+ianh755 Posted January 21, 2012 Posted January 21, 2012 (edited) Taking Sundowners TSR2 down the Tornado F3 route - With the RAF needing to replace it's ageing ADV fleet in the late 90's the UK government decided that an agile dogfighter wasn't required in todays missile age. Instead, an Interceptor based on a stable platform for launching massed missile attacks was needed and, with the extra fuel and weapons carrying ability of the TRS2 airframe allowing it to carry the newly acquired AIM-54 and stay aloft longer before tanking, the decision was made and the TSR2 F3 was born. Designed as a missile carrier to stop Russian hordes swarming through the GIUK gap after the start of WWIII the TRS2 F3 carried a tremendous war load, either 6x AIM-54, 10X AIM-120 & 2x AIM-132 or a massive 24x AIM-120 for attacking larger bomber formations. Even when carrying an extra 7000l of fuel in under-wing tanks for maximum flying duration it could still carry 14x AIM-120 with 2x AIM-132, truly earning itself the nickname "The Airborne Battleship!" Edited January 21, 2012 by ianh755 1 Quote
Spinners Posted January 21, 2012 Posted January 21, 2012 Very nice Ian! My 'ADV' (also an F.3) was based on Craig's TSR.2 and to a much earlier timeline although the pictures below are towards the end of its service life. BTW mentioning a TSR.2 ADV on some sites gets a few people a bit hot under the collar but I fondly remember the tantalising reference to such a beastie in the RAF Yearbook from 1975 or 1976. It had a wonderful 'what if' article based on the book 'Project Cancelled' by Derek Wood. I'd love to see a TSR.2 but with the forward fuselage, canopy and radome of the Tornado F.3 BTW cracking screenshot (Piccie 1) Quote
+streakeagle Posted January 21, 2012 Posted January 21, 2012 Aerial battleship? Really? In your dreams! Though there are some in power who think that way: B-1R Better yet, simply use large zeppelin as a combination AWACS/missile launcher. Endurance could be weeks... only limit would be crew supplies/comfort. Quote
+ianh755 Posted January 21, 2012 Author Posted January 21, 2012 Cheers Spinners! The advantage of the TSR2 airframe was it's immense size, which would've allowed it to carry at least 4 more SAHM/AHM over the Tornado F3 had one been made. The Tornado should have used the 2 outer pylons from the GR anyway for 2 more missiles, but we adopted the 4 by 4 missile convention from the US when we bought the Phantoms and stuck with it even through to the (as many pylons as you want) Typhoon! Here's a more "reasonable" war-load (do you think the ones above are a bit over-kill? ) - 4x AIM-54, 6x AIM-120, 2x AIM-132 & 2x 450gallon Tanks - Quote
+JonathanRL Posted January 21, 2012 Posted January 21, 2012 Sorry, but the term Airborne / Flying Battleship is already taken: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0w3FcVe9gc ;-) Quote
+76.IAP-Blackbird Posted January 21, 2012 Posted January 21, 2012 Spinner please release this skin, that looks great. I would put another nose on it ;) it will house the radar. what do you think? Quote
Wrench Posted January 21, 2012 Posted January 21, 2012 Jonathan: AWESOME!! one of the best of the worst!! Quote
+NGHENGO Posted January 22, 2012 Posted January 22, 2012 Sorry, but the term Airborne / Flying Battleship is already taken: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Y0w3FcVe9gc ;-) AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.............. I can't belive...how can they remain serious making that movie with that Muppet Show style monster.................. Mauz. Quote
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