ZD743 - Royal Air Force (Tornado-GR.1)

Photo of aircraft ZD743 operated by Royal Air Force

Aircraft Details

Frame Details
SerialBT042/366
Line Number
First Flight26.07.84
ModelTornado-GR.1
StatusCrashed
Commentscrashed 03.07.12 when ZD743 was returning south to Lossiemouth via the Tain weapons range, Ross and Cromarty after a low level sortie over northern Scotland. ZD812 had taken off from Lossiemouth and was heading north to the range to carry out strafing runs. Both arrived earlier than their allocated time and were holding due to a USAF F-15E being on the range. ZD743 was in a left hand pattern at 900ft between the Beatrice and Helmsdale oil rigs. ZD812 commenced a right hand pattern in the same area and was given clearance to enter the range when in a right hand bank. With the other Tornado in a left hand bank they collided belly up seven miles east of the Helmsdale rig and crashed into the Moray Firth. The crew of ZD812 ejected and were pulled from the water by one of two Sea Kings that were scrambled from Lossiemouth. The pilot was killed and the Weapons System Operator received serious injuries. The crew of ZD743 did not eject and both were killed. They were later named as Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey (aged 35) and Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders (aged 27)' both were declared as "missing presumed dead". The bodies of Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders and Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey were recovered from the Moray Firth two weeks later.
  Reg Airline Delivered Status
Not Seen It! ZD743 Royal Air Force 29.08.84 Crashed

Key: Flown It! Flown It Seen It! Seen It Seen It! Not Seen It
Log in now to see your sightings and flights on this aircraft

SIGHTINGS

Sighting Details Image
19/05/2012 - OTT - slinkywizard
19/05/2012 - ____ - DaveSpotter
Converted to GR.4 standard and coded (091), Queen's Diamond Jubilee Flypast.
19/05/2012 - ____ - DaveSpotter
Coded (129), Queen's Diamond Jubilee Flypast.
09/07/2011 - EGDY - arthur7273@gmail.com
Coded '091'
28/05/2011 - OFF - PaulGold
16/08/2007 - EGOV - Overwatch
23/04/1990 - OFF - roly70
14/03/1990 - XMU - roly70
28/05/1989 - EGUN - gazac
coded 743
28/05/1989 - EGUN - colin woods
27/05/1989 - EGUN - sherror
27/05/1989 - MHZ - toxic121
27/05/1989 - EGNV - mudhen
27/05/1989 - EGNV - mudhen
27/05/1989 - EGUN - Showtime100
27/05/1989 - EGUN - roly70
28/08/1988 - EGUL - saxonms
27/08/1988 - EGUL - roly70
10/05/1988 - EGVN - Oiram
15/03/1988 - OFF - roly70