not sure....I've never worked on the F-3 so I was assuming that as they can carry shoulder pylons & the airframes are almost the same,one would assume they had the same capability. Bomb'ed would know as he was on F-3's during Gulf war 1.I spent all my time on GR1's.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucaP Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) thanks for the pic (Andy) and the explanation (Spike). Spike, based on the photo above (prototype), can we reasonably assume that some F.3 Tonka (series) has loaded those belly tanks during long transfer journeys? best regards. Luca p.s. Spike, unfortunately the pic you have linked is not active... I would be curious to see it http://www.xisquadron.co.uk/Heritage/Images/Tornado.gif what was pictured in it? Edited August 29, 2014 by LucaP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 They perhaps had the capability, but the F3 had a pretty long range anyway, and with the big tanks and IFR it probably culd handle any deployments. Add to that the fact that you get a point where the benefit is marginal - the extra drag/weight of the big tanks offsets the benefit the extra fuel gives you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boffin Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 There is a thread on Pprune that confirms that the shoulder pylons could be fitted, could carry 1500L tanks and were plumbed. The thread includes details of a UK-Akrotiri mission that fell short owing to strong head winds. George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrierpilot Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Thhe only time I have heard of a ADV Tornado carrying four tanks was a F2 which flew over the "pond" for some test work in the early 1980's. I think (I might be wrong) that that was a test in it's own right to see how far a F2/3 could fly without tanker support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucaP Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 There is a thread on Pprune that confirms that the shoulder pylons could be fitted, could carry 1500L tanks and were plumbed. The thread includes details of a UK-Akrotiri mission that fell short owing to strong head winds. George What specific F.3 bird of these: http://www.targeta.co.uk/squadronaction_25.htm was involved in? thanks and regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucaP Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 (edited) Found this picture (from http://www.outermarker.co.uk/Articles/LeemingXXV/xxv.htm"]http://www.outermarker.co.uk/Articles/LeemingXXV/xxv.htm)... but they are on the ground. maybe they were there to be loaded at the same time? Edited September 2, 2014 by LucaP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 As always open to correction but I'd suggest that that is a publicity shot of some sort showing what it can carry,although I would have expected a missile display too. You know the type I mean where the aircraft is posed with an amazing assortment of stores which it could never all carry at the same time. It certainly shows the two types of tank anyway. RG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotthldr Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 The missiles are just out of shot waiting to be positioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghb180658 Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 My recollection from my time on the F3 is that a 4-tank fit was NOT in the Release to Service, we could fly with either the 1500ltr or the 2250ltr tanks. It may have been technically possible and BAE may have trialled such a fit (or Boscombe Down) but I am 99% certain such a fit was never used on a Squadron; it was not needed in any of our deployment scenarios with AAR available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucaP Posted September 8, 2014 Author Share Posted September 8, 2014 thank you all for the info guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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