There's a first time for everything... RAF Coningsby 20Mar11

ImageDedicated forum to share your own recent photos with the rest of the community.
Please note large files may exist here before you start browsing!

Forum rules
ImageThis is the forum to share your recent aviation photos with the rest of the community, being photos not older than six months at the moment of topic opening. Theme-based topics, not about recent events, should go into the sub-forum.
Although we will not screen beforehand, we reserve the right to delete any images, especially if clearly unsharp or otherwise low in quality. For more information on how to upload you images, check this post.
In topic titles, please use airfield names in stead of just codes, and be clear about what kind of photos your viewers can expect (e.g. CIV/MIL, location etc.).

Finally, bring any photo criticism understandable and to the point, not cynical or offensive! Simultaneously, do not feel offended by criticism per se, but simply explain your motives, taste et cetera, or ignore if you wish so.
Post Reply
User avatar
ursa_major
Scramble Rookie
Scramble Rookie
Posts: 61
Joined: 14 Feb 2008, 16:21
Location: EGXW

There's a first time for everything... RAF Coningsby 20Mar11

Post by ursa_major »

And today was the first time Typhoons have deployed on operations. Pity the sun didn't hang around until they moved, but an interesting set nonetheless. Here they are in departure order as they cleared the last-chance pin removal.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Top
User avatar
Arjan
Scramble Master
Scramble Master
Posts: 2728
Joined: 20 Sep 2002, 22:51
Type of spotter: S4
Subscriber Scramble: Arjan
Location: Den Haag

Re: There's a first time for everything... RAF Coningsby 20Mar11

Post by Arjan »

Strange, the QO-L at the last picture has only one missile on it's right wing.....the other two. And this is before departure.......is the RAF running out of missiles?
Scramble member since 1990
Top
User avatar
Antilliaan
Scramble Die-Hard
Scramble Die-Hard
Posts: 563
Joined: 28 Jun 2004, 23:40
Type of spotter: exotic
Subscriber Scramble: Antilliaan

Re: There's a first time for everything... RAF Coningsby 20Mar11

Post by Antilliaan »

There's more ways to transport missiles to southern Italy....
it makes you wonder why they put them on the aircraft in the first place, as this is just for the transfer flight. Probably it does not save a lot of fuel if you don't carry them.
Top
User avatar
ursa_major
Scramble Rookie
Scramble Rookie
Posts: 61
Joined: 14 Feb 2008, 16:21
Location: EGXW

Re: There's a first time for everything... RAF Coningsby 20Mar11

Post by ursa_major »

I'd have thought that the 'missing' round was probably offloaded before departure maybe due to a fault? I wouldn't have thought that the RAF was short of ASRAAMs, especially as the F3 used to carry them too.

With regard to carrying them on a transit flight, having the aircraft arrive already armed cuts down on the turnaround time needed at the destination, meaning that the jets would be available for use en-masse in a much shorter timescale than would be possible if each jet had to be armed after arrival. carrying the rounds with them also removes any problems that may be caused by transport aircraft used for carrying the missiles being delayed en route. These jets have deployed on operations after all, not to an exercise, so fast availability and minimal hassle for the armourers count for more than normal.
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Aviation Photo Forum”