Raoul Moat....why the Tornado jet?

[10ClarionSt]

There must be lots of things about this that we aren't aware of and won't be told, but why was a Tornado jet used? Did the police have laser sighters on the ground, ready to line Moat up if they saw him, then zap him with a missile from the jet? I mean, what part could a Tornado play in the hunt?

[Vagrant]

Probably none - but it could be "spin" police are clutching at straws, so ask the RAF to divert a Tornado to the area, circle around for a bit ....
Helps to give the public the impression that things are being done.

[AlBags]

They used it probably because it carries the most advanced technology we possess at this time with regards spotting IR targets
They can scan an area and pass the data back immediately to be analysed. Tornado would not have been armed, otherwise there would have been at least a 5 mile exclusion zone.

[dothawkes31]

How expesive would that be? It's like sending the space station to do a milk round

[dothawkes31]

I watch the cop shows that chase cars and a helicopter can spot anyone from the air with the heat search machine so they didn;t need a tornado,

[bibblebub]

my milk gets delivered by cosmonaut, what's wrong with that?

[AlBags]

Yes .. I did work on Tornados ..
The cost of sending one out and about is phenomenal, so it's use would have to be signed off at highest level, and be certain to be of proper use.

[Vagrant]

Or, if the pilot flew low enough and used enough power, the noise might have caused Moat to 5h1t himself, thus making it easier for the sniffer dogs to locate him ...

[B00]

How else do you think Gazza got there eh?

[AlBags]

But the kit onboard a Tornado makes Police equipment look like a Nintendo DS.

[AlBags]

That's better V lol : )

[askyourgran]

Its over egging the pudding a bit sending a Tornado, why do the Police have Helicopters?

[dothawkes31]

My ex worked on the first Tornados when they broght them to St Athan and they are bloody noisy, (not as noisy as the Vulcan mind)

[AlBags]

Must have been at St Athan same time as me then .. I was there for 10 years .. right near end of runway.

Helicopters are kept in reserve for the Mollykins estate.

[dothawkes31]

bloody good goal!!!

1978 -1981, we were on west camp, he was 2 squadron and also Mountain Rescue ,(their base was near the Naafi)

[AlBags]

^ Good lord Dot ... 1980-90 ish
Lived on West (blocks)
Worked on East by end of peri. 8 Sqn EROS, Tornado and Jag/Hawk/Red Arrows engines.
I assume you were in West quarters .. or Eglwys Brewis quarters?
Had a look there on Google Earth?

[AlBags]

My mate was Mountain Rescue too, yes, by West Naafi shop.
Trying to remember his name, darn it.

[dothawkes31]

Mallory Close, no 17!!! It's still there too I looked on google maps a while ago!!! Did you se the FBI???? and the red dragon? I 'lived' in both for 3 years lol

[dothawkes31]

*use the FBI. (Fisher Bridge Inn)

[dothawkes31]

was your mate part-time or full time MR? I think i can remember most of the names!!!

[AlBags]

Yep, I did .. as a rich singly at the time : )
Not so much FBI, tho.
Red Dragon and Bovvy Castle. Bovvy Castle had the loose women : )
I had a distant relative at top of road by Boverton Casle.
Also .. I had a work mate in Mallory. I used to go round there.
There was a suicide in that area .. maybe after you left tho.
Mate was full time at MR I think. They had good Fosters-ups tho : )