Panavia Tornado F3 - RAF Museum, Hendon, London, UK - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

The RAF Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm with admission being free. Car parking is available but there is a charge. The nearest underground station is Colindale about a 10-15 minute walk away or a number 303 bus passes both the tube station and museum. The co-ordinates posted are for the entrance to the "Milestones of Flight" hall/exhibition entrance.

The RAF Museum's website tells us about the Panavia Tornado F3:

The Tornado F.3 is intended for long-duration combat air patrols (CAPs) working in conjunction with Boeing E3D Sentry or other AEW/AWACS aircraft and was originally developed from the Tornado GR.1 bomber variant, via the 18 short-lived Tornado F.2 Air Defence Variant (ADV).

First flown in November 1985, and in training use with No 229 OCU at Coningsby from July 1986, the Tornado F.3 entered Squadron service (No 29 Squadron RAF Coningsby) in April 1987, that squadron being declared NATO operational in November 1987 after the usual 'working up' period to refine tactics etc. The Tornado successively replaced the Lightning and Phantom squadrons in the air defence role. Compared with the Tornado IDS (Interdictor/Strike) variant, the Tornado ADV has 80% commonality; however the ADV has faster supersonic acceleration, and a stretched body, permitting more internal fuel capacity.

Designed to protect UK airspace and able to engage several targets simultaneously, the Tornado F.3 can patrol for over three hours at 300 nautical miles from base. Originally equipping seven squadrons and 1435 Flight in the Falklands and used for CAPS during the first Gulf War, by late 2010, only No. 111(F) Squadron at Leuchars still operated the Tornado F.3 in front-line RAF service pending final replacement by the Eurofighter Typhoon. The Royal Saudi Air Force also operate this variant, and until the end of 2004 some were leased to the Italian Air Force by the RAF.

A history of this aircraft can be seen here.

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Panavia Tornado F3 Tail Number: (S/N): ZE887 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): RAF Musuem, Hendon, London inside / outside: inside Access restrictions: Please see the detailed description. Other Information:: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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