9
$\begingroup$

Fighter

twinEngineSingleStabilozer

Hi, could someone identify the type of this fighter jet and the air force which operates it? Thanks!

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
23
$\begingroup$

Panavia Tornado, Royal Air Force (UK), 13 Squadron.

The aircraft in the question is identified as belonging to No. 13 Squadron by the distinctive green, yellow and black 'Squadron flash' painted on the aircraft side below the front part of the cockpit.

enter image description here

Royal Air Force roundel

enter image description here

13 Squadron flash

A Tornado of No. 13 Squadron as seen at the 2007 CIAF air show in the Czech Republic

Above: a Tornado of No. 13 Squadron as seen at the 2007 CIAF air show in the Czech Republic. The squadron flew Tornado GR.1A aircraft from 1990, and later the GR.4 and GR.4A variants.

Here is ZA401 (a GR.4) at RAF Leuchars in 2005 with the 13 Sqn flash painted on the tail as well as the normal place, as part of the Squadron's 90th anniversary celebrations:

enter image description here

No. 13 Squadron RAF (Wikipedia)

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • $\begingroup$ Many squadrons have used this plane (9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 27, 31, 45, 75, 617), but are you sure about 13? It seems to be one of the few that hasn’t? $\endgroup$
    – Tim
    May 16, 2020 at 17:26
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Tim - 13 Sqn operated Tornados from 1990 to 2011, first from Honington and then in 1994 moved to Marham. $\endgroup$
    – Michael Harvey
    May 16, 2020 at 18:24
  • $\begingroup$ I never liked them much when they were in service, but now they are gone, I feel a bit nostalgic about Tornados. I think ZA401 looks nice above. $\endgroup$
    – Michael Harvey
    May 16, 2020 at 18:29
  • $\begingroup$ ahh so they did. Strange the page on the Tornado misses that off. I wonder if it’s because of the disbanding / reformation $\endgroup$
    – Tim
    May 16, 2020 at 18:29
9
$\begingroup$

That is a Panavia Tornado operated by the UK Royal Air Force.

photo of Tornado

You can tell by the shape of the nose wheel door, and the rear of it has a characteristic boxy shape with the stabilators lower than the wing. The roundel is the RAF low visibility roundel.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ The shape of the nose is characteristic. $\endgroup$
    – Michael Harvey
    May 16, 2020 at 8:06
  • $\begingroup$ @MichaelHarvey characteristic of the Tornado IDS, bomber-striker, while the Tornado ADV interceptor had a longer nose. $\endgroup$
    – EarlGrey
    May 17, 2020 at 19:12
  • $\begingroup$ @MichaelHarvey why is it’s nose so pointy? It’ll poke somebody’s eye out! $\endgroup$
    – Dai
    May 17, 2020 at 19:49
  • $\begingroup$ You can also narrow it down by being twin-engine and flown by the RAF. The other twin-engine options are the Canberra, Lightning, Buccaneer or Typhoon, all of which have very distinctive shapes which this clearly is not. $\endgroup$
    – Graham
    May 17, 2020 at 22:15

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .