Liked this intro to Tornado ops. In Dhahran after the cease fire, I do recall the Tornado’s were super LOUD on take-off (louder than the F-15A/B we were operating) and even louder on landing with their thrust reversers. Smaller engine than what we had. Weird.
Fascinating interview. I have been simming for well over 30 years and recently was lucky enough to fly a Piper Arrow with an airline instructor. I thought I would find it not exactly easy but rather familiar. My capacity went out of the window. I have always heard fast jet pilots talk about capacity. I now know there would not be any chance that I could do what pilots do in real life. It was very humbling and one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done in my life. Thanks for putting this together; it's brilliant content
I'm pretty late to this, but capacity is built upon flight hours. I'm only PPL, but I saw this happening. In the first hours, just keeping heading and speed and altitude, trimming the aircraft correctly, even in fair weather, is tricky and takes all of your braincells. And then it just becomes easier and easier and you can focus on other stuff like comms, looking for traffic etc. I'm sure most of us could build that fighter pilot capacity if it was our job.
Nice, another great interview on the Tornado! BTW OT: Saw you Steve getting special thanks and acknowledgment by Peter Merlin in his upcoming new book called "Dreamland: The secret history of Area 51". He mentions also Doc Schultz' SU27 crash and the RQ-180 mishap there. So maybe as a deviation of your usual guests, an interview with Peter on his A51 views him being the no-nonsense subject matter expert on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
I really enjoyed Nick recounting the wingsweep speed/alpha/g limits. I’ve always considered it odd that Tornado didn’t have an air data computed wing schedule like the Tomcat which, lets face it, long predated it’s (Tornado’s) design.
You’re right! I think there may have been some fuel efficiency benefits from having auto wingsweep. We were only allowed to use 25 (fully forward), 45 (mid range where there was a detent for the lever) or 67 (fully back) for fatigue reasons. You could feasibly select 33 degrees by inching the lever back and some thought this gave the best range speed but this was frowned upon and forbidden officially. I contacted F-14 RIO Dave “Bio” Baranek (@dandlb) who explained that their wingsweep could be manually overridden if desired. The wing sweep position in auto would give away the energy state of the F-14 to the opponent, so I understand that some pilots would manually select a different position (e.g. fully back whilst flying more slowly) to conceal their intent to fly a single circle fight at the merge. On the Tornado, I did the same on occasion and also swept the wings back to minimise my head on profile approaching a merge. I hope this helps.
Although, I'm not sure if the Gr/IDS version(s) was ever "earmarked" for auto wing sweep. I do know for a fact that the Saudi F3s did incorporate it & the RAF version was also meant to have it when it came into service. But alas, our typical "tight as fish's arse hole" government decided against it at the last minute.
Seems to me the Tornado was somewhat "stupid", doesn't seem like it wouldn't have been so hard to build in some of those limits, was there no automatic wing control at all ? When you see how clever that SPILS system was seems weird ? Also just asking, low level as your defence in terrain like the mach loop is one thing, but low level on a mostly flat terrain like a desert is another, how much does that terrain really afford you in these scenarios ? what then becomes plan B ?? I guess using the desert floor as a heat distraction maybe ?? IDK ? not much to hide behind I mean :D
Very down to earth guy, especially for a fighter pilot
😂😂😂
Our fighter pilots in the US seem to be the most cocky, and even arrogant relative to other NATO nations pilots.
Liked this intro to Tornado ops. In Dhahran after the cease fire, I do recall the Tornado’s were super LOUD on take-off (louder than the F-15A/B we were operating) and even louder on landing with their thrust reversers. Smaller engine than what we had. Weird.
Fascinating interview. I have been simming for well over 30 years and recently was lucky enough to fly a Piper Arrow with an airline instructor. I thought I would find it not exactly easy but rather familiar. My capacity went out of the window. I have always heard fast jet pilots talk about capacity. I now know there would not be any chance that I could do what pilots do in real life. It was very humbling and one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done in my life. Thanks for putting this together; it's brilliant content
I'm pretty late to this, but capacity is built upon flight hours. I'm only PPL, but I saw this happening. In the first hours, just keeping heading and speed and altitude, trimming the aircraft correctly, even in fair weather, is tricky and takes all of your braincells.
And then it just becomes easier and easier and you can focus on other stuff like comms, looking for traffic etc.
I'm sure most of us could build that fighter pilot capacity if it was our job.
Hey, great content! This needs to have many more viewers! Great, knowledgeable interviewer coaxes all the right stuff out of the interviewee!
Nice, another great interview on the Tornado! BTW OT: Saw you Steve getting special thanks and acknowledgment by Peter Merlin in his upcoming new book called "Dreamland: The secret history of Area 51". He mentions also Doc Schultz' SU27 crash and the RQ-180 mishap there. So maybe as a deviation of your usual guests, an interview with Peter on his A51 views him being the no-nonsense subject matter expert on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
I would totally tune into that ;)
👍👍very informative and much appreciated gents.
Glad to be here!
What a weekend!! A 2 for!
Thank you for editing it with your questions dubbed in, it must've taken you ages.
Outstanding as usual - thanks.
Great interview as always Steve. Thank you.
Wow 2 in a row 😊
I really enjoyed Nick recounting the wingsweep speed/alpha/g limits. I’ve always considered it odd that Tornado didn’t have an air data computed wing schedule like the Tomcat which, lets face it, long predated it’s (Tornado’s) design.
You’re right! I think there may have been some fuel efficiency benefits from having auto wingsweep. We were only allowed to use 25 (fully forward), 45 (mid range where there was a detent for the lever) or 67 (fully back) for fatigue reasons. You could feasibly select 33 degrees by inching the lever back and some thought this gave the best range speed but this was frowned upon and forbidden officially. I contacted F-14 RIO Dave “Bio” Baranek (@dandlb) who explained that their wingsweep could be manually overridden if desired. The wing sweep position in auto would give away the energy state of the F-14 to the opponent, so I understand that some pilots would manually select a different position (e.g. fully back whilst flying more slowly) to conceal their intent to fly a single circle fight at the merge. On the Tornado, I did the same on occasion and also swept the wings back to minimise my head on profile approaching a merge. I hope this helps.
Although, I'm not sure if the Gr/IDS version(s) was ever "earmarked" for auto wing sweep. I do know for a fact that the Saudi F3s did incorporate it & the RAF version was also meant to have it when it came into service. But alas, our typical "tight as fish's arse hole" government decided against it at the last minute.
Seems to me the Tornado was somewhat "stupid", doesn't seem like it wouldn't have been so hard to build in some of those limits, was there no automatic wing control at all ? When you see how clever that SPILS system was seems weird ?
Also just asking, low level as your defence in terrain like the mach loop is one thing, but low level on a mostly flat terrain like a desert is another, how much does that terrain really afford you in these scenarios ? what then becomes plan B ?? I guess using the desert floor as a heat distraction maybe ?? IDK ? not much to hide behind I mean :D
05:22 Unsynchronized audio maybe ?
He explains in the intro mate.
Explained in the first few minutes of the interview.