Panavia
Tornado GR1B
Serial Number:
ZA457
Period: Post-WWII
Collection Ref: X003-2283
Location: RAF Museum London, Historic Hangars
Built by British Aerospace (BAe) at Warton in Lancashire in 1983 and delivered to the Tornado Operational Evaluation Unit at Boscombe Down in December 1983. This aircraft later served with Nos. 9, 15, 17 and 617 Squadrons and in 'Operation Desert Storm', the Gulf War, between January and February 1991.
The aircraft carrys the name 'Bob' from the popular television comedy series 'Black Adder'. Modified to a GR1B in 1994 to carrying the Sea Eagle anti-shipping missile. Last served with No.2 (AC) Squadron. Delivered by road to RAF Museum Hendon in July 2003.
The aircraft has No.617 Squadron markings on nose and tail, the latter reproducing the wartime Avro Lancaster 'Dambusters' era Squadron codes, AJ-J. Other markings include two mission symbols below the port side of cockpit, dated 2001, following attacks on Iraqi targets and serial number ZA457.
To avoid detection by the enemy, the Tornado uses
its special radar to fly very close to the ground. Try
this out in the nearby Flight Simulator.
