MILITARY GATE GUARDS

[Peter Laidler]

When you say that you sold ZA355 to them, can I take it from that, that you actually owned this plane? I presume that XA whatever is a plane? Wow...... makes a Centurion look a bit cheap and cheerful!

Have a good weekend one and all........

[mrclark303]

That GR3 was from Cranwell and isn't restored, that's how it was sold to JAA. The GR1 is expensive, I sold ZA355 to them for approx. £10,000 in a much better condition.

The F2A is a special Tornado, it was used as the test bed for the Typhoon Radar which isn't even in service fully yet.

Sounds like the GR3 might just make a candidate for restoration to flying condition, any rich Americans fancy taking it on??

Sadly no chance the CAA would ever let a Harrier fly in Civilian hands in the UK ...

[harry mac]

Wasn't the Saladin gun a short cased low velocity gun? No range a as I recall and very limited ammo types?

Maybe Major Bombdoc can comment on the ammo. I'll ask him.........

Saladin was armed with the 76mm gun; the same one was later used on CVR(T) Scorpion. There were a few minor differences, but it was essentially the same gun. Direct fire was possible out to 2,200m, which could be extended to 5,000m indirect.
I had quite a few enjoyable range periods gunning on Scorpion in the 1980's.

[Flying10uk]

Sadly no chance the CAA would ever let a Harrier fly in Civilian hands in the UK ...

How do they decide what is allowed to fly in civilian hands in the U.K. and what is not, do you know, John? Some classic jets are allowed to fly in civilian hands, such as Gnats, Jet Provosts, Hunters and others, but other aircraft are not. I had assumed that the judgement was made partly on how fast the aircraft was capable of going?

[Simon]

Bloody ridiculous isn't it? You can buy a surplus Tonka from the MOD but not a surplus L96.

As a matter of interest and on a slightly different topic, where's a good place to look for a Willy's Jeep?

If anyone has a big gate and looking for Tornado or Harrier then a few links below (Milweb)

Panavia Tornado GR1 Restoration Project

Harrier GR3 Jump Jet XZ130

Panavia Tornado F2A ZD902 ADV

[Peter Laidler]

I don't think that there are any L96's in Ordnance any more. They were declared obsolete in 2012 or so and withdrawn. When something is obsolete it is simply an expensive way of storing fresh air so it's destroyed. Don't forget that the big Ordnance depots are not owned by the MoD/RAOC any more but by a commercial agency.

[Simon]

But even when they where withdrawn they couldn't be sold off due to ITAR.

They may not have created a massive revenue stream in real terms but in times of cuts any monies funnelled back into the Public Purse would be a bonus.

[mrclark303]

How do they decide what is allowed to fly in civilian hands in the U.K. and what is not, do you know, John? Some classic jets are allowed to fly in civilian hands, such as Gnats, Jet Provosts, Hunters and others, but other aircraft are not. I had assumed that the judgement was made partly on how fast the aircraft was capable of going?

Afternoon F10, it all depends on the category the CAA decide an aircraft is in.

If its regarded as "complex" for instance, i.e how technically​ complex a design is, also factored in is the aircraft's loss rate in service.

The Harrier gets blown out on both counts I'm afraid!

[bigduke6]

Bloody ridiculous isn't it? You can buy a surplus Tonka from the MOD but not a surplus L96.

As a matter of interest and on a slightly different topic, where's a good place to look for a Willy's Jeep?

Simon, need to keep an eye on Milweb and ebay........ they aint cheap anymore, plenty of parts around though. I know a lad who has just paid £18,000 for one. project ones start from £5000.

[Brit plumber]

When you say that you sold ZA355 to them, can I take it from that, that you actually owned this plane? I presume that XA whatever is a plane? Wow...... makes a Centurion look a bit cheap and cheerful!

Have a good weekend one and all........

I missed this post Peter, just come back to it. I was tasked by the Stn commander at Lossiemouth to dispose of this Jet. As the last Tornado Weapons Instructor at Lossie it was left to me as the base was now Typhoon and no one cared about this relic. It proved amusing yet very difficult to sort this out. At first I looked at getting a bull dozer to chop it up or crush it but that would have cost money but eventually the DSA agreed to dispose of it. The paper work was hideous. Page after page of declarations on Hazards, ITAR, secret kit etc so I eventually got ****ed off with it all and just said yes to every question. I then pretty much broke it down into parts for JAA to collect. Not much fun.