Panavia Tornado F2 Military Jet Aircraft (WITHDRAWN)

New arrival – a very significant airframe. This aircraft is one of only a few UK Tornados to have survived the cull. A more significant airframe than you may think, ZD899 is not only a rare variant F2 aircraft but was the very first production ADV Tornado (Air Defence Variant). The aircraft never actually saw RAF service having been retained by BAe as a trials aircraft for most of her life. ZD899 was one of only eighteen production Tornado F2s that were built for the RAF, eight of which (including this one) were fitted with dual controls and were unofficially known as F.2(T)s. The aircraft was allocated to A&AEE (Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment). It was used for radar / weapon systems proving work and became the second JTIDS (Link 16) equipped ADV after ZE155 (AS011) to carry out paired trials. Although 899 didn’t get the longer F3 style rear fuse, it effectively became the “F3 avionic prototype” as it was fitted with a twin IN navigation system (the extra IN replacing the Secondary Attitude and Compass System (SACS) which was rather problematic). “AT001” as it was referred to at Warton was also used for autopilot trials. The fin is still marked up with ‘AT1’ applied in service to hammer home the point that this aircraft was the first production Tornado ADV.