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[restomodmusclecar]

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[osswald]

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[a3w13photography]

For the last #tonkatuesday I thought I would upload one of my favourite pictures of the farewell flights. 2 Tornados flying head on, low overhead.

The Panavia Tornado has been one of the main combat aircraft for the Royal Air Force for the past 37 years. It has been involved in almost every combat zone that the RAF have been deployed to and has demonstrated incredible low level performance as a bomber.

The aircraft is currently operated by two squadrons based out of RAF Marham in Norfolk, East Anglia. These two squadrons are 31 Squadron known as the “Goldstars” and Number 9 (Bomber) Squadron.

The Squadrons:

The Goldstars were formed in 1915 as part of the Royal Flying Corp and they flew the B.E.2c biplane. During the Second World War they operated DC 2’s and Dakota transport aircraft. As the world moved into the Jet age the Goldstars were reformed in 1955 and were based out of RAF Laarbruch in Germany. During this they operated Canberra PR.7 and Phantom FGR2’s. In 1976 they were reequipped with Jaguar GR1 jets and continued to operate out of Germany.

In 1984 the Squadron received their first Tornado GR1’s. In 1991 the Goldstars were the leading squadron of the tornado detachment during Operation Granby (Gulf War 1). The Goldstars were the last squadron to be based out of RAF Brüggen in Germany before relocating to RAF Marham where they have been based ever since. The squadron has participated in several other operations in the following years including Operation Telic (Iraq war) and Operation Herrick (Afghan war). On the 14th of March 2019 the squadron will be temporarily disbanded before being reformed in 2024. When reformed the squadron will operate Protector RG1 drones out of RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

Number 9 Bomber Squadron (IX Squadron, IX (B) Squadron) we’re formed in December of 1914 as part of the Royal Flying Corp. They saw action at some of the most high profile battles of the First World War including Passchendaele and the Somme. During this time they used a wide variety of aircraft. Too many to list here but included are the B.E.2a and Avro 504.

IX involvement in the Second World War was equally as noteworthy being involved in high profile operations such as the sinking of the Tirpitz and are often thought to have been the first to shoot down an aircraft in 1939. During WW2, IX Squadron used aircraft such as the Vickers Wellington and the Avro Lancaster.

In 1952 IX received Canberra aircraft and participated in operations in Malaya in 1956 and the Suez crisis. In 1962 the squadron received Avro Vulcan bombers and were based out of RAF Cottesmore in Rutland before being moved in 1969 to RAF Akrotiri in Cypress. In 1975 the squadron moved to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire until 1982.

In January of 1982, IX revived its first Panavia Tornado and were based out of RAF Honington in Suffolk until they were deployed to RAF Brüggen in 1986 becoming the 4th tornado squadron to be deployed to Germany.

IX have taken part in several high profile operations in recent years including Operation Granby (Gulf War 1), Operation Engadine (Kosovo), Operation Telic (Iraq war), Operation Herrick (Afghan war), Operation Ellamy (Libya) and most recently Operation Shader in Syria and Iraq.

IX Squadron is the oldest dedicated bomber squadron in the Royal Air Force and will be reequipping as soon as the Tornado retires with Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4’s and will be based out of RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

The Aircraft:

The Tornado was built by a company called Panavia as a joint British, German and Italian project. The aircraft has been built over 900 times and has served in almost all modern combat zones. The Tornado has been operated by 4 countries, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Saudi Arabia.

The aircraft is a swing wing aircraft meaning the wings can retract back to make the aircraft more aerodynamic. The aircraft is capable at flying over Mach 2 (1,400mph) and is capable of carrying 11 weapons at hard points underneath the aircraft and 2 air to air missiles on rails. The aircraft also has a 27mm Mauser cannon.

The first aircraft were delivered to the British RAF and German Luftwaffe 1979 and the Italian Air Force in 1981. The Royal Air Force announces in June 2011 the the RAF’s tornado fleet, collectively had flown over 1 million flying hours.