Hello again!

Lost lamb has come back again for a little visit. I hope you guys are all well? It's been awhile since I was last on here. I've been lurking the last few days catching up on what has been happening around here!

I'm not sure if you guys have been keeping up with what is happening in the UK regarding our armed forces since the SDSR last October but lets just say, things aren't rosey!

I guess most of the regulars will remember my trips back in '04,'05 and '06 when I used to skip a few days at uni and head up to RAF Leuchars to watch the Tornado F.3s in all sorts of weather! Well, that time is now over as the last remaining F.3's left RAF Leuchars at the end of March for the scrap heap! Very sad days.

But times move on and new aircraft come in to replace the old. The only other news is RAF Leuchars itself is under the spotlight as it is one of many bases under review so we may lose a mighty fine airbase with a long history too!

Any way, I thought I'd share a few shots of the old girl over the past few years. I only have a few handy at the moment but I may dig up some of the really old stuff to refresh the old brain cells.

1. Lets start off with 2006. This all black jet was unveiled during 43(Fighter) Squadron's 90th Anniversary and Families day. Unfortunately, someone forgot to ask permission from the boss at RAF HQ and the jet was seen two or three times after this before it got repainted. This was the only time I saw her and gutted I wasn't able to get some more shots.


2. After 2005, the F.3 was taken off the airshow display circuit but thankfully in 2007 and 2008, an RAF Role Demonstration Team was formed which comprised of two F.3's, two Tornado GR.4's, two Hawks, an E-3 Sentry, C-130 (2007), Chinook and an AAC Apache (2008). This shot was taken in 2008 at Biggin Hill during the "scramble" phase of the demo.


3. Again 2008, but at Kemble Airshow.


4. Dawlish Carnival Airshow. A unique view point!!


5. Dawlish again but the final mixed formation flypast.


6. 56(R) Squadron were disbanded in 2008. 56 was the operational conversion unit which trained the pilots and navigators on how to operate the F.3. Here is the special tail sitting alongside the special tailed aircraft from the sister squadron at Leuchars, 111(Fighter) "The Tremblers."


7. Another 56 jet, this time at RAF Leeming.


8. 111 jet taxiing onto Runway 05 at RAF Lossiemouth.


9. Close up of another 111 jet landing at RAF Leuchars.


10. Sister ship landing at RAF Leuchars.


11. 43 (Fighter) Squadron's CO's jet at full power and wings swept back! Seeing the jet in this config always made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, awesome sight!


12. Special formation. Two F.3's in formation with two Hunters. Lovely!!


13. F.3 in a HAS.


14. F.3 in war mode. This was the standard fit when the aircraft were on 'Q' duties. High readiness to react to a call out to intercept any suspicious aircraft.

15. In 2009, I was very lucky to join a group of friends for a tour around 43 squadron at Leuchars. This was a month prior to their disbandment. Pilots ready after start up!



16. Taxiing out



17. About to touch down after a training sortie.


18. Flight line.


19. Lower perspective.


Tragically, in July 2009, a week prior to 43 squadron's disbandment, one of the jets crashed during a low level training mission and both crew were lost. As you can imagine, a pretty devestating time for all on the squadron, made even worse with the squadron drawing down.

20. A couple of days before the official disbandment, the Boss, flew his final mission in an F.3. On the take off roll.


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24. Flypast over the Squadron.


25. Taxi back.

A few from a Spring evening at RAF Leuchars in 2009.

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31. Now we're getting on to the final airshow appearance at RAF Leuchars 2010. At this point there was only one squadron left at RAF Leuchars, 111(Fighter). Typhoons were/are planned to replace the Tornados at Leuchars in the air defence role. 6 Squadron were stood up some months prior to this and were building up at RAF Coningsby prior to their move to RAF Leuchars to take over from 111.

111 CO jet taking off.


32. At the end of the airshow, a fourship flypast was conducted as a final public farewell. The aircraft still had around 6 months left before the aircraft would be retired.



33. Single F.3 in formation with the new kid.



34. Flying into the sunset!

Now down to the final few months. I was able to travel back up to Scotland during March to catch my final shots.

35. The beach end of Leuchars is a favourite spot for dog walkers and runners etc. A pretty decent place to take some nice shots too!

On approach.


36. 'HX' with special Battle of Britain markings on the tail.


37. As part of 111's disbandment, a fourship flypast was conducted after the parade. Here they are taxiing out to the runway.


38. To mark the occasion, a special paint scheme was commissioned celebrating 25 years in service.


39. Jets waiting.


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41. A couple of days later, there were only 6 jets left at RAF Leuchars. On my final day in Scotland, a 3 ship were to head to RAF Leeming where they are being dismantled. Originally it was to be 4 jets, leaving two to fly out of Leuchars on the final day of operations. Change of plan meant that 3 jets left and one eventually came back, leaving 4 jets to leave Leuchars at the end of March, never to come back.


42. The 25 year special jet broke into the circuit above the 3 ship during their take off. The 25 special jet was doing passenger flights for those lucky enough!


43. JU came back later in the day to my amazement. And this is final shot that I have of a Tornado F.3 in active RAF service!


And that's that, the end of an era.

To note, a couple of F.3's are actually being operated by Qinetiq, the defence company, to support missile trials. I believe these last few airframes are to be retired at the end of this year so hopefully I might be able to see them one last time.

To finish off, here is a few shots of the new generation. 6 Squadron.

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Thanks for looking!
Andy

and mighty thanks for sharing. Gorgeous shots.

Cheers,
Slug

Yes Andy, thanks for those - very nice, and a fitting tribute to the Tornado. Nice to see you posting some photos again!

Thanks for sharing those beautiful shots.


Wheels

Lovely shots Andy. It's a shame to see the F.3 and so many other good jets go with years left on their airframes. Sadly I guess that's the way it's always been, and will continue to do so.
Thanks for sharing!

Thank you all. Sad but all good things come to an end.

Very nice shots again.
Too true, great aircraft, great people, great Squadrons. Hopefully the pollyfiller parrot will develope some soul later in its career.

At least some parts of the F3 will live on here

This and the Harrier topic both... you still have some of the best aircraft shots I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot.

Awesome shots good to see you back.

Another fine collection of shots. Top drawer stuff as always.

awesome shots Andrew, I remember catching these guys coming into Pease some years back. Always reminded me of the FB-111's I grew up watching with their swingwings.

Your Tornado shots have always been a favorite of mine! Nice work!

Stunning m8.