Gyrfalcon GR.1

[Devilfish]

By the late 80's, the RAF were looking for a replacement for the BAe Eagle, which had been in service for almost 20 years.
No longer needing to carry a nuclear deterrent, a pure strike/bomber was required.  Already having the GD Falcon F.1 in service, the MOD looked at the F-16XL as a possible contender.  Funding was put into the project and it entered service as the Gyrfalcon GR.1 (a Gyrfalcon is the largest in the Falcon family)
2 Sqn took the first aircraft.

20170624_191005_zpsdm5gh4dt by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20170624_190933_zpsnf41nkma by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20170624_191014_zpsdoerkaup by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20170624_191037_zpsg7mofjoz by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20170624_191121_zpsyxrnsblw by Paul Carter, on Flickr

[rickshaw]

Oooh, nice.  What a lot of bombs, Sir?   

[Rick Lowe]

Oh, now that is a nice looking bird.

[AXU]

Awesome bird,great job  !

[zenrat]

Would you like a plane with your bombs sir?

Good job.

[Devilfish]

Would you like a plane with your bombs sir?

Good job.

As you can see, I completely ran out of 1000lbers, having raided all my stash, so had to complete the loadout with BL.755 cluster bombs from the Revell/Airfix/Heller Jaguar kit

[Captain Canada]

Great job. Love the shape of that machine. The colours and markings of course are perfect. Love the bomb load as well. Always been a fan of an aeroplane that's all loaded up !

[Devilfish]

Great job. Love the shape of that machine. The colours and markings of course are perfect. Love the bomb load as well. Always been a fan of an aeroplane that's all loaded up !

Thanks. It was a tight fit. I don't think they designed it with chunky British 1000lbers in mind!  I dare say it was meant to carry 500lbers

[NARSES2]

 

I can see that parked up at an airshow somewhere with all the kids trying to calculate the total wight of that bomb load 

[Snowtrooper]

Most excellent I have a soft spot for the XL and seeing it with so much British ordnance is a delight.

[McColm]

Great build

[Steel Penguin]

that is a good looking plane, that is 

[Old Wombat]

14 x 1,000-pounder's ... That'd seriously ruin someone's day!

[DogfighterZen]

I want to see it... damn PB!!!

[Devilfish]

As soon as I get everything transferred to Flickr I'll repost it!