How strange is it going to be?

[Unknown74]

I was thinking over the Weekend how strange it’s going to be from Next Year not having Tornados of any sort - F.3/ GR.1/4 flying with the RAF even though other Countries will still operate Tornados and U.K. move on to Typhoon, F-35B Lightning etc.

[Tiger 1]

Yes.. strange it will seem... pretty much like when we scrapped the F4 and other countries like Gemany... Turkey and Greece still flew them.

Much rather watch the Tornado but the F35 will grow on us just like the Tornado did after the F4

T1

[Blackcat1]

Wth 60% SIM hours dont expect to see them as much

[quid21]

Our Tornados (or is it Tornadoes?) have been very heavily used since their introduction and been involved in a fair few conflicts when compared to their less utilised siblings in Europe. At least that's what I'm lead to believe.

[Blackcat1]

Very true , she's a workhorse and still fulfilling her role until the end.

[starfighter]

A true very hard working plane, I do really hope that a few more are preserved/ find there way to a new home ,
like many of our fine museums,l no there are a few already out there , but hopefully some more can be saved from
the scrapmans axe.
Steve.

[Vulture 01]

Remember that the GR1/4 force has been on continuous operations since January 1991!
I can't think of any other RAF combat aircraft with that degree of service.
I'd guess that the only other types that might equal that could be USAF F15 and F16's

It'll be a sad day when they finish next year..... hopefully Marham could do something like No 6 Sqn did when they retired the Jaguar.

[toom317]

It's going to kill the low flying up here when it goes. We rarely get Typhoons, I doubt we'll see much of the F35, so it will be Hercs, Hawks and Tucanos, and we'll be losing the Tucanos shortly as well.

[Blackcat1]

Yes mate low fly is going to be even quieter down here too. Tornados are frequent over the Brecon Beacons , I've only ever seen 4/5 Typhoons down here since they entered service!

[Vulcan74]

It was the same when the Vulcans finished flying, not the same anymore and with other jets from the 70's era, I have lost interest in some of the aircraft that the RAF as got now.

[jem60]

Vulture01.There is an aircraft that served for longer, the Hunter. 1954 until 1994.

[Supra]

Could have a point there jem60, but somebody will pull the old 'RAF combat aircraft' card that Vulture01 noted in his Post. Preferring to say that Tornado will be 'all-out for 40' but was constantly in that role, whilst the Hunter was relegated to lesser duties from c.1969. Semantics probably, but just sayin'!

[Nighthawke]

Unless I've missed the point, Vulture01 is not referring to length of service but operational duty (1982/3 I think was service entry without looking it up).

[Supra]

You're on it! I missed that limiting subtlety.
With the original Tornado GR1s joining No IX (Bomber) Squadron way back in 1982 & receiving updates to GR4 standard that should fly until early 2019 is a credible 'innings'. At first I couldn't believe the continuous operational service claim, but 1991 through to present would seem correct. This only raises another question for me. Why didn't they take part in the first part of Gulf War '1' ? (02nd August 1990 – 28th February 1991)

[Bilvo]

You're on it! I missed that limiting subtlety.
With the original Tornado GR1s joining No IX (Bomber) Squadron way back in 1982 & receiving updates to GR4 standard that should fly until early 2019 is a credible 'innings'. At first I couldn't believe the continuous operational service claim, but 1991 through to present would seem correct. This only raises another question for me. Why didn't they take part in the first part of Gulf War '1' ? (02nd August 1990 – 28th February 1991)

Looks like you've taken those dates straight from Wiki The build up to the war went on for months, I didn't think the first strikes/attacks on Iraq actually started until January 1991* if I remember correctly!?

* waits to be corrected

[Hendon Chipmunk]

I believe the first Tornado F3s arrived in Saudi Arabia on 11 Aug 90. Have there been RAF Tornados in the Middle East every day for the past 28 years?

[Blackcat1]

When Tornado retires I shall lose interest

[Supra]

Yep Bilvo! Guilty as hell of shortcutting the info'. Although the 'Air War' aka 'Desert Storm' started at about 00:01 UK time 17th Jan 1991 (coming home from a Pub function when news reported ) I seem to recall limited RAF Tornado a/c took part that night, but in the ensuing 6 days they flew just 4 per cent of the missions but lost 25 per cent of the aircraft, having four Tornados shot down & the battered crews paraded on TV.
As you rightly say, from Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait on 02nd August 1990 through to Jan 1991 it was largely a Diplomatic war of threats & sanctions allied to the massive Anti-Iraq Coalition build-up under Operation Desert-Shield, such that when the time came for the hammer to fall...it did! I had perhaps erroneously expected that RAF aircraft had been operationally flying recon' & 'power-posturing' during the build-up too, especially as they were hustled back to their bases from the RAF St Mawgan Air Day on 08/08/1990.
Never really been a avid follower of this conflict, as they busted-up all the Iraqi Airport/Airbase infrastructure I spent a good chunk of my life facilitating for them.
Also waits to be corrected

[reheat module]

I saw my first Tornado in the early 80s whilst I was working on the fleet of Nimrods up at Kinloss. I just couldn't believe the noise and power it exuded as it taxied past. It was that afternoon that my application was submitted to work on them.
After a subsequent posting and a number of Bristol/Cottesmore courses, I started what was to be an association of nearly 15 years with them.
Much like an earlier poster, my interest will certainly wane when the 'Battery Master' is selected Off for the final time on this type...

[tommc]

Yes, they do seem to have been an ever-present.

Got my first one on 4th August 1981 (ZA546, Honington, only recently delivered), and eventually cleared them on 26th March 2013 (ZG705 at Marham. Wow, that took a few years to get those last couple!)

Worked on them in RAFG for a few years too. I doubt anyone expected them to last so long to be honest, but they certainly have been a pretty decent workhorse for many decades.