lowlevelraf Posted May 24, 2018 Share Posted May 24, 2018 HI Guys, I was researching some information ont eh F3 for an upcoming F3 model. I noticed the difference in the Aerial fit on top of the spin of the aircraft. Switching from the twin blade aerial, then later in service these are removed. Does anyone know roughly when the updated aerial fit would of be changed from? From pictures i've seen, its around 2001 to 2002 mark? Cheers, Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EwenS Posted May 24, 2018 Share Posted May 24, 2018 Hi Matt I've just finished reading the Warpaint book on the Tornado ADV and hadn't realised just how many modifications were made to some or all of these aircraft during the course of their service. Reference is made to "fleets within fleets" in terms of the modifications applied to individual airframes. The twin blades on the spine that you refer to were for UHF communications. These were replaced by a flat disc for a GPS set. As for the timing of this no date is given but from the photos I think your timing is about right. Photos of those involved in Operation Telic from 43 & 111 sqns over Iraq in 2003 had been GPS equipped and all after that date seem to be the same. Photos from the mid 1990s show the UHF aerials. 56(R) aircraft still had the UHF aerials in 1999/2000. Probably not much of an advance on your dates though. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlevelraf Posted June 10, 2018 Author Share Posted June 10, 2018 Thanks Ewen Sorry for the late reply, work does in the way of this hobby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Des Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 Apologies that the information in Warpaint is not a bit clearer but checking my own images the earliest sighting I seem to have for the GPS aerial fit is during 2001 , by mid-2004 it was widespread with the exceptions being mainly some 56(R) Squadron aircraft and by the end of that year the only example I have with the original aerial fit is 111 Squadron's twin-sticker ZE293/HZ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EwenS Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Des I'd like to say thanks for producing a good history on the Tornado ADV. It always seemed to me to be an under rated aircraft when everyone was comparing it to the F15 & F16 which was a totally unfair comparison given the design parameters. It hadn't occurred to me until you noted it that the ADV was in RAF service for the same length of time as the Phantom. Ewen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 (edited) Sorry wrong forum must try harder 😕 Edited June 13, 2018 by junglierating Wrong forum sorry flogging myself soundly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowlevelraf Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 Cheers for the additional information Des! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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