A tri-national project, the Panavia Tornado multi mission aircraft is a product of Italy, Germany and the UK.
The Prototype GR.1/IDS first flew on August 14th.1974 and entered service with the Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment at Cottesmore, Rutland in July 1980.
The Air Defence Variant (F2/F3)first flew on October 27th. 1979 and entered service with the RAF at Coningsby in 1987.
With regard to the RAF, aircraft have been greatly reduced in numbers over recent years. So much so that there are now only two air defence squadrons (Feb.2010) Nos.43 and 111. The latter is believed to be the last to operate the Tornado F3, and is due to disband early 2011. There have been many aircaft that I could and should have photographed,but I have tried to represent as many squadrons as possible.