Photos/Video: RAF Tornado Jets & Tanker Arrive

[Updated] The British Royal Air Force [RAF] departed Lajes, Azores this morning and arrived in Bermuda this afternoon [Jan 20] with two L-1011 Tristar tankers and eight Tornado fighter jets landing at the LF Wade International Airport.

According to the official RAF website, “The Tornado GR4 is a variable geometry, two-seat, day or night, all-weather attack aircraft capable of delivering a wide variety of weapons.

“Powered by two Rolls-Royce RB 199 Mk 103 turbofan engines, the GR4 is capable of low-level supersonic flight and can sustain a high subsonic cruise speed.”

“The aircraft can fly automatically at low level using Terrain Following Radar [TFR] when poor weather prevents visual flight.

“The aircraft is also equipped with Forward Looking Infrared [FLIR] and is Night Vision Goggle [NVG] compatible. This gives it a relatively unique all weather night capability as well as making it an impressive platform for mounting passive night electro-optical operations.”

Click to enlarge photos:

Update: At approximately 3:15pm the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service responded to a report of a fuel spill at the airport, caused by one of the visiting RAF military aircraft.

Watch Commander David DeCouto of the Airport Division stated that “there was a large fuel spill approximately 40’ x 30’ caused by a Lockheed L-1011 Military Aircraft. We responded to the incident with 6 vehicles staffed with 11 firefighters.

“When the duty crew arrived on scene they used Sphag Sorb absorbent to help remove the fuel from the tarmac. Once the fuel was removed, degreasers where applied to the area to help restore it to its original state. It took the duty crew nearly two hours to complete the cleanup.”

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