Tornado farewell Mk2 19-21/2/19

[andypspotter]

The Royal Air Force (RAF) will be carrying out a farewell tour of the UK next week as it marks the end of service for the Tornado fast jet.

The Panavia Tornado, affectionately known as “Tonka”, has been in service with the RAF in various forms for nearly four decades and it was Britains front line Cold War fighter bomber. It saw its combat debut in 1991 during the Gulf War and proved an effective ground attack aircraft.

The last of the Tornados flew their final operational sortires on the 31st January, and the final GR4 variants flew back from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at the start of February officially handing over the reins of its duties to the latest generation Typhoons.

To mark their retirement a farewell tour will be launched from RAF Marham, the UK’s last Tornado Base. It will take in sites key to the Tornados RAF history across 3 days.

February 19th
RAF Cottesmore
National Arboretum Memorial
DECA Stafford
RAF Shawbury
DECA Sealand
RAF Valley
BAE Warton
BAE Salmesbury
RAF Spadeadam
RAF Leeming
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Linton On Ouse
RAF Waddington
RAF Cranwell
RAF Conningsby
RAF Donna Nook
RAF Holbeach

February 20th
RAF Honington
IWM Duxford
RAE Bedford (Site of)
Cranfield Airfield
RAF Halton
RAF High Wycombe
RAF Benson
HQ Land Forces
MOD Boscombe Down
RAF Pembrey
MOD St Athan
Cardiff Airport
Filton Aifield (site of)
MOD Abbey Wood
MOD Shrivenham
RAF Brize Norton

February 21st
RAF Leuchars
RAF Tain
RAF Lossiemouth

[andypspotter]

More details, and as always, subject to weather and aircraft serviceability:


Tuesday 19th February

1315 – 1330 Kendrew Barracks (RAF Cottesmore) – National Memorial Arboretum – DECA Stafford – RAF Cosford

1330 – 1345 RAF Shawbury – DECA Sealand

1345 – 1400 RAF Valley

1415 – 1430 BAES Warton – BAES Samlesbury

1430 – 1445 RAF Spadeadam

1445 – 1500 RAF Leeming – RAF Topcliffe – RAF Linton-On-Ouse

1500 – 1515 RAF Waddington – RAF College Cranwell – Royal Air Force Coningsby

1515 – 1535 RAF Donna Nook – RAF Holbeach – RAF Wyton


Wednesday 20th February

1300 – 1315 Royal Air Force Honington

1315 – 1330 Imperial War Museum Duxford – Former RAE Bedford – Cranfield Airfield – Royal Air Force Halton – RAF High Wycombe

1330 – 1345 RAF Benson – HQ Land Forces, Andover, MOD Boscombe Down

1400 – 1415 RAF Pembrey – MOD St Athan – Cardiff Airport

1415 – 1430 Rolls Royce Filton – MOD Abbey Wood – MOD Shrivenham – RAF Brize Norton


Thursday 21st February

1115 – 1130 Leuchars Station

1130 – 1145 RAF Tain

1145 – 1200 RAF Lossiemouth