Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA6708Tornado GR.4 "Operation Ellamy" ZA542, 31 Squadron, Italy 2011
General Background
The Panavia Tornado was a joint effort between the UK, West Germany and Italy to produce a two-seat, dual-engine aircraft with variable-sweep wings. The Tornado took its maiden flight on August 14, 1974 with the first aircraft being delivered to the German Air Force on July 27, 1979. There are three main variants of the Tornado, the IDS (interdictor/strike), ECR (electronic combat/reconnaissance) and ADV (air defense variant) interceptor. By the end of production in 1998 there had been 992 aircraft of all versions built of which 745 were IDS variants.
The Aircraft
The 2011 UN Security Council Resolution 1973 was designed to protect Libyan citizens during the civil war that broke out to replace Muammar Gaddafi as president. In response NATO allies began to enforce a no-fly zone designated Operation Unified Protector. Participants were from the U.S., Canada, France and the UK who called their participation “Operation Ellamy”. Tornado GR.4s from RAF Marham were equipped with Brimstone missiles and Paveway IV bombs. One aircraft from 31 Squadron “Gold Stars” flying from Gioia del Colle AB Italy was ZA542/035 delivered to the RAF in 1982
Hobby Master HA6708, Tornado GR.4 "Operation Ellamy" ZA542, 31 Squadron, 1:72
Country of origin – Italy, UK, West Germany
Service entry date – 1979
Crew – 2
Dimensions
Length – 17.72 m (58.1 ft) Wingspan – 13.92 m (45.7 ft) expanded 8.6m swept (28.2 ft) Height – 5.95m (19.5 ft)
Weight
Empty – 13.8 t (30,423 lb) Maximum take off – 27.9 t (61,508.9 lb)
Performance
Powerplant
2 X Turbo-Union RB.199 Mk. 103 turbofans Producing dry with afterburners 2 X 38.48 / 71.50 kN
Maximum speed – 2,236 km/h (1,389 mph)
Service ceiling – 15.2 km (49,868.77 ft)
Range – 1,390 km (863.7 miles)
Ferry range with drop tanks – 3,900 (2,423.3) – 4,300 km (2,671.9 miles)
Armament
Cannon – 2 X 27 mm IWKA-Mauser Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles Brimstone anti-tank guided missiles 454 kg free-fall bombs CPU-123/B Paveway II GBU-28 Paveway III laser-guided bombs
