AGM100 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 5407 posts, RR: 17 Posted (9 years 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 2459 times:
Not exactly a forum topic , but thanks to the RAF for sending the F3's to DM Tucson. What a great looking bad A**. aircraft.
I have been perched at the approach way every morning taking shots of them blasting over my head. I noticed they appear to be carrying large air to air missiles on the out board hard points. (not AMRAAM/ Sparrow) Sorry, if any of my pictures could make it on the sight you could see them. If you have any pictures on the sight I could look at I would like to try to identify the missile.
You dig the hole .. I fill the hole . 100% employment !
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12708 posts, RR: 80 Reply 1, posted (9 years 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 2399 times:
If they are F.3s, what is on the outboard wing pylons are probably on one side, a Skyshadow ECM pod, the other being a chaff/flare dispenser, or possibly a towed decoy.
Some F.3s have been modified to carry the ALARM anti-radar missile, but I'm not sure if they are carried on the outboard pylons.
Usual armament now are 4 AMRAAMs, 2-4 ASRAAM IR missiles, 27mm cannon.
Though the older Skyflash SARH weapon can still presumably be carried in lieu of AMRAAMs.
AGM100 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 5407 posts, RR: 17 Reply 4, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 2344 times:
Lt. AWACS
The ones the Tornado's are carrying are dark grey. They are long and pointed with what look like very small fins in the back. They are not fuel tanks. most of the aircraft carry fuel tanks on the inboard hard points However I have seen F-16'S carrying the bright fluorescent pod on the wing tips.
I also saw an F-4 fly into DM today and flew several passes over the base. The aircraft was definitely in US grey colors with sharks mouth painted on it. It had large letters on the tail but I could not read them clearly, they looked like could have been LE Is it an active duty F4 ?
You dig the hole .. I fill the hole . 100% employment !
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6203 posts, RR: 43 Reply 5, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2327 times:
I have no idea how long you've been in Tucson, AGM100, so please accept my statement is purely informational.
The Tornado is a fairly common aircraft at DMA. I'd say every 3 months or so they appear, and stay just long enough for the F-16 ANG wing at TUS to get calls about the noise.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
AGM100 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 5407 posts, RR: 17 Reply 7, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 2297 times:
Piedmont, I been here for 20 years or so.
My office is located at PV/AJO area I am sure you know it. You are correct about the Tornados, I think this time I have had had more chances to get and watch them. I also have seen the German Tornados here from time to time.
I have also noticed recently a different C-130 operating in and out. Not an EC-130 ,or at least it does not have the array like compass call. It is painted dark grey with lighter underbelly (wave effect). Any idea ?
L188 : I assume you are correct, although I have seen the Luftwaffe F4's come in and out. They are painted different, this aircraft appeared to have US markings including block letter tail codes. Just curious , no big deal
You dig the hole .. I fill the hole . 100% employment !
AGM100 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 5407 posts, RR: 17 Reply 8, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2293 times:
Photographer Ian Nightingale has a superb shot of a Torando posted on ANET. (ZG-750/DY) it is carrying what appears to be the exact load. Also it appears like the aircraft flying here have the same "squadron markings") green and yellow checkerboard forward of the left inlet.
You dig the hole .. I fill the hole . 100% employment !
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6203 posts, RR: 43 Reply 9, posted (9 years 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2269 times:
AGM100. I'd say I know that intersection well. I'd guess that you know the spot on Dodge for viewing DMA traffic. In fact I'll hazard a guess that you can see from an office window.
As for the C-130 that is not an EC, I have no clue. My eyes can no longer see the array, or lack of, without help.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
Duce50boom From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (9 years 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2267 times:
The Luftwaffe F-4s are "based" at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. IIRC they carry the US base code 'HO' for Holloman, but I could be mistaken. I'm guessing those are the ones you saw. Right in the neighborhood at least
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12708 posts, RR: 80 Reply 12, posted (9 years 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2249 times:
It is not that typical for F.3s to have the outboard wing pylons, at least not until recently, these show the aircraft with and without outer wing pylons;
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12708 posts, RR: 80 Reply 14, posted (9 years 1 week 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2240 times:
Here are some pics of F3s with the outer wing pylons fitted, which seems to happen in theatre, as these pics were all taken last year in Iraq, two models of dispensers seem to be fitted, though the larger ones with fins maybe converted to house a towed decoy.
AGM100 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 5407 posts, RR: 17 Reply 17, posted (9 years 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2230 times:
GDB , The pic you posted of the aircraft on the ground ,is carrying the pods I am referring too. The one on the left, from a distance to me looked like a missile of some type. My error I assume. Thanks for the shots and the info.
MisPiedmont. You are correct , its a pretty good spot to hang out, too bad I am such a bad photographer!!!. You never know what is going to land @ DM storage, maint ect...
TGC,,
You dig the hole .. I fill the hole . 100% employment !
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12708 posts, RR: 80 Reply 18, posted (9 years 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 2216 times:
Yes, that pic taken of F.3s in a sandstorm shows a dispenser on the outboard pylons plus the ASRAAM missiles carried alongside drop tanks on the main wing pylon.
BTW, trials were carried out some years ago on fitting extra ASRAAMs on the outer pylons, two on each, though the F.3s were updated with AMRAAM provision, data links, improved IFF and other avionic improvements, the ASRAAM outer pylon fitment was not adopted.
If some F.3s are converted to SEAD, with specialized equipment for this role to augment the ALARM missiles already fitted to No.11 Sqn F.3s, this modification could see the light of day yet.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12708 posts, RR: 80 Reply 20, posted (9 years 1 week 14 hours ago) and read 2183 times:
In 1999, a SEAD mod for F.3 was mooted, then axed, then partly reinstated for Iraq.
F.3s are not all that old, some were delivered as late as 1990/1, as their interceptor days end with Typhoon entering service, it is just possible that some newer F.3s may be retained for SEAD.
F.3 actually has more internal fuel capacity that the GR.1/GR.4 strike versions.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12708 posts, RR: 80 Reply 22, posted (9 years 1 week 5 hours ago) and read 2174 times:
Yeah, lengthened the nose to fit Foxhunter, Skyflash and equipment, but also deleted one of the two 27mm cannon and added tankage.
Once the F.3 flew, Panavia looked at export versions combining the F.3 shape, with a swing role based equipment fit, offered to Japan I believe, before they got into that F-16/F-2 soap-opera.
As it turned out, the Saudis were happy to buy both IDS and ADV versions.
Once the RAF Buccaneers were updated in the mid 80's with some new avionics and BAe Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles, it was anticipated that once they needed replacing in about the 1996-2000 period, a strike version of the F.3 would likely be the way to go, it could not match the Buccaneers range/payload (what could?) but a F.3 derived aircraft would offer substantial improvements over the original IDS, in both range and performance.
As things turned out, the Cold War ended, the former Soviet fleet no longer a threat in the Iceland-UK gap, so the RAF made do with fitting Sea Eagles on to GR.1s (GR.1b) that were surplus as RAF Germany contracted in size.
The Buccaneers went in 1993/4, after operating in Desert Storm in their secondary role as laser designators.
The replacement for this role, the Marconi TIALD (Thermal Imaging And Laser Designation), was still in prototype form in 1990, but 2 were later shipped to the Gulf and fitted to Tornados, taking the load off Buccaneers designation task, allowing the Buccs to bomb as well as just designate. The two TIALD pods were named 'Sharon' and Tracey' after two obese, promiscuous cartoon characters, 'The Fat Slags', in the UK adult comic 'Viz'.
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AGM100. I'd say I know that intersection well. I'd guess that you know the spot on Dodge for viewing DMA traffic. In fact I'll hazard a guess that you can see from an office window.
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