The Panavia Tornado was primarily designed for high-speed/low-level penetration, targeting the invading forces of the Eastern Europe Warsaw Pact countries.
To achieve this, but still be able to have good low-speed flight characteristics, variable-wing geometry was utilized, which, by the time of the Tornado design (late 60s to early 70s) was among the most preferred configurations.
The twin engine layout with thrust reversers to reduce landing distance, the handy fly-by-wire system, which made the aircraft easier to fly and the advanced for the time avionics only added to the value of this efficient strike aircraft.
Apart from strike, the type's true capability to undertake various roles (reconnaissance, maritime patrol and electronic countermeasures) with minimal to modest modifications (something not too easily achieved in practice, especially for the times) enabled various operators to implement it as a common type.
Through life extension and upgrading programmes, the successful Tornado will remain in service until at least 2025, spanning an awesome operational career of almost 50 years!
The Aeronautica Militare received 100 Tornado IDS (Interdictor Strike - known as the A-200 in Italian service), with 16 of them subsequently converted to the ECR (Electronic Combat Reconnaissance) configuration.
Additionally, 24 RAF Tornado ADV (Air Defense Variant) were leased for 10 years to the Aeronautica Militare to fill the gap in the air defense role between the retirement of the F-104 Starfighter and the introduction of the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Italian Tornados, along with RAF Tornados, took part in the first Gulf War in 1991, with one aircraft lost to Iraqi anti-aircraft fire, the pilots ejecting safely but captured by Iraqi forces. 22 Italian Tornados were deployed over Kosovo in 1999.
Four examples are also reported to have been dispatched to the Afghanistan region in 2010. In 2011, Italian Tornados participated in the enforcement of a UN no-fly zone during the military intervention in Libya, launching, among others, a good number of Storm Shadow cruise missiles. By the end of 2014, it was announced that four machines would be sent to Kuwait, taking part in coalition operations against the Islamic State in the reconnaissance role.
The 6º Stormo, known as the "Diavoli Rossi", based at Ghedi airport near Brescia, is an interdiction unit of the Aeronautica Militare operating the Tornado and, from 16 June 2022 onwards, gradually transforming to the F-35.
Named in memory of pilot Lieutenant Alfredo Fusco, it was formed at the Campoformido airport, near Udine, on 15 January 1936 and fought both in the Mediterranean and North Africa Theaters during WWII. Post war, the famous Stormo had, among others, undertaken the “Strike” role (attacking with nuclear weapons certain Warsaw Pact targets), currently proudly transforming to the 5th generation fighters.
This is the venerable Airfix mold, first introduced in 1987 and reissued till 2005. A good kit for the times, with correct general shape but softer on the details compared to the more modern offerings of Revell and Hobby Boss, can still be built to a decent representation of the iconic Tornado.
The specific kit is the 1994
Heller rebox (by those times Heller and Airfix were the same company). Should you wish to read the full build review, you may do so by visiting my beloved site Modelingmadness:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/mod/gb/attack-bomber/pentor.htm
Happy Modelling!
Great looking Tornado @fiveten
Thanks my friend @greenterrorz!
All the 1/48 Tonkas are tough kits to build. This one went well. Congrats on another excellent build.
Thanks so much, my friend @dbdlee!
Great article and photos of this Cold War multi-role fighter. I'm certain this gave Soviet planners sleepless nights when it became fully operational.
Thanks so much, my friend @bobd56az! Yes, I believe the Tornado was a respected, very potent weapon!
Very nice build, Spiros.
Thank you very much, my friend @blackmopane!
A true gem, Spiros @fiveten
You did an amazing job on this challenging kit. Well done.
Thank you so much, my friend @johnb!
Terrific Tornado, Spiros!
Did you paint the camo pattern freehand?
Nice piece of work.
Thank you very much, my friend @alfred! Yes, the camo us freehanded.
Wow ! super cool looking Tornado Spiros , another one of those "why haven't I built one yet ? " kits.
Thank you kindly, my friend @neil-foster! Indeed, why not building one?
Terrific looking Tornado, Spiros (@fiveten)
The Tornados In-Service span sure beats my In-Service Span, by a few years a least.
Thank you so much, my friend @georgeswork! Same for me!
Great looking Tornado Spiros! I've always thought that the Tornado was a tuff looking aircraft. There's something about it, maybe it's the combination of the single big vertical fin/rudder and looking on the shorter side length wise. I'm sure sure it just looks really cool. Great job as usual, big thumbs up! 👍
Thanks a lot my friend @curtisshawk! Indeed, the Tornado looks really cool!
I was brought up on Airfix, Spiros, so it’s always pleasing to see a particularly well built Airfix kit, even if it’s a re-boxed example. You’ve certainly captured the handsome looks of the Tornado.
Thank you so much, my friend @chinesegeorge!
I remember that kit when it first came out (I built it as well). That's an excellent result and interesting history.
Thank you kindly, my friend @christopher!
Great build as usual! Lovely write up and photos as well. Excellent!
Thanks a lot, my friend @dbutlr!
Excellent work on this Tornado, Spiros. Keep building those nice models! @fiveten
Thanks so much, my friend @jdtruby!
Taking the kit considered to now be "most lacking" or Tornado kits, and turning it into this really nice model is a great demonstration if talent and skill @fiveten. A great result!
Thank you so much, my friend @tcinla!
Nice work, Spiros. Tornadoes are always fun to see.
Thanks a lot, my friend @j-healy!
@fiveten - Fantastic work Spiros. Your paint and weathering work are flawless as usual. I'm impressed by the research and writeup as always!
Thanks my friend @brithebuilder! For the research, praise the net and my copying...errrrrrrrrrr... editing abilities 🤭
cool build!
Thanks my friend @lis!
You dressed out that Heller kit admirably! I'm a bit Tornado fan.
Thank you so much, my friend @gkittinger! Me, too, I consider the Tornado an absolutely cool aircraft!