Tornados in YYC? Well the RAF type.

[Bigtime]

Yup, we need more oldschool noisy jets at the airport. Down with the haters.

[sclitheroe]

One thing I really like about living in Symon’s Valley is that there is an approach that basically runs right down the valley. Great viewing of the aircraft all dirtied up (flaps and gear down) as they float down the valley towards the airport.

I have zero qualms about living near an airport

[Bigtime]

2 of the Tornados just took off, could hear them from work (12st NE, backing onto McCall lake golf course).

[CaptainCrunch]

Its not noisy, its the sound of freedom

[StealthOiler]

Looks like they were headed back to the airport, as they just flew over my house in the SE. Too bad! They looked amazing, but I just caught them at the last second.

[Bigtime]

I grabbed some Coco Brooks pizza for lunch and chilled over in the southeast corner of the airport. Got to watch them land, callsign "Jackal 1+1". Bringing my camera to work with me from now on.

[FlamesKickAss]

Seen then twice today!! Best spot was at the southland dog park around 12:30 and they just flew over Mackenzie Towne:

[Bigtime]

Just saw them again also. The flights look to be averaging about 1-1/2 hours long. Departures today at 11am and 2pm, returning around 12:30 and 3:30ish.

A nice string of arrivals this last time, a couple of A330's (KLM & AC) and then the Tornados.

[Bownesian]

We saw them from the zoo this afternoon flying north.

[Bigtime]

Here is a more detailed press release from the RAF, credit to http://www.iflycalgary.ca/ :

Royal Air Force to train at Calgary International Airport

From the British High Commission Press Release (thanks to Sarah at YYC for forwarding this to me)

"The British Royal Air Force (RAF) will be training in their Tornado GR4 aircraft at Calgary International Airport (YYC) from May 13-24 in advance of their deployment to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

The training they complete in Calgary is a part of a larger training program that takes them across North America to ensure that ultimately they can provide support not only the British Army but all coalition forces in Afghanistan. Wing Commander Jim Frampton (Officer Commanding No 12 (Bomber) Squadron, Royal Air Force) said: “I greatly appreciate the opportunity for my team to train at Calgary Airport over this period and am grateful for the hospitality that our hosts and the people of Calgary have shown. The training we complete during our time in Canada, though noisy, will ensure we can provide the best possible air support to our colleagues on operations.”

The British Armed Forces have a close and cooperative relationship with their Canadian counterparts, and have a long-established training ground in Suffield, Alberta. The RAF will be flying 4 missions per day from YYC to this training area in Suffield."

[Bigtime]

WeeinYYC drops the bomb with some great shots taken today:





More here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wee_in_yyc/

[sclitheroe]

Great photos, thanks for finding and sharing those!

[Bigtime]

I took some shots of the first flight of the day arriving back around 12:30, but the lighting sucked from my vantage point, I think maybe one shot is decent. I'll upload it tonight. I need to get over to the viewing spots around the airport and get some shots like Wee did.

[StealthOiler]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I took some shots of the first flight of the day arriving back around 12:30, but the lighting sucked from my vantage point, I think maybe one shot is decent. I'll upload it tonight. I need to get over to the viewing spots around the airport and get some shots like Wee did.

Where are these spotting locations? I've always heard about them but have never got a good idea of where they are. Thanks!

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by StealthOiler

Where are these spotting locations? I've always heard about them but have never got a good idea of where they are. Thanks!

Well my spotting location today was in our yard at work, I'm on 12th street northeast just north of 32nd avenue. Our yard backs onto McCall lake golf course, so I get a nice vantage point for approaches to runway 34. Here are a couple of my shots today:









Of course there are plenty of good spotting locations around the permiter of the airport itself, the best way is to just drive around and find them. There are only two "official" viewing areas. The one on the southwest corner just off of McKnight, and one up by runway 28 near the Westjet building.

[Jayems]

Which way do they take off from or does it depend on the wind

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Which way do they take off from or does it depend on the wind

It depends on the wind, however I believe they only use our main runway 34/16. Seeing as it is the longest.

Current forecast from NavCanada for today indicates the winds should remain out of the north for most of the day, so I would assume right now that they will continue to use runway 34 (departing north, arriving from the south over the city).

[Bigtime]

I got a few pictures yesterday morning of them departing, those afterburners shake the whole body!





Light 'em up!

[FlamesKickAss]

those are fricken wicked pics man

[sclitheroe]

Little piece of trivia for people - the soot evident on the tail of the Tornadoes is from the thrust reversers. The Tornado is one of only a few aircraft in its category to have thrust reverse for short runway operation (well, relatively short...)