Panavia Tornado: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Panavia Tornado

The Tornado is a successful example of European cooperation in military aviation. Designed in response to a 1968 requirement for a two-seat Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA), it was developed by the Panavia consortium, formed by British Aerospace, Germany's MBB, and Italy's Aeritalia.
First flown in August 1974, the twin-engine, variable-geometry aircraft entered service in the 1980s with the Royal Air Force, the German Luftwaffe and Marineflieger, and the Italian Aeronautica Militare. It played a key role during the Cold War.
The RAF's Tornado GRs served for 38 years in NATO operations, including conflicts in the Gulf, Afghanistan, the Balkans, Libya, and Syria, before their retirement in 2019. German and Italian Tornados continue to operate over Syria and Iraq.
A total of 940 Tornados were built, including 96 for Saudi Arabia and specialized Air Defence Variants, along with nine prototypes and six pre-production aircraft. Over 200 remain in service in 2024.
Written by aviation expert David Oliver, this book provides a detailed account of the Tornado's development, production, and operational history, supported by 200 illustrations. It covers its service with the air forces of the UK, Germany, Italy, and Saudi Arabia, as well as its role in major conflicts.

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RAF Tornado Units of Gulf War I (Osprey)

When the Gulf Crisis of 1990 was triggered by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the RAF responded by sending Tornado F 3 fighters to Saudi Arabia to help defend the country against further aggression.
These aircraft were followed by the deployment of Tornado GR 1 strike/attack aircraft to Bahrain. Eventually three wings of Tornado GR 1s were established in Bahrain, Tabuk and Dhahran, as well as a detachment of Tornado GR 1A reconnaissance aircraft.
At the start of hostilities in January 1991, the Tornado GR 1 wings carried out night-low-level attacks against Iraqi Main Operating Bases using the JP233 runway denial weapon. Meanwhile, Combat Air Patrols from the Tornado F 3 wing ensured the integrity of Saudi airspace.

Once air supremacy had been established, the Tornado GR 1 force moved to medium-level operations, initially by night and later by day, to attack the Iraqi oil production and storage infrastructure.
The arrival in theatre of a laser designation capability with Pave Spike/Buccaneer and TIALD/Tornado enabled precision attacks against the Iraq transport system to cut off the frontline troops from resupply and reinforcement and then to carry out a systematic destruction of the airfield facilities. Tornado GR 1A reconnaissance operations played a major role in the location of Scud missile launchers and in the planning and execution of the land offensive.
Throughout the conflict, the Tornado F 3 wing at Dhahran carried out defensive counter-air operations to ensure the safety of the base areas.

This volume, publishing 30 years after the conflict to free Kuwait, provides detailed first-hand accounts of the missions undertaken by the Tornado crews. It is illustrated by photographs taken by aircrew involved in the operation and includes 30 newly commissioned profile artworks and detailed nose art views of the aircraft ranged against Iraq.

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Panavia Tornado: Flying in the FAF, German, Italian and Saoudi air forces (Duke Hawkins)

This beautiful Duke Hawkins photo book extensively presents the Panavia Tornado, in service with the French, German, Italian and Saudi Air Forces. It shows the Tornado GR4, GR4a, IDS and ECR. A separate chapter is devoted to the Tornado F3.
The book contains not only action shots, but also many "walkaround" photos that show details of the aircraft from different angles. Chapters on cockpit, fuselage, armament and maintenance work.

The series "Aircraft in Detail" arose from the collaboration between pilots, aircraft technicians and modellers. This volume (No. 5) on the Panavia Tornado is illustrated with over 300 very high quality color photographs, most of which have never been published before.

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Tornado GR1 : An Operational History

Replacing the Vulcan, Buccaneer and Jaguar in the front line of the Cold War, the remarkable swing-winged Tornado GR1 provided Britain s strike capability in the last years of the Cold War in the 1980s, equipping some 10 RAF squadrons.
During the Gulf War, Tornado GR1 crews led Britain s contribution to Coalition operations against Iraq, and in the subsequent years Tornado GR1s were involved almost continuously in operations over Iraq. In 1999 the Tornado GR1 force carried out offensive missions over Kosovo as part of NATO operations in the Balkans.

The Tornado GR1's Terrain Following Radar gave the aircraft a unique capability: it was the first RAF aircraft to have the ability to operate at low-level at night and in all-weathers. The incredible flexibility of both the aircraft and its crews was demonstrated by the successful switch to medium-level operations, using laser-guided weapons, after the Cold War.

This book describes in detail the accomplishments and day-to-day workings of the operational RAF Tornado GR1 units in the UK, Germany, the Middle East and across the globe. It is underpinned by research from original official documents, augmented by the personal accounts by Tornado air- and ground-crews. It is richly illustrated throughout with photographs of the aircraft.

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Tornado F3 : a Navigator's Eye on Britain's Last Interceptor

The Tornado F2 had a troubled introduction to service. Unwanted by its crews and procured as a political imperative, it was blighted by failures in the acquisition system. It was adapted from a multi-national design, planned by committee, and developed to counter a threat which disappeared. Modified rapidly before it could be sent to war, the Tornado F3 eventually matured into a capable weapons system, but despite datalinks and new air-to-air weapons, its poor reputation sealed its fate.
David Gledhill, a former Tornado F3 navigator, tells the story from an insider's perspective of the early days as one of the first instructors on the Operational Conversion Unit, through the aircraft's development and operational testing, to its demise. He reflects on the aircraft's capabilities and deficiencies, and analyses why it was mostly under-estimated by opponents.

David Gledhill trained as a navigator and flew the Phantom and Tornado F3 on squadrons and as an instructor. He eventually became the Executive Officer on the Tornado Operational Conversion Unit and also commanded No. 1435 Flight in the Falkland Islands. He was responsible for many of the development programmes for the Tornado F3 and much of its operational testing, both in the MoD and at the Air Warfare Centre, throughout the aircraft's service life.

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Tornado in Pictures : The Multi-Role Legend

The Panavia Tornado was designed as a multi-role combat aircraft to meet the needs of Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Since the prototype flew in 1974, nearly 1000 Tornados have been produced in a number of variants serving as a fighter-bomber, a fighter and in the reconnaissance and electronic suppression roles.
Deployed operationally in numerous theatres throughout the world, the Tornado has proved to be exceptionally capable and flexible.

From its early Cold War roles it adapted to the rigours of expeditionary warfare from The Gulf to Kosovo to Afghanistan. The early "dumb" bombs were replaced by laser-guided weapons and cruise missiles and in the air-to-air arena fitted with the AMRAAM and ASRAAM missiles.

In this book David Gledhill explores the range of capabilities and, having flown the Tornado F2 and F3 Air Defence Variant, offers an insight into life in the cockpit of the Tornado.
Lavishly illustrated, Darren Willmin's superb photographs capture the essence of the machine both from the ground and in the air.This unique collection including some of David Gledhill's own air-to-air pictures of the Tornado F2 and F3 will appeal to everyone with an interest in this iconic aircraft.

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Tornado - A History

This book concentrates on Tornado Reconnaissance, looking at the two squadrons, II(AC) and XII, the systems they employed, and their worth to the overall structure, interspersed with personal tales of front line operations.

This book explains the concept of the internal recce system, TIRRS and covers the replacement systems JRP and Raptor. Tornado enthusiasts will enjoy the multitude of air to air and ground shots.

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Tornado

The Tornado, which first flew in 1974, is a success story in military aircraft construction and remains a high-performance weapon system that has been and continues to be used by many air forces in various roles.

This volume presents the entire range of development, from testing to active use, in the usual depth. The German Armed Forces' foreign missions in recent years are also given a lot of space in this volume.
The German Luftwaffe will continue to operate the Tornado until 2030 - until then it will remain indispensable. A highly up-to-date volume about one of the cornerstones of the Luftwaffe.

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