CW
| C1000
TYPHOON
TA DEL
G S N I C I M W A N Y D
HE N T AKES I IUM HT L ITAN WHIC LEVE T H , T W L I T E E W IGH OD HER N ED E M N W I T HT ON MB NO CO YPHO YET A HIS LIG S THE S I T A .T 00 TO MIC ENT ESSIVE RD RA G C10 M E A E R action, the Typhoon C V W IMP HIE ITIN ER is armed with air-to-air he sweeping delta EXC STOPH AL AC IS AS D IT. missiles, Mauser 27mm cannon RI wing configuration has IRE TCH NIC CH CH G WA T INSP and a 1000lb bomb. E created some T OF TRON R THA aircraft The current version of this twinmemorable and iconic E S HT – of which 53 engined master of the skies, the YET aeroplanes in recent times, such as FIG O R were for the RAF – Typhoon FGR4, has provided the Concorde and the Vulcan. In the EU
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last 10 years, the Eurofighter Typhoon, which was first delivered to the Royal Air Force in 2003, has maintained the triangular wing tradition in spectacular style. The canards or small wings mounted forward of the main wing give this remarkable multi-role fighter an even more distinctive silhouette. Now the RAF’s most advanced combat aircraft, the Typhoon is flown by 1 Squadron and 6 Squadron from RAF Leuchars in Fife and 3, 11, 17 and 29 Squadrons from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. The two bases are the northern and southern centres of the RAF’s quick response capability. Typhoons are also on permanent ops in the Falklands. The Eurofighter has been a joint development by the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain. Initial agreement was made in 1988, but contracts for the first batch of 148 6
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was not signed until 10 years later. Deliveries to the RAF started in 2003 to enable detailed development and testing to be carried out. The first Typhoon Squadron at RAF Coningsby was formally activated on 1st July 2005. A second tranche of 67 Typhoons has been added since then. The early version of the plane, which is most often a single-seater, cost £64.8 million. The improved second generation models carry a price tag of £90m. For this, the RAF (and the above; A delighted German, Italian, Spanish airforces, plus Graham Furley receives C5 those his of Saudi and Oman) get a sleekBattle of Britain looking craft(70) that is just over 52ft long Automatic from (almost 16m) with a delta wingspan of Chris Ward, more than 36 accompanied by ft (just over 11m). Two Eurojet EJ200 Squadron Leader turbojets, the afterburners of which sit side by side at the Tara McLuskieCunningham rear of theand fighter, provide 20,000 lbs of Wing Commander thrust each to deliver a top speed of 1.8 Erica Ferguson, Mach (1370mph) at a maximum who form the RAF altitude of 55000ft (16764m). Ready for Heritage team
inspiration for the latest aviator’s watch from Christopher Ward. In keeping with the technical sophistication of the computer-controlled jet fighter, the C1000 Typhoon marks another technical advancement for the company, being the first of its watches to boast a ceramic outer case. In a further refinement, a titanium frame supporting the movement sits inside the ceramic. The protective carapace of ceramic is fitted around the inner case through intense pressure. Ceramics - versions of which have been used for heat shields on US space shuttles to protect them as they re-enter the earth's atmosphere – were first used for watches as long ago as the 1980s, but the latest ceramics are far more high-tech. The appeal of this advanced composite comes from its light weight, scratch-resistance, durability, smooth touch and deep opaque appearance, especially in the ➸