Panavia Tornado GR1
Design of
the Tornado began in 1968 as a collaborative effort between the United
Kingdom, West Germany, and Italy. It was a project to produce a low-level,
supersonic aircraft. Panavia Aircraft, a new tri-national company
established in Germany, built the variable sweep wing aircraft, and the
first prototype flew on August 14, 1974. Operational deliveries began in
July 1980.
Tornados carries a wide range of weapons, including the Air-Launched
Anti-Radar Missile (ALARM) for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)
and the Paveway II and III laser-guided bombs (LGB). The RAF also modified a
number of Tornados to carry the Sea Eagle anti-shipping missile. This
variant became the GR1B.
This aircraft flew with the RAF’s 17 Squadron from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia,
where it sported desert camouflage and the name Miss Behavin’. The aircraft
is currently painted as an aircraft assigned to the 617 Squadron.
Details
