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Panavia MRCA / Tornado prototype D9591

I am trying to find some images for the Tornado prototype in its red/white/black livery. I've tried googling for them but have only found one image of the left and top sides. I believe this aircraft carried German, Italian and British markings asymmetrically in the 'normal' positions, but I don't know what the markings were on the right or bottom.

I would also like to know what external differences there were in shape between the prototype and production IDS machines. So far I have only noticed that the base of the rudder looks 'cut away', and the nose seems blunter.

If anyone has any references or links they could let me know about, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Many thanks,

David

Reply to
David Hetherington
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Accoring to the photos in Salamander's Aviation Fact File - Modern Fighting Aircraft: Tornado, Doug Richardson, ISBN 0-86101-201-1:

Right Fuselage: German Cross Left Fuselage: Trinational Roundel Port Upper: Italian Roundel Starboard Upper: British Roundel Port Lower: Italina Roundel Starboard Lower: British Roundel

Although the lower roundels are a bit iffy.

The prototypes didn't have the kinked leading edge on the horizontal stabilisers; the first prototype didn't have cannon or fully-variable intakes (although I'm not sure if that makes much difference to a model).

Jon.

Reply to
Jonathan Stilwell

David, The original Airfix 1/72 Tornado was first issued in MRCA form, and would make a good reference. If it were a project I was planning (and aren't they all?) I would use the new Revell Tornado and backdate it, as it has far more finesse in the details. It may be an idea to try the second hand dealers, as I seem to remember the decal sheet was pretty good and fairly comprehensive. Also the painting guide would be handy for a man in your position. Chek

Reply to
Chek

Robert, And the tailerons - the L/E angle change is clearly visible in comparisons between prototype and production models. Going off topic as is my way, I never understood why the F3 shape wasn't adopted as the standard airframe with its improved fineness ratio, extra fuel and improved engines. It would have made much more sense in performance improvements and production economies. Chek

Reply to
Chek

Maybe not.

The basic IDS version is an all-weather interdiction strike fighter optimized for low-level terrain-following flight at high subsonic speed. The engine is optimized for that mission profile as well.

The F.3 ADV is a (make-shift) long-range interceptor, basically an IDS modified for medium to high altitude subsonic loiter with a supersonic dash capability. As flying at these altitudes puts much less stress on the airframe than the bumpy low-level IDS mission, the was an allowance for an increase in (fuel) weight. The engines, equally modified, still are no good match for the medium to high altitude mission.

Regards,

Burkhard Domke Aviation Images - Aircraft in Detail

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Reply to
Burkhard Domke

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