RAF Pilot Swaps Tornado GR4 for F1 Williams (Part 2)

Ever wondered how quick an RAF fighter pilot would be in a Formula One car? Wonder no more, the Royal Air Force and the Williams F1 team have got together to make it happen.

Part of a new BBC Series 'Formula for Success'. The series will examine the synergy between Williams Formula One and the RAF in areas such as; leadership, management style, teamwork, technology and training. Part of the synergy was to expose a Formula One driver to the Conditions Aircrew work under and what better way than to fly Alex Wurz in the back seat of a GR4 Tornado. After briefings, a medical and been kitted out in his flying suit. Alex experiences a one hour 40 minute sortie with Squadron Leader Graeme Bagnall of No 2 Squadron based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

In this Clip Graeme or 'Baggers' as he likes to be known in true RAF fashion, leapt at the chance to drive the 2006-spec Williams FW28B at the Short National Circuit at Silverstone.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• RAF
• Royal
• Air
• Force
• Pilot
• Tornado
• GR4
• II
• Squadron
• Leader
• Graeme
• Bagnall
• Baggers
• F1
• Williams
• FW28B
• Alex
• Wurz
• Car

[philateliceun]

@connell256 lol you have to take in consideration that fighter pilots are very fit people and get exposed to massive G forces, even more then F1 cars, regularly. Only very fit persons are able to drive in a F1 car simply because the G forces will rip your head off. Secondly, you need to be familiar with high speeds. Fighter pilots have one of the best reflexes on multi tasking abilities, you need to have that to drive a f1 car too. A f1 car only works on high speeds, you can't drive it slowly.

[kjelectricsamurai]

Nice one Baggers, you lucky guy, I thoroughly enjoyed watching your experience there, cant believe he flies Tornados as well! lucky man :)

[rafeders]

so why arent you an f1 driver?

[hukuando]

You must also take into account the medical percpective. Toyota's team doctor says an average human body cant take more than 2 laps coz of dehydration and pressure.

[nvstewart]

yes, anybody can drive one of these machines, but very limited amounts of people can push it to its limits. I seriously doubt the RAF Pilot was pushing anywhere near the limits of the car.

[connell256]

nowadays F1 cars ANYBODY can drive. just push throttle and press a paddle to change gears. Yes theres nother things like settings in the car you need to change during the race but the general idea is push throttle and change gear.

Cars before 1990 only skilled people could drive

[EvtheNev]

Well the general idea is not to crash...

[nitel10]

if you crash a plane into a mountain, it will be contained in that area

[checkin069]

it makes one wonder that if these guys crash the car it is contained with in a certain area !!!!! yet when you crash a plane it spreads over more than a mile so is there really a comparison ?

Been on both sides of the fence turn is different !!!!