Northern Ireland Aviation Enthusiast's Forum

Military Aviation => Modern Military Aircraft => Topic started by: casper on June 06, 2011, 09:44:56 AM

Title: UK Gripen?
Post by: casper on June 06, 2011, 09:44:56 AM

I was reading this article on the BBC website and one part of it was totally news to me.

Quote

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen has so far been bought not only by Sweden, but   also by the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand, as well   as by the UK which is using it as its advanced fast jet platform for   test pilots worldwide.

I didn't know the UK had Gripens  :o :o

Title: Re: UK Gripen?
Post by: RNASMU on June 06, 2011, 09:58:03 AM

Casper
 
They may have been talking about this?
 
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?topicName=india&id=news/awx/2011/05/24/awx_05_24_2011_p0-327148.xml (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?topicName=india&id=news/awx/2011/05/24/awx_05_24_2011_p0-327148.xml)
 
The Empire Test Pilots were flying it in 2005
 
http://www.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom/news_releases_homepage/2005/2nd_quarter/paris_airshow_2005/etps_gripen.html (http://www.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom/news_releases_homepage/2005/2nd_quarter/paris_airshow_2005/etps_gripen.html)

Title: Re: UK Gripen?
Post by: casper on June 06, 2011, 10:05:24 AM

Thanks for that but your article says that it is Saab who will be locating them in the UK but the BBC article says that the Gripens have been bought by the UK and used as a trainer for test pilots.

Title: Re: UK Gripen?
Post by: Hammerhead on June 06, 2011, 10:07:18 AM

The Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) operate Gripens but they are Swedish Air Force ones, so I presume they are leased ..... 

Title: Re: UK Gripen?
Post by: Hammerhead on June 06, 2011, 10:18:46 AM

Heres the right link......

http://www.saabgroup.com/en/Air/Gripen-Fighter-System/Gripen-for-ETPS/Backgroud/ (http://www.saabgroup.com/en/Air/Gripen-Fighter-System/Gripen-for-ETPS/Backgroud/)

Title: Re: UK Gripen?
Post by: Angry Turnip on June 06, 2011, 01:56:47 PM

ETPS have a variety of types avaiable:
The ETPS currently (2010) uses the following types of aircraft:^[16]

• Aérospatiale Gazelle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A9rospatiale_Gazelle)
• Agusta A109E (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agusta_A109)
• BAC One-Eleven (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAC_One-Eleven)
• BAe Hawk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAe_Hawk)
• Beagle Basset (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle_B.206)
• Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault-Breguet/Dornier_Alpha_Jet)
• Hawker Siddeley Andover (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Andover)
• North American Harvard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Harvard)
• Saab (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab) JAS 39 Gripen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JAS_39_Gripen)
• Short Tucano (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Tucano)
• Westland Lynx (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westland_Lynx)
• Westland Sea King (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westland_Sea_King)

Title: Re: UK Gripen?
Post by: RNASMU on June 06, 2011, 02:03:10 PM

 
Am I right in saying the ETPS doesn't have a connection with the RAF ie: Ministry of Defence.

Title: Re: UK Gripen?
Post by: Angry Turnip on June 06, 2011, 08:07:31 PM

It is run by the MOD and QinetiQ,and operates mainly from Boscombe Down.