Typhooon Tour

A rare visit to Canada

While RAF Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft have previously visited Canada for operational purposes, this will be the first appearance of the RAF Typhoon Display Team in the country.

On June 19, 2024, Captain David Turnbull, callsign "Turbo," arrived at Bagotville Air Base with the demonstration Typhoon (ZJ-913), affectionately nicknamed “Moggy” after the identification letters “F-MOG” painted on its fuselage. He was accompanied by a reserve Typhoon (ZK321) and his technical and communications team, who arrived aboard an RCAF CC-150 Polaris.

Logistics and teamwork

Unlike the Italian Frecce Tricolori, which must land to refuel during flights, the British Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft completed their journey from the United Kingdom to Canada in one continuous flight with in-flight refueling.

The RAF demonstration team coordinated closely with the RCAF for this mission, utilizing a Canadian CC-150 Polaris tanker. They flew over Iceland and Greenland without landing, completing the trip in six hours with five in-flight refueling operations. A second Polaris aircraft transported the support team and their equipment. Captain Turnbull noted that this operation exemplifies the strong cooperation between the two Air Forces, reflecting their effective collaboration on exercises.

Turbo, a seasoned pilot, despite his young age, with an impressive logbook

Captain David Turnbull, callsign "Turbo," is a highly experienced fighter pilot, despite his youthful appearance. At just 30 years old, he boasts over six years of operational flying experience, including deployments to Iraq and Syria for Operation Shader, as well as exercises in Oman and Malaysia, and missions to the Falkland Islands.

In 2021, Turbo joined 29 Squadron as a qualified flying instructor, where he trains new pilots on the Typhoon and supports RAF Coningsby’s Quick Reaction Alert role for UK airspace defense. The Typhoon Display Team, including engineers, ground support, and public relations staff, is exclusively drawn from 29 Squadron at RAF Coningsby, the RAF’s primary Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit and largest fast-jet base.

An impressive display, a team effort

The Typhoon display is the culmination of extensive preparation, meticulous planning, and rigorous rehearsals by the dedicated team behind the performance. While the pilot showcases the aircraft, the success of the display relies heavily on the collective efforts of all team members involved in logistics, maintenance, and planning.

Preparation for the Typhoon display team starts in the autumn of the previous year with the selection of the pilot. Once chosen, the pilot shadows their predecessor at the season's end and engages in training exercises at Royal Air Force Coningsby to enhance their skills. The pilot must design a demonstration sequence featuring approved maneuvers, including contingency versions for adverse weather conditions. This sequence is refined using Typhoon simulators before being tested in real flight and practiced under emergency scenarios. Live flight preparations begin at 5,000 feet, progressively descending to 500 feet, with level turns and hovers performed at 300 and 100 feet, respectively.

During an aerial demonstration, the Typhoon pilot endures extreme physical demands, experiencing acceleration forces of up to 9 G positive and -3 G negative. This means the pilot feels up to nine times their body weight during intense maneuvers and a sensation of levitation force equivalent to three times their body weight during negative Gs. As the pilot himself has noted, “It’s quite an ordeal.”
The 2024 demonstration routine highlights the Typhoon’s remarkable handling and impressive thrust-to-weight ratio through a series of spectacular maneuvers. Captain Turnbull "Turbo" even performed in heavy rain on Sunday, a feat some other performers avoided. When asked about flying in the rain, a team member smiled and responded, “Of course, yes; this is business as usual. If we didn’t fly in the rain in Britain, half the airshows would be canceled.”

Witnessing the Typhoon in flight is an unforgettable experience. To fully appreciate it, one must hear the roar of its engines—an incredible sound that complements the aircraft’s tight turns and exceptional handling at both high and low speeds. The Typhoon stands out as a visual marvel, with few aircraft rivaling its capabilities. Equipped with advanced sensors from BAE Systems and Leonardo, as well as the new Striker helmet, the Typhoon represents the pinnacle of modern aviation technology.

An aircraft painted to remember history

Last April, all eyes were on RAF Coningsby when the Royal Air Force Typhoon Display Team unveiled a specially repainted Typhoon jet to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the historic D-Day landings. The jet, Typhoon FGR4 (ZJ913), was adorned with a striking mid-World War II fighter camouflage scheme, reminiscent of the Hawker Typhoon flown by No. 257 Squadron RAF under Squadron Leader Denzil Jenkins during the D-Day operations in Normandy.

The new livery left the public in awe, reflecting the iconic appearance of the Typhoon used in support of the D-Day landings. Squadron Leader Jenkins, who conducted numerous missions leading up to D-Day, played a crucial role in a raid on enemy radar sites along the northern coast of France. This operation was pivotal in disrupting German defenses, allowing the Allied forces to approach the coast with greater secrecy.

The repainted aircraft features a camouflage colour scheme and distinctive black and white invasion stripes on its wings. These stripes, originally applied hastily during the Second World War to help differentiate Allied aircraft from enemy ones, also included yellow lines along the edges to enhance visibility to friendly forces. Legend has it that these stripes were often painted quickly with the help of a broom dipped in paint, demonstrating the urgency of their application.

The repainting process of the Typhoon was complex, requiring months of meticulous work from design to application. Many parts of the jet had to be dismantled and repainted individually to achieve the authentic historical appearance.

The Typhoon, a flagship of the Royal Air Force

The Typhoon FGR.Mk 4 is a highly versatile multi-role combat aircraft, renowned for its exceptional performance and agility. Designed to excel across a range of air operations, from air policing and peacekeeping to high-intensity engagements, it has evolved significantly from its initial role as the Typhoon F.Mk 2, which focused on air-to-air missions. Today, as the FGR4, it serves as a powerful multi-role platform.

Equipped with the Hands-on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) interface, the Typhoon offers pilots control over numerous critical functions directly from the cockpit. This, combined with an advanced cockpit and the HEA (Head Equipment Assembly) headset, ensures the aircraft is optimally equipped to handle various air operations.

While the Typhoon has demonstrated its capabilities in precision strike missions, its primary role for the RAF remains providing Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) to protect UK and Falkland Islands airspace. It has also been deployed in support of NATO air defense in the strategically important Baltic and Black Sea regions.

The Typhoon FGR4 stands out on the battlefield due to its versatility and extensive arsenal. In air-to-air combat, it can engage multiple targets effectively with the ASRAAM missile, which uses infrared guidance for short-range engagements, and the Meteor missile, a ramjet-powered weapon designed for beyond-visual-range combat, guided by radar. Additionally, the AMRAAM, a medium-range air-to-air missile, complements the Captor radar and the PIRATE electro-optical targeting system, providing the Typhoon with unparalleled superiority in aerial dogfights.

In ground attack and close air support (CAS) missions, the Typhoon typically employs a combination of Paveway IV bombs, Brimstone guided missiles, and a 27 mm internal cannon, often integrated with the Litening III targeting pod. The Paveway IV bombs offer precision strikes with adjustable impact angles and fuze delays, while the 27 mm cannon delivers accurate fire for warning shots or precise engagements against light vehicles and enemy personnel.

A short visit from a friend, gone too soon

Although the RAF Typhoon Display Team’s visit to Canada was billed as the "RAF Typhoon Canada Tour 2024," the visit was short-lived. A special “Canada 2024 Typhoon Display” patch was even created to commemorate this first and only appearance in Canada at SAIB 2024. After the SAIB weekend, the team headed back to the UK, disappointing those who had hoped to see them at the other RCAF Centenary event, the Quinte Air Show in Trenton, the following weekend. The team already had three demonstrations scheduled in the UK the following week.

Despite this brief visit, the entire team was won over by the region and the warm welcome from the people of Saguenay. Captain Turnbull expressed his delight in celebrating the RCAF’s centennial with them and supporting such an important ally. Throughout its history, the RCAF has maintained strong and lasting ties with the Royal Air Force, symbolizing a long-standing collaboration between the two air forces. The RAF was therefore very proud to be part of this celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.Mk 4 Technical Specifications:

Powerplant: Two Eurojet EJ200 turbofans, each producing 20,000 lb (90 kN) of thrust with afterburner
Length: 52 ft 4¼ in (15.96 m)
Height: 17 ft 4¼ in (5.29 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 4½ in (11.09 m)
Wing Area: 538.20 sq ft (50 m²)
Empty Weight: Approximately 22,000 lb (10,000 kg)
Loaded Weight: Approximately 46,300 lb (21,000 kg)
Maximum Speed: Mach 1.8
Acceleration (Brakes Off to Mach 1.5 at 35,000 ft): Less than 2 minutes 30 seconds
Maximum Altitude: 55,000 ft

Armament:

Internal 27mm Mauser cannon
Air-to-air missiles: ASRAAM, Meteor, AIM-120 AMRAAM
Precision-guided bombs: Enhanced Paveway II, Paveway IV
Air-to-ground missiles: Storm Shadow, Brimstone

RAF Typhoon's Canadian Tour