Tornados, again

[Phartycr0c]

Ok for all the Tornado followers, Can anyone tell me why when at rest and powered down with wings extended, the GR4 sits with the wings "all together" yet the F3 sits flaps and slats out. Is this config chosen by design on both ac or is it something that occurs when power is absent from the relevant jacks.

The reason I ask is that iv'e found a couple of photos which tends to display this anomaly. I have ony seen one GR4 at rest with the flaps down.

[Blacktjet]

Ok for all the Tornado followers, Can anyone tell me why when at rest and powered down with wings extended, the GR4 sits with the wings "all together" yet the F3 sits flaps and slats out. Is this config chosen by design on both ac or is it something that occurs when power is absent from the relevant jacks.

The reason I ask is that iv'e found a couple of photos which tends to display this anomaly. I have ony seen one GR4 at rest with the flaps down.

I think on the F3, it is to save on ware & tare. The GR4 is not so much of an issue as the flaps and slats are not used for combat manoeuvring.

[sooty]

Generally the flaps and slats will be left up on both type of tornado when at rest, except if it is known that maintenance needs to be carried out in these areas, and even then its easy enough to lower them with the APU if they've been left up. As for the manouevre setting both aircraft use this setting extensively, especially when at low level.

[eng]

Hopefully Sooty will back me up here but I believe the GR.4 is always parked with the wings forward due the aircraft C-of-G being too far aft if they are swept and the aircraft will tail-sit. I would expect the flaps and slats to generally be stowed as there's less chance of damage occuring during manouvering equipment around the aircraft.

On the F.3, once the aircraft has taxied back to the HAS area with the wings swept, the aircraft is pushed back into the HAS (still powered up) where the wings are swept forward, flaps and slats dropped for a quick FOD/damage check then re-stowed and swept again before the aircraft is shut down.

Hope this is of some use.

Eng