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Registration
or Serial:
Operator:
RAF
(43 Squadron)
Operating Base: RAF Leuchars
Base
Location: Leuchars, Fife.
Current Airport Status:
Operational Military Airport.
Current Airport Name:
RAF Leuchars
(Principal airport data courtesy of
John Woodside,
A
Catalogue of UK Airfields)
Aircraft Type & Background
With its first flights taking place in the mid 1970's and following
acceptance by the RAF in 1980, the Tornado continued in production
until 1998. The manufacturing consortium consisted of
BAE
Systems, EADS, and
Alenia. The
Tornado was fitted with two
RB199 turbofans, and is equipped with
AMRAAM,
Sky Flash,
AIM-9
Sidewinder, or similar armaments. It carries a crew of two: The
pilot in the front seat and the weapons systems officer in the rear
seat.
The Tornado F3 variant featured here was developed from the original
Tornado GR1 attack aircraft. Normally, the aircraft would be
armed with short and medium range air-to-air missiles. Among many
other advanced features, the aircraft is equipped with BAE Systems
Foxhunter radar, providing search capability over an extended
range.
The RAF Tornado F3's are due for retirement in 2011.
Aircraft Accident Details
Together with another Tornado F3 from 43 (Fighter) Squadron RAF Leuchars, the
aircraft were on a training mission which took them over the hills
of Argyll in Scotland. This is a commonly used training area and
familiar to experienced RAF crews.
During a pass through or just above Glen Kinglas near Cairndow and
the Rest and Be Thankful, one of the fighters was thought by
witnesses to be flying too low for the surrounding terrain (i.e.,
below the usual low-flying level). Shortly
afterward the Tornado crashed into this hillside just above Glen Kinglas.
Search and rescue helicopters from
HMS Gannet (Prestwick) and from
RAF Lossiemouth were scrambled. Civilian
emergency services, including the
Scottish Fire Service Major Incident Unit,
also attended the scene. The RAF Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) in
attendance were led by
Sgt Tim
Sugars. One Team was from
RAF Leuchars and the other from
RAF
Kinloss.
Wreckage, fuel, and hazardous materials were scattered over
a wide area of the hillside making the recovery operation more
difficult.
At this stage, the cause of the accident is unknown and
awaits the outcome of an official inquiry.
This is the fifth Tornado aircraft to have crashed in Scotland,
either inland or in the sea. Other accidents occurred in the
North Sea (near St Andrews), at RAF Leuchars (forced landing), at
Dunbar near Torness, and at Glen Ogle.
Crew Details
Tragically, both the pilot and the weapons systems officer died in
this accident. These were:
Fl/Lt Thomson came from the Glasgow area,
while Flt/Lt Morton was from Fife. Both men were attached to 43
(Fighter) Squadron
RAF Leuchars. This Squadron is due to be disbanded later in
2009.
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