The backbone of the RAF for nearly 40 years | Panavia Tornado

The Panavia Tornado formed the backbone of the RAF for nearly 40 years of continuous front-line service. Originally designed during the Cold War to carry nuclear weapons, the Tornado served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya fielding laser-guided strategic weapons. Wherever the RAF was used, Tornados were on the front line.

In this episode of Duxford in Depth, events and experiences coordinator Liam Shaw takes us through the distinguished history of the Tornado from our GR1 'Foxy Killer' which flew more missions than any other RAF Tornado during Operation Granby in 1991, to our GR4 which served in Operation Ellamy in 2011 enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya. We take a look at the technology that made the Tornado one of the most advanced ground attack aircraft of its time and hear first-hand from the people that designed and flew it.

Subscribe to IWM's YouTube channel for new Duxford in Depth videos every month.

-- Video contents --
0:00 Intro
0:54 Design
2:45 Service overview
4:26 Tornado GR1 'Foxy Killer'
5:53 RB-199 engines
6:59 Variable-geometry wings
8:08 Tornado GR4 weapon fit
9:31 Crew
10:54 Retirement

Credits:
Tornado flying at IWM Duxford courtesy of PlanesTV

Tornado and Apache images Licensed under OGL v1.0

04a_Ellamy_Tornado by Sgt Pete Mobbs/MOD © Crown Copyright.
Ellamy-906-110602-0198-Out-Unc-0009 by SAC Sally Raimondo/MOD © Crown Copyright.
MNT-11-048-OUT-005 by Ed Marshall/MOD © Crown Copyright.
MNT-11-050-OUT-UNC-3234 by SAC Neil Chapman/MOD © Crown Copyright.
EAW906_11_0009_Out_Unc_0005 by Cpl Babbs Robinson/MOD © Crown Copyright.
MNT-11-050-OUT-UNC-2434 by SAC Neil Chapman/MOD © Crown Copyright.
20141103_ISIS_3 by Hall/MOD © Crown Copyright.
20121017-MWP-221-U-(PR)--Underslung loads-ALPC- 219 by Peter Davies/MOD © Crown Copyright.
45149174 by Graeme Main/MOD © Crown Copyright.
MAR-UNCLASS-20121012-1207-0181 by Corporal Mike Jones/MOD © Crown Copyright.
MAR-UNCLASS-20121012-1207-0129 by Corporal Mike Jones/MOD © Crown Copyright.

#history #aircraft #tornado

[scottcunningham]

I was walking up a hill with a mate one day in the Borders of Scotland and the Tornado's were low flying out of a Glen over a Loch going round and rinse and repeat. We were well above them. Next thing we know one breaks off and heads up our Hill heading towards us. We were jumping up and down and waving like school kids.He went near vertical as he went past giving us a wave back with a flick of the wings. Great moment i will never forget.

[itsnotmeitshim]

My favourite plane of all time. The RAF used to put on a display over the school in Llandloes, Mid Wales every year. One year whilst we where at the display, the cloud ceiling was too low for the red arrows and we were gutted....until a lunatic in a single tornado turned up and gave an impromtu display which was absolutely awsome, no practice, no routine just crazy wild and loud. Respect to that guy, he made our day.

[angusmcangus]

Former Tornado GR1 pilot and weapons instructor here 1982-1989: It really was the Rolls Royce of low-level strike aircraft, a great military aviation achievement. Sad that it is no longer in RAF service in any capacity. The reason for the large fin was directional control and stability, nothing to do with the engines. It’s quite a compact aircraft and the shorter the fuselage, the bigger the vertical surface and rudder required. Having twin fins like the F14 and F15 would have achieved the same thing but probably wouldn’t have offered the ability to carry as much fuel - RAF Tornadoes had a fuel tank in the fin whereas German and Italian models didn’t.

[deancostello]

When my step Dad worked in Scotland in Selkirk, whenever I stopped over at his house I was awoken each morning by two of these flying overhead nearly every day. Fantastic machines.

[johnparrish]

I've seen 3 Tornado's burning hard 50 feet off a lake surface coming straight at me. A sight like that sticks in your memory like glue. It was 1985 and the RAF was making training runs in southern Scotland.

[k_nook]

Wonderful video. I grew up in Munich, my Dad worked at Panavia. Great memories of multinational friends.

[DalgetyBayHypnotherapy]

I worked for Ferranti in Edinburgh, where they made the Inertial Navigation Systems for a number of RAF planes beginningwith the Harrier. The IN was the most complex, beautiful, intricate piece of electromechanical design and I was always aware, and proud, that every time any if these aircraft flew past, it carried my fingerprints.

(Ferranti later become GEC Ferranti, then Marconi Avionics).

[thephantomman]

Ive visited duxford a few times over the years, and the condition the IWM keeps its aircraft exhibits in is absolutely perfect

[JamieSandersonx]

I remember at a kid going to Cottesmore and seeing these take off - my dad was in the RAF based there and used to build and maintain the RB199 engines and I was obsessed with the Tornado as a result! I have many fond memories of air shows and all the TTTE memorabilia around the house growing up. Great video of a great aircraft.

[berniecoles]

Being disabled, walking to to see their farewell flight over Pembrey was a real struggle for me, but so worthwhile. Farewell to the flying shark. Like the Harrier I’ll miss miss you and appreciate your service in protecting our skies.xx

[georginagedroge]

I was planning on joining the RAF when was I was a teen (didn't happen) but I was fortunate enough to spend time with the mechanics of RAF Cottesmore who were some of the best and funniest people I had ever met at that time. As a treat at the end of my work placement, I was allowed to sit in the 'navigator' seat while they test-fired the engines. What memories and what a plane!

[gregr.demarco]

Just. Crass American here.! I have been to RAF Duxford It is an amazing place!

[BackTheBike]

I project managed the F3 Major Fatigue Test at Warton. We bent it up and down until it broke, then modded the broken bits. A wingtip deflection of c12', she creaked and groaned like a galleon in full sale. I also PM'd the installation of the chaff/flare system for Granby. We got it on the a/c and flying in 10 days. A special moment when she departed Warton for Boscombe.
Bob Fairclough, who speaks here, was my boss in the Estimating Dept!

[warwickbull]

The Tornado was an influential part of the the first 8 years of my life, as my dad was ground crew engineer in the RAF on Tornado maintenance and worked at various squadrons at Lossiemouth and Marham, also we were one of the last families get posted out to Germany in the RAF 1998-2001, as Bruggen closed, lovely plane, so hard to imagine that the Tornado is now a museum piece and I'm glad to say, I saw the final Tornado fly past over Warton.🙂

[henrykitcher]

For many, many years I wanted to fly the Tornado in service. Unfortunately I will never get an opportunity to fly in one, but that won't ever change the special affection I have for it. Others may, and have, criticised it for such and such reasons, but despite that it is still, and probably always will be, my favourite aircraft. Thank you, IWM Duxford, for this great video on such an incredible aeroplane.

[Umski]

I was given an F3 airfix model as a kid - I didn't really appreciate its background the time but loved playing around with the sweeping wings :D

[Breznak]

I've only seen german Tornados, but they were always the highlight of any of our (czech) airshow in the 90s and 00s. I love this airplane!

[MostlyPennyCat]

I always loved the name "Panavia"
I wish they'd kept it and built more Panavia aircraft!

[lifeinsidekyoto]

I used to stay at a cabin up in Scotland on Loch Lossie and these used to do extremely low flyovers. Eating breakfast on the deck with these screeching over head is still one of the greatest things I've ever witnessed. <y all time favourite jet.

[andy_rb]

I was climbing at Malham Cove in Yorkshire once in the 90s when a Tornado dropped in low over the top and throttled up with those twin exhausts pointing back at us. The roar was astonishing. The whole amphitheatre shook as it thundered off down the valley.