|
|
 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
By the end of March 2019, one of the world’s most successful, combat-proven, fast jets will have been retired.
Having entered front-line service with the RAF in 1982, the Tornado GR has assembled an unparalleled service record. It has been in constant combat action since 1991, and these very same aircraft still provide the backbone of the RAF’s precision-strike force. You’d be hard pressed to find a combat jet in any air force around the world that has offered the kind of value for money that the Panavia Tornado GR has for the RAF.
No one can argue with the combat pedigree of the Tornado GR variants: from Operation ‘Granby’ (the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War), through the following years of Iraqi no-fly zones, Operations ‘Jural’ and ‘Desert Fox’, Operation ‘Allied Force’ over Kosovo, Operation ‘Telic’ in 2003 and the enduring Iraq mission, Operation ‘Herrick’ in Afghanistan, Operation ‘Ellamy’ over Libya, Operation ‘Shader’ over Syria and again in Iraq and Syria being the most recent deployment, not to mention various other vital missions. The Tornado has earned an unequalled place in the RAF history books.
The Tornado GR will bow out at the very top of its game. It’s the best it has ever been. It has been deployed operationally since 1990 and has been in combat action 24/7, 365 days a year every day since.
The upgraded "Project Centurion" Eurofighter Typhoon's and the F-35B Lightning will replace the aging Tornado and an end to 'swing-wing'.
The RAF active inventory of Tornado GR4's totals 124 aircraft. These are flown from its Lossiemouth air base in Scotland and from Marham in Norfolk, with a detachment also forward-deployed at Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan.
As the RAF looks to Typhoon and the F-35, it sees very capable successors waiting to take on the GR’s mandate. For the Tornado itself, it will likely maintain its readiness and ops tempo right until the last squadron commander turns out the lights.
BAe original video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=utkl5TJajSQ
2018 may also be the final season of seeing a Tornado air display 
In celebration of the well earned Tornado retirement in March 2019, ModelSpace is holding a Tornado build competition which get's underway on the 1st Nov 2018 and ends on the 31st March 2019.
The competition will be open to all ModelSpace members that contribute around the forum (rather than just own topics) and will also be open to all countries. No entry permitted with the sole purpose of entry only - entrants must have made general forum contribution or made at least 25 posts!
The competition will be to build one of 3 Tornado kit variants - the GR, F3 and Gulf War - any scale!
The same prize will be awarded for the best build of each of the 3 Tornado’s listed (any GR type), (one entry per member) - Prize to be announced soon and further details/rules nearer the time.
A Tornado GR4 was recently given the iconic Gulf War ‘desert pink’ paint scheme to celebrate 25 years of continuous combat ops..
https://theaviationist.c...pecial-colored-tornado/
Note: It is unlikely we will continue with Build of the Year for 2019 but instead, we'll have a number of shorter running themed build competitions throughout 2019. Tomick attached the following image(s):
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
Hope there are no big big Tornado model entries  
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=su6tfYYUr2g
|
|
|
|
|
 Sounds like a plan  Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
|
|
|
|
|
Looks fantastic in the hands of a skilled flyer.....  Regards Alan
|
|
|
 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/11/2009 Posts: 3,432 Points: 10,280 Location: Bâe Colwyn, Wales
|
Watched this and that led from one to another then an hour had gone lol. So many nice Big Rc jets out there. Even watched the fastest rc jet at 400+mph. couldn't even see it.
Am interested in the comp though will get thinking cap on for this one...
ChrisOn the bench 1/350 Revell Tirpitz Platinum Edition (Pontos PE and Wooden deck) plus extra Eduard PE set and extra MK1 door sets.
|
|
|
|
|
looks like there's only a few kits out there and the Revel one is reportedly the best of the bunch Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
The prize for each of the 3 group winners of building the best Tornado GR, F3 or Gulf War model, will be a £100 Always Hobbies voucher https://www.alwayshobbies.com
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
The disbandment parade for the first Tornado unit to be axed, 12 Squadron, has already taken place two weeks ago at RAF Marham. We are facing the loss of our three Tornado squadrons for just one F-35B squadron of 12 aircraft... http://www.dailymail.co....-line-against-ISIS.html
|
|
|
 Rank: Master  Groups: Registered, Moderator, Forum Support Team Joined: 25/03/2011 Posts: 1,027 Points: 3,075 Location: Lincolnshire
|
Tomick wrote:The disbandment parade for the first Tornado unit to be axed, 12 Squadron, has already taken place two weeks ago at RAF Marham. We are facing the loss of our three Tornado squadrons for just one F-35B squadron of 12 aircraft... http://www.dailymail.co....-line-against-ISIS.html
Exactly Mr T, I’m sorry but I’m afraid the idea is laughable that 12 aircraft can do the work of three squadrons. I know that a lot of work is ongoing with this aircraft but it’s also an aircraft that got tagged and almost shot down by the S-200 missile system which dates back to the early 1970’s. Stealth only gets you so far, for example recently an F22 raptor beat a hasty retreat when confronted by an Su-35 which was armed to the teeth. My point is that once the element of surprise is lost ie: stealth, you then have to be able to dogfight. It is my understanding that the F-35 lost in dogfights to the Eurofighter. Will this be an expensive mistake? Only time will tell! 😏
|
|
|
|
|
Hi All Found this and thought it may be of interest to those who are looking for Kits for the upcoming comp. It has kit reviews and some after market parts reviews also quite a few pictures to view:- https://www.cybermodeler...rnado/tornado_all.shtml
Have fun. Andy Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
|
|
|
|
|
Found this Film on Youtube about the Tornado:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBUyBF1AgUICurrent builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/11/2009 Posts: 3,432 Points: 10,280 Location: Bâe Colwyn, Wales
|
I ordered mine too. Not sure i got the right one though. Chris On the bench 1/350 Revell Tirpitz Platinum Edition (Pontos PE and Wooden deck) plus extra Eduard PE set and extra MK1 door sets.
|
|
|
|
|
Great stuff another one in the comp Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
RAF Tornado’s ready to deploy BriteCloud decoys..
https://www.flightglobal...itecloud-decoys-447170/ u
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
RAF Akrotiri on standby with major activity reported at the Tornado air base as aircraft are put on standby of air strikes in Syria
|
|
|
|
|
Tornado's having a field day when in training with the US Navy. Watch the video :- http://www.thedrive.com/...-and-f-a-18s-in-trainingCurrent builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
|
|
|
|
Guest
|
US
