Hawarden based Tornado F3 fighter jet restoration completed

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Twelve weeks of hard graft has paid off for the Hawarden based Tornado Heritage Centre with restoration work on their prized Tornado F3 fighter jet now complete.

The former RAF air defence fighter which was retired in 2007 arrived at Hawarden on the back of a low loader at the end of February, the fuselage was transported to a hanger at the airfield where the wings, tailfin and tailerons where added.

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The team from the heritage centre have worked tirelessly to return the Tornado, which was built in 1989, to its former glory.

ZE996 was the 800th Tornado fighter to be built and served with the RAF’s 11, 43 and 56 Squadrons.

A second Tornado is expected to join the heritage centre soon and there could be more arrivals in the near future.

The heritage team are now looking to buy a purpose built ‘Tornado’ shelter called a RUBB hanger which are used extensively by the RAF.

RUBB hangers used by the RAF to protect jets from the elements

The fabric hanger will protect the newly renovated jet from the elements, allowing visitors, air cadets and students the opportunity to see the fighter plane during the winter months.

The heritage centre has launched a crowd funding drive and are looking for donations to help with the cost of shelter,

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Stuart Case from the Tornado Heritage Centre told Deeside.com he was very pleased with progress so far, he said;

The team that worked extremely hard over the last 12 weeks on the Tornado, we are very grateful to everyone involved with the restoration process.

Looking at the pictures, I’m sure you will agree that this aircraft needs to remain under cover in order to protect it from the elements, this is why we are appealing for donations to our ‘Just Giving’ fund, In order to purchase a ‘RUBB’ Hangar.

As for future plans for the Tornado Heritage Centre, we hope to expand our facility and we have just received notice that we are to receive a Tornado GR1 in the very near future.

We have also been offered a Hawk aircraft but at the moment that is a 50/50 possibility but both aircraft will be placed on permanent static display alongside our F3.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It has took almost two years for the heritage centre to acquire the former Royal Air Force F3 Tornado.

172 Tornado F3’s were built and the Hawarden aircraft is one of only seven left in the UK.

It’s a rare example of the RAF’s iconic fighter jet and will be used as an ‘instructional airframe’ to teach air training corps cadets & aeronautical engineering degree students principles of flight, propulsion and aerodynamics.

It was given to the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester following retirement in 2007.

The jet was in storage until March 2014 when it was moved to the Science Museum Group’s storage facility in Wroughton, near Swindon.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”Help to fund the purchase of a ‘RUBB’ hangar” shape=”square” style=”flat” color=”white” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Click here to donate” btn_shape=”square” btn_color=”sky” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.justgiving.com%2Fcrowdfunding%2FTornadoHeritageCentre|||”]The fabric hanger for the Tornado F3 aircraft will protect it from the elements and ensure long-term preservation.

[/vc_cta][vc_custom_heading text=”Panavia Tornado F3(T) ZE966
” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:36px|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ google_fonts=”font_family:Arimo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1496884086907{margin-bottom: 12px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#657204″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]This aircraft has the distinction of being the 800th production Tornado and the 160th ADV (Air Defence Variant)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1486319351814{margin-bottom: -30px !important;}”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Armament: 4 x MBDA Skyflash semi-active radar homing or AIM-120B active radar guided AMRAAM beyond visual range air to air missiles in staggered recesses under the fuselage and 4 x AIM-9L/M or MBDA ASRAAM infrared guided air to air missiles on inboard stub pylons. A single 27mm Mauser cannon
Powerplant: Two x Turbounion RB199 Mk104 afterburning turbofan engines, each rated at 42.9-kN (9,656 lb) dry and 75.2-kN (16,410 lb) in afterburner.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Maximum Speed: Mach 2.2 (1,452 mph/2,337 km/h) at altitude, Mach 1.2 (800 kts/921 mph/1,473 km/h) at sea level. 
Range: 1,853-km (1,151-miles) on a subsonic interception or 556-km (354-miles) supersonic interception.
Wingspan: 8.6m (28ft 2in) swept in 67-degree position and 13.91m (45ft 7in) un-swept.
Wing Area: 30.00-m2 (322.93-sq/ft) in 25-degree position.
Wing Sweep: 25 – 67 degrees. G-Limits: +7.5
Length: 18.6m (61ft) Height: 5.95m (19ft 6in)
Empty Weight: 14,500-kg (31,967-lb)
Maximum take-off weight: 28,000-kg (61,729-lb)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Take-off run: 762-m (2,500-ft)
Landing roll: 370-m (1,215-ft)
Ceiling: 15,250-m+ (50,000-ft+)
Internal fuel: 4,700-kg in fuselage and wing fuel tanks and 440-kg in vertical tail fuel tank.
External fuel: Two x 1,550 ltr (341 gal) or 2,250 ltr (495 gal) external fuel tanks. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]