posted on Aug, 26 2009 @ 07:47 AM
Flightglobal have an article up discussing the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the RAFs utilisation compared to the other member nations, and efforts to
extend its fatigue life.
A Typhoons fatigue life is 6,000 flying hours, while the Panavia Tornado GR4s have a fatigue life of 8,000 - a third greater. The RAF expect that
their Typhoons will extend beyond 2030 in service, but only if they increase the fagitue life of the airframe.
The RAF is utilising its Typhoon fleet at about double the rate of other nations, achieving on average 30 hours of flight per month per airframe,
while the other member nations are achieving just 15 hours of flight per month per airframe, and the RAF are doing it with the least amount of spares
ordered from all member nations.
The RAFs fleet utilisation reached 25,000 hours at the end of 2008, compared to less than 10,000 for other member nations.
So, its nice to see the aircraft being utilised, but you have to ask: how are they achieving those utilisation figures, as the Typhoon has yet to be
deployed to a combat zone and QRF duty does not have the aircraft flying on patrol.
Seems awfully high for fleet familiarisation!
We need those Tranche 3 aircraft!
www.flightglobal.com...