BAe Warton 1978

[fatherfaff]

Another long shot!

I paid a visit to BAe Warton on 16 August 1978 between 1510 and 1615 and noted Canberra WE113/H, Devon VP975, Whirlwind XP356, Cessna 402 G-BADT, a "Strikemaster" fuselage (apparently a mock-up) and these unidentified aircraft. A Jaguar took off apparently in A&AEE colours XX11?. I noted a Lightning fuselage in 29 Squadron markings (which I assume was outside as I could see it!) - W&R 7th edition lists a Lightning XP703 (which was 29 Sqd) as being put in a stress-rig but "now housed in a pneumatic building within the complex" - by 1980. I assume it was this aircraft before it was put inside. Can anyone confirm?

Also visible were two Tornado prototypes in camouflage schemes. I noted both with red tips to the tail but all the photos I can find on the internet seem to show black tips, although some photos seem to show a reddy-tinge like this: https://www.google.com/search?q=xx948&t ... B0rNGxCcTM
In fact I think one of them was XX948 (P.06) as shown in this photo as I noted it had a White Hour Glass on the tail and a white diamond lower down on the tail and I don't think any other prototype had this configuration.

The other Tornado had no white diamond and the hour glass was Yellow so I think might have been XX947 (P.03) although the yellow may have been temporary.

Any insiders know anything about these prototypes and the significance of the tail tip colour, hour glass colour and the white diamond??

[fatherfaff]

By the way apparently XX949 was a Tornado but I can find no photos or entries anywhere for this aircraft - did it even exist?

[RAF4EVER]

By the way apparently XX949 was a Tornado but I can find no photos or entries anywhere for this aircraft - did it even exist?

There was never an XX949,

From UK Serials:

P02/2002 XX946 Panavia Tornado f/f 30/10/1974, to 8883M, preserved RAF Museum, Cosford, Shropshire History Edit
P03/2003 XX947 Panavia Tornado f/f 05/08/1975, to 8797M, pres. Shoreham 09/12/2003, to Baarlo History Edit
P06 XX948 Panavia Tornado f/f 19/12/1975, to 8879M pres. Hermeskeil Museum, Germany History Edit
P08 XX950 Panavia Tornado f/f 15/07/1976, w/o 12/06/1979

[tm74sqn]

Was' P07 a German prototype 98+06 - try a google for that?