Panavia Tornado GR1B - RAF Museum, Hendon, London, UK
N 51° 35.845 W 000° 14.263
30U E 691311 N 5719878
This Panavia Tornado GR1B is located in the "Bomber Hall" at the RAF Museum in Hendon, London. The aircraft dates from 1983.
Waymark Code: WMNK1C
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/26/2015
Views: 3
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 GR1B:
Built by British Aerospace (BAe) at Warton in Lancashire in 1983 and delivered to the Tornado Operational Evaluation Unit at Boscombe Down in December 1983. This aircraft later served with Nos. 9, 15, 17 and 617 Squadrons and in 'Operation Desert Storm', the Gulf War, between January and February 1991.
The aircraft carrys the name 'Bob' from the popular television comedy series 'Black Adder'. Modified to a GR1B in 1994 to carrying the Sea Eagle anti-shipping missile. Last served with No.2 (AC) Squadron. Delivered by road to RAF Museum London in July 2003.
The aircraft has No.617 Squadron markings on nose and tail, the latter reproducing the wartime Avro Lancaster 'Dambusters' era Squadron codes, AJ-J. Other markings include two mission symbols below the port side of cockpit, dated 2001, following attacks on Iraqi targets and serial number ZA457.
A history of this aircraft can be seen here.