Author Topic: 610 very cool photo's from The Royal International Air Tattoo 2003 (Read 398 times)

Furball · « **on:** September 15, 2003, 09:26:59 AM »

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/riat03index.html

Kaz · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2003, 12:34:56 PM »

Nice pics, what're those huge things on the Tornados?

Furball · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2003, 03:26:37 PM »

wings

Dowding · « **Reply #3 on:** September 15, 2003, 04:02:27 PM »

The really big things are drop tanks I think.

cpxxx · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2003, 04:42:40 PM »

Drop tanks is what they are. The RAF nickname for them is Hindenbergers for obvious reasons.

Replicant · « **Reply #5 on:** September 15, 2003, 04:47:35 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Kaz
Nice pics, what're those huge things on the Tornados?

Huge things are the external fuel tanks (drop tanks are a little inaccurate since they're not allowed to drop them unless emergency). Also they're carrying ECM pods on outer port wing (apart from top right Tornado which is carrying a chaff/flare pod). They're most likely carrying the chaff/flare pod on starboard wing. Centre pylons it looks like bombing range practice bomb holder - think it can carry 4 x 20lb (or 50lB?) bomb per pod. Two bulges under nose are 1 x FLIR and 1 x long range optical lens (viewed via MFD).

Top right and lower left belong to 31 Sqn, top left is in Op TELIC (Gulf War 2) colours so no markings and the lower right has no markings either.

F4i · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2003, 06:52:59 PM »

GREAT quality pics at that site. Thank you for posting it!!!