Tornado WSdé: Tornado Panavia Tornado GR Mk 1 Modern combat aircraft are complex machines, and in order to be cost-effective they are frequently designed to satisfy a wide range of militarily important parameters: high speed at altitude; high speed at low level; good climb rate; good range; fuel economy; a heavy weapons load; high accuracy in navigation capabilities and weapon delivery; low stalling speed (and, as a corollary, short take-off and landing runs); and low maintenance demands. All things are relative of course, but one aircraft fulfils these requirements far better than any other currently in service: Tornado. It may not be as agile as the F-15 Eagle, nor possess the high level speed of the MiG-25, the range of the Buccaneer or the climb rate of the Lightning (according to most published figures), but it has several times the versatility of any one of these. It is moreover a product of extremely advanced technology: for example, strike missions can be flown entirely ‘hands off other than during manoeuvres near ‘the circuit’ This complexity inevitably means that the Tornado can be depicted in only a few of its mission configurations within the space available to a single Aenoauive, which also confines treatment of the subject principally to Royal Air Force IDS machines. Comprehensive coverage of Tornado markings alone would require more than one volume, and it is hoped that German and Italian readers in particular will not be too irritated by the necessary omissions and will take some comfort from the fact that Tornado IDS airframes are, apart from some small details such as dorsal and fin-mounted antennas, essentially similar whatever insignia happen to be carried. A further qualification is that certain details of so technologically advanced and modern a military combat aircraft are of course classified. Regular readers will notice that Aerocuioe 4 (and, for that matter, Acrocuice 3, which considers the Sea Harrier) introduces a slight shift in emphasis inasmuch as an additional spread depicting aspects of the airframe has been included, at the expense of the section dealing with the undercarriage. This modification, itis felt, gives an improved balance to the content. Indispensable assistance in the preparation of this volume has once again been rendered by the Royal Air Force, in particular by Sqn Ldr B Watford, Community Relations Officer at RAF Honington, and by members of the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit (in particular Fit Lt Reynolds); uncredited photographs in this book, which are copyright Linewrights Ltd, were taken on the TWCU flight line by kind permission of the Officer Commanding, RAF Honington. Tony Talbot, lately of RAF Strike Command HA, kindly co-ordinated arrangements once more. British Aerospace Warton Division (in the forms of Alexander Johnston, David Kamiya and Geoffrey Hill) were most helpful in supplying photographs from the manufacturer's library, whilst the publishers are once more indebted to Brian Limbrey of the Mar Aircraft Co Ltd and to Dick Ward of Modeldecal for their invaluable help. For the future, there have been some necessary revisions to the planned Aerocuive publishing programme. No 6, originally announced as being devoted to the Phantom FG Mk 1 and FGR Mk 2, will instead deal with the Vulcan, perhaps the most distinctive and certainly one of the longest serving postwar RAF aircraft, and of course one of the several types to which the Tornado is a successor. The Phantom volume- or more probably volumes ~ is certainly scheduled to appear later in 1984, but details have yet to be finalised. Meanwhile work is pressing ahead on the Aerocuibe CLassics. Announcements about the availability of these titles will be made via the aviation and modelling press. -Baker © 1984 Linewrights Lid Written, designed and produced by Roger Chesneau and Ray Rimmel No patt of this publication may be Line drawings and colour profile by Steve Archibald reproduced, or stored in a retrieval Photo processing by Stephanie Miller system, or transmitted in any form or Typesetting. printing and binding by Heffers Printers Ltd, Cambridge, England by any means (mechanical Published in Great Britain by Linewrights Ltd, 118 High Street, Chipping Ongar photographic, electronic or otherwise| Essex CMS 9EB, England without the prior written consent of Linewaights Ltd. Front cover illustration: A Tomado of the TWCU, RAF Honington, August 1983, ISBN 0 946958 03 3 Back cover plate: A Tornado GR Mk 1 of No 617 San, RAF Marharn, January 1983, THIS IS A Linewwrignes,. PUBLICATIONINTRODUCTION Subject of the most important collaborative military aircraft project ever undertaken by European nations, the Tornado is a two-seat strike aircraft capable of carrying out low-level, high-speed, air-to-ground attacks at great range (and, if required, at night and in bad weather) and also performing in the battlefield int diction and air superiority roles. Known originally as the MRCA (Mui Role Combat Aircraft), itis the product of a programme established in the late 1960s under the auspices of Panavia GmbH, a company owned by a con- sortium of aircraft. manufacturers ~ British Aerospace in Great Britain, Messerschmitt-Bélkow-Biohm (MBB) in the Federal German Republic, and Aeritalia in Italy. Airframes are as- sembled at all three plants, under contract to Panavia, respective country’s orders for service Tornados, although BAe has pro- duction responsibility for the forward and rear fuselage sections, MBB for the centre fuselage, and Aeritalia for the wings. Over 600 Tornado attack aircraft {known as IDS, or Interdictor Strike version} are being manufactured, 200 for the Royal Air Force, 100 for the Aeronautica Militare italiana (\talian Air Force), 212 for the Luftwaffe (West German Air Force) and 112 for the Marineflieger (West German Navy}. Below: TITE Tornados from each of the three participating nations formate during a fight from RAF Cottesmore, The fin codes are prefixed by ‘G’. ‘8’ or ‘Y's appropriate. British Aerospace Page 1Top: The third Tornado prototype, P-03, 0%x947), seen fitted with standard 330gal underwing tanks and a ‘buddy. buddy’ refuelling pod. British Aerospace ‘Above: Tornado P-12 (XZ630), the first UK pre-production aircraft, The now-standard GR Mk 1 biade antennas are fitted to the fin, but the latter lacks the production vortex generators and the aircraft shows tho oarly ‘cut-away’ configuration beneath the rudder. British Aerospace Right: Three RAF Tornados and a Luft waffe example trom the TTTE. Note t variations in the camoutlage pattems of the British machines. RAF Official Opposite page top: Tornado ADV prototype 4-03, Tailpipes ofall F Mk 2s, now in production are some 14in longer than shown. British Aerospace Opposite page bottom: A No 617 Sqn Tomado GR Mk 1. RAF Offic Page 2‘SUPERSONIC PERFORMANCE The Tornado can hardly be described asa large aircraft, but the wide variety Of roles the airframe is called upon to play and the highly advanced technology incorporated in it makes it avery complex, and hence expensive fone. Externally, one obvious area of complexity concerns its variable- geometry (VG) wing: forward sweep Provides good manoeuvrability in the air, confers long range (or an ability to remain ina target area ~ ‘loiter’ ~ if need be), aids low landing speeds and shortens take-off and landing Gistances; maximum sweep gives the aircraft supersonic performance (top speed is reportedly Mach 2.2) and ‘smooth travel at low altitudes, where gusting air can otherwise’ cause problems. However, VG_ inevitably introduces questions of wing sweep mechanisms, of the need to pivot underwing stores in sympathy, and of a shifting centre of gravity, with all the additional design problems that these involve. Internally, the Tornado IDS is fitted with very ‘advanced, computerised ‘fly-by-wire’ (FBW) controls incor- porating a Command and Stability Augmentation System (CSAS) which ‘automatically keeps the aircraft in the correct flying attitude. Supplementing these systems are complex navigation avionics - which include terrain- following (TF) radar- and compre- hensive forward-looking (FL) radar, and acquisition and ranging facilities for the aircraft's weapons. The Tornado is powered by two Turbo-Union RB.199 turbofans, each delivering approximately 9000Ib of thrust, or about 16,000Ib with after- burners (augmentation) activated. INTO RAF SERVICE The Tornado IDS is known to the Royal Air Force as the GR Mk 1, although a number of aircraft are equipped with dual controls and designated GR Mk IT. Itis seen principally as a success: or to the Vulcan, Canberra and overland-strike Buccaneer, and among the first squadrons to equip with the type have been Nos 9, XV, 27 and 617. Prior to joining frontline squadrons, aircrew graduate at the Trinational Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE) specially set up at RAF Cottes- more; weapons training is conducted fat RAF Honington via the Tormado Weapons Conversion Unit, or TWCU (with whose aircraft this Aenoouice is primarily concerned). In due course, most RAF Tornado GR Mk 1s will be based in West Germany, where it is anticipated that they will take over much of the work currently assigned to Jaguars (see Acrocuce 2). ‘An important Tornado variant, now under development, is the F Mk 2, the air defence version (ADV) and exclusively an RAF concern, at least at the moment. MATCHING EXPECTATIONS It is asking @ great deal of a single airframe to undertake such a wide range of tasks across so extensive @ performance spectrum as are demanded of the Tornado, but indications are that, apart from some inevitable teething problems, the RAF's ‘maid-of-all-work’ of the 19808, and 1990s is fully matching its design ‘expectations. A’ triumph for inter- national co-operation, no contem: porary military combat aircraft in the ‘world can beat it for versatility.AIRFRAME Below: Tornado nose radome houses principal avionics sensors, the {ground-mapping and terrain-folowing radars, manufactured by Texas Instruments, The GMB is the primary attack sensor but has an air-to-air capability also. Note abrupt change in fuselage cross-section where the cannon are mounted. Page 4 Bottom: View showing the somewhat severe contours of the Tornado’s radome. Pitot tube is natural metal Opposite page top: Close-up of laser ranger and marked target seeker (LRMTS) currently (late 1983) being fitted to RAF GR Mk 1s. The housing is offset to starboard Opposite page middle: The laser ranger from a different angle, The photo also shows the Tornado’s starboard 27mm IWKA-Mauser gun and the ‘ground power attachment point. Opposite page bottom left: Refueling point, situated on the starboard side just forward of the main gear bay. Opposite page bottom right: Underside of starboard wing glove.Opposite page top: Por intake; note formation light. Opposite page bottom: Starboard intake, showing variable-geometry intake ramps. Inte ish on this GR. Mk 1 is glossy white. Above: Starboard intake. At far left is ‘auxiliary intake flap are fitted over both the main i he bleed air outlet, Black area bottom left comer is occupied by twir ‘communications antennas on RAF Tomades. Richard L WardOpposite page top left: Port wing glove, showing GRP ‘finger’ plates (to Seal junction with wing) and medium grey inboard wing surface {indicating extent of retraction at maximum sweep angle). Opposite page top right: Upper surfaces of port intake and wing glove Viewed from forward. Light-coloured fectangle adjacent to wing glove is metallic reinforcing patch added as 3 ‘field modification Opposite page bottom: Close-up of ort intake upper surfaces; note that the walkway markings differ from those ‘parent on the Italian machine shown (on page 7. ‘Above: Upper fuselage details, showing the GR Mk 1's twin antennas, anti-colision light and open starboard air brake. Prominent bulge at fin root houses heat exchanger, ram air intake for which is located above, on fin leading edge. Page 9top: Entire trailing taken up with ct into wing appear as natural Page 10Above: Close-up sh port ar brake, Ins Area swept by taieron pivot pate is medium grey Below: Tornado’s wing sweep se ours metali alo, pink on this TW J top: Undersurt F rear fuselage. Opposite page middie: Underside 0 i flat and almost S on a ‘clean’ aircraft Opposite page bottom: ( lower fuselag} pipes. Arrestor he attached, lies along cent’ airfields are today equipped with arrast: ing systems, which cut landing runs by a considerable degree if required.Opposite page: Engine mainte B.199's thrust reversing ‘bucket 1 thrust reverse on an RAF Tornado GR Mk 1 at the shields above and below each tal hind th ularsshaped ‘ft Gin pipe which close over the nozzles tc deflect the hot g ofthe act ating mechanism can be seen here military air RAF O1 charac ° rdOpposite page top: Dotail of air outlet pivot plete. Talleron geometry has at base of fin; plate immediately aft of revision since the this is natural titanium, Opposite page bottom: The Tomado's tailerons are part of the aircraft's primary flight control system, moving symmetically to provide pitch control and asymmetrically for roll ‘wing spoilers). Note scuffing ot point details; hoist yellow, ‘No step’ markings walkway stripes and fire s panel outine red. Tail ring immediately forward of jet nozzles is bright metal Below: The Toado's VG wing and the stores pivoting below i tively pri undorwing serals, so they are k on the tallerons on RAF machin GR Mk 1 is undergoing maint a hangar at RAF Honington ar. a”UNDERCARRIAGE Below: Nose undercarriage. viewed __extreme top of photograph can be seen centreline station and the quick- from the port side, General finish of leg ar section of the LRMTS. clips on the open inspection pane! and hubs is glossy white. ite page top right: Another behind the gear bay. Object at far left is Opposite page top let the nosegear leg, this photo _ open engine bay panel. Som from the starboard sid d shows the shape of the rear door. dispensers are glossy Dark Gr ‘of damper struts and landing lamp. Rear Opposite page bottom: View of finish of undercarriage gear is glossy nosewheel door retracts in sympathy starboard main undercarriage leg. Other white. Note explosive release warning With leg via curved struts, visible here, points of note are the CBLS (Cartier, _triangle (red and white) on centreline ‘and has flexible soal at bottom edge. At Bomb, Light Store) 200s on the stores pylon) Page 18COCKPIT Below: Windscreen and forward canopy area, port side Bottom: Pilot and navigator prepare for a sortie in a No 8 Sqn Tomado from RAF Honington. RAF Official Opposite page top left: Canopy ground release handle 's on port side only. Opposite page top right: Front cockpit of Tornado IDS. VG lever is on port Page 22 console, inboard of throttle box. General interior finish is medium grey. British Aerospace Opposite page bottom left: Rear cockpit of IDS version; this is of a prototype aircraft and is spartan ‘compared with operational Tornados. British Aerospace Opposite page bottom right: Rear cockpit of Tornado GR Mk 1T; this aircraft is the trainer version and hence the cockpit duplicates much of what is present in the front ‘office’. Bntish Aerospace Overieaf: Two views of the Martin: Baker Type 10A ejection seat fitted at both crew positions in the Tornado,CANOPY rm a < a a rs Se S 2 a oO rs a = a EXPLOSIVE HANDLE TO EXTENT OF CABLE THEN TUGWEAPONS & STORES Below: The Tornado IDS is capable of carrying a huge variety of weapons and stores, and it's possible only to show a small Sample here, This photagraph shows a pair of Hunting JP.233, dispensers fitted below the fuselage, standard 330gal tanks on the inboard ‘wing pylons, with an Alarm (anti-adar] missile mock-up on the inboard carrier, ‘and ECM (electronic counter-measures jammers on the outer wing pylons. The P.233, originally a jornt Anglo-US ‘venture but now UK-funded only, is primarily an anti-unway bomblet carrierlauncher. British Aerospace Bottom: Tomado prototype P-03 equipped for the low-level strike role, with tanks, ECM pods and eight 10001b bombs beneath the fuselage. British Aerospace Opposite page top: Starboard inboard pylon of a TWCU Tornado GR Mk 1 with 330gal tank attached. The pivot disc can be readily made out. Opposite page bottom: The distinctive talfin arrangement of the Tomado's 330gal drop tank,Opposite page top: Close Shadow ECM jammer pod. Richard L Ward Opposite page middle: Display of 1000\b high-explosive (HE) bombs at the TTTE, January 1981. Richard L Ward Opposite page bottom: Matra Type 165 rocket launcher, also part of the TTTE display. Richard L Ward Top: CBLS 200-series fitted to inboard wing pylon, port side. Practice bombs are 4pdrs. Two IWKA-Mauser cannon are fitted integrally to Tomado GR Mk 18~ see photo on page Above: Tornado in carrying an MBB MW-1 lateral Messerschmitt Bolkow-Blohm Left: Paveway Il laserquided bomb, ‘comprising a 1000Ib general-purpose (GP) bomb with guidance unit added ‘and modified tail, Richard L Ward Page 29SCALE COLOUR PLANS Tail emblem: Yellow and white with black sword hilt and red detail Matt black panel with red ‘Fragile area keep off legend Fusolage serials: Matt black Gun trough and blast panel Natural metal Communications antennas: Buff Rudder leading ‘edge: Natural metal Taileron incidence stripe: Pink Undercarriage bays: Glossy white Insides of undercarriage doors: Glossy white IWKAMauser cannon muzzle: All undercarriage legs and whee! Gunmetal hubs: Glossy white Anticollision All roundbols: light: Red Rediblue Inside surfaces of airbrake and Antiglare panel: airbrake bay Glossy white Matt black Starboard Formation light: Green Reinforcing panel: Natural metal Wing sweep zones: Matt medium grey Radome: Semi- loss black Tail ring: Natural metal Taileton pivot zone: Matt medium grey Starboard navigation light Green Page 30British Standard Colour (BSC) references Dark Sea Grey: 8S381C-638 Dark Green: BS381C-641 RHAWS antennas: Matt black Tailpipes: Blackish stained natural metal Camouflage finish: Matt Dark Sea Grey Port navigation light: Fed Thrust reversing buckets: Brownish stained natural metal Pitot tube: Bright natural metal Arrester hook: Natural metal Taileron serials Matt black. Camouflage finish: Matt Dark Green Port formation, light: Rea Radome strips: Bright natural For further details concerning Tornado camouflage and markings, reference to Modeldecal sets 64, 67 and 70 is recommended 1:72 scale Doppler radar panel: Cream with black framing Photographs of the aircraft featured in these drawings Tail code: Yellow with white outline may be found elsewhere in this booklet Fin leading edge sections: Matt black Hoat exchanger ‘outlet panel Natural metal Ejecton seat ear of ean wom rtees: frame: Mat iano wnte Canopy sealing strips: Matt white Wing seal: Siver-grey Fin flash Redibiue Poge 31Below: Panavia Tornado P-02 prototype, Warton Aerodrome, 1974 Glossy white overall with red and black trim; natural metal lower fin Italian national insignia above and below port wing; German national insignia above and below starboard wing; RAF roundel on starboard forward fuselage; ‘multinational’ roundel on port forward fuselage; RAF-style fin flash Below: Tornado GR Mk 17, Trinational Tornado Training Establishment, RAF Cottesmore, 1982 Dark Sea Grey/Dark Green camoutlage: serials black; fin code black with white outiine, TTTE badge black with red outline and white lettering Below: Tornado GR Mk 1, No 9 Squadron, RAF Honington, 1982 Dark Sea GrayiDark Green camouliage; serials black; nose flash and fin emblem dark green with yellow outline; fin code letter yellow Below: Tornado IDS, 6° Stormo, Aeronautica Militare Italiana, 1983 Dark Grey/Dark Green (NATO standard); undersurtaces matt silver. Nose numerals white outline only: serial black. Fin emblem comprises a black circle with dark red, red and white deta; flash is orange, Below: Tornado IDS, Marinefliegergruppe 1, 1983 Dark grey (Basaltgrau) and white; national insignia black and white, fin flash black (top), yellow and red. Codes and fin legend back with white outline; MFG1 badge white with red outline and yellow (topl, black and light blue deta,AEROGUIDES —GET CLOSE TO THE REAL THING! TITLES NOW AVAILABLE —MORE TO FOLLOW! 1. HAWK 2. JAGUAR 3. SEA HARRIER 4. TORNADO Obtainable at bookshops, museums and model shops or, in case of difficulty, direct from the publishers. Price each £2.95 (plus 55p postage and packing if ordering direct). [inewrighes,, 118 HIGH STREET, CHIPPING ONGAR, ESSEX CM5 9EBISBN 0-944b958-03-3 7809461958030 9 L YW UD opeusoy, eraeurg Linewrights:, £2.95