Britain's top guns

With a top speed of 1,320mph and a powerful 27mm Mauser cannon on board,

the Eurofighter Typhoon can certainly pack a punch. 
And this astonishing set of previously-unseen photographs documents life inside for RAF pilots inside the cockpit of the plane, which has a maximum altitude of 65,000ft. The set shows three Typhoons flying over the Falkland Islands, pilots training over airspace and performing in display formations. 
There is also a cross-section of the aircraft - which has a length of 52ft and width of 36ft - and another photograph showing pre-flight checks. Also seen is the futuristic BAE Striker helmet, which enables the pilot to cue the Typhoon's sensors and weapons onto enemy aircraft simply by looking at it. 
The images were released as part of a set featured in the RAF Typhoon Owner's Workshop Manual by Antony Loveless, which is out today.

In sun: RAF Typhoon aircraft wait for their next sortie from Gioia Dell Colle in Italy during Operation Ellamy, the UK contribution to help enforce the no-fly zone over Libya


Prepared: A Typhoon pilot is seen (left) through the green light of his head-up-display as he taxis in southern Italy. Another aircraft goes through pre-flight checks (right)

Up in the air: Typhoon aircraft from 3 Squadron RAF Coningsby depart on Exercise Taurus Mountain - a Quick Reaction Alert Training sortie over UK airspace


Inside: A pilot's view from the cockpit of a Royal Air Force Typhoon multi-role fighter jet (left) and this extraordinary photograph of the head-up display (right) are seen

 
More...
Bottles of French champagne confiscated by Nazis following 1940 invasion set to be auctioned off
TSA drops its proposal to allow small knives, bats and golf clubs on airplanes
'They treated us like terrorists': 100 Jewish students kicked off AirTran flight in New York after refusing to turn off their phones

Focus: A 11 Squadron RAF Coningsby Typhoon is pictured, in a photograph from the RAF Annual Review. It has a top speed of 1,320mph and a 27mm Mauser cannon

Soaring: RAF 29 Squadron Eurofighter Typhoon at the 2009 event of RIAT - the Royal International Air Tattoo - flown by Sqn Ldr Scott Loughran from RAF Coningsby

Above the clouds: Typhoon aircraft from 3 Squadron RAF Coningsby on Exercise Taurus Mountain - a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Training sortie over UK airspace

In formation: Three Typhoons of 1435 Flight over the Falkland Islands. The astonishing set of photographs documents the extraordinary aircraft from inside and outside

Enlarge

 

1. 

Gear: The futuristic BAE Striker helmet (left) enables the pilot to cue the Typhoon's sensors and weapons onto enemy aircraft simply by looking at it. Also pictured (right) is a step-by-step montage of a pilot getting into his flying suit

Missiles: RAF No 11 Squadron Typhoon at Green Flag, U.S. The Typhoon is loaded with enhanced Paveway 2 bombs (pictured), Litening III designator pods and drop tanks

Looking up: Flt Lt Adam Crickmore poses inside a Typhoon at RAF Conningsby. The aircraft has a maximum altitude of 65,000ft

Behind the scenes: A Typhoon FGR4 on display in a hardened aircraft shelter with its weapons. The plane has a top speed of 1,320mph
Enlarge

1.  

Cross-section: This detailed diagram shows the inner workings of the Typhoon aircraft - which is being profiled in a new users' manual

Book: The images were released as part of a set featured in the RAF Typhoon Owner's Workshop Manual by Antony Loveless, which is out today

Subscribe

Monitor continues to update the latest from This blog directly in your email!