Panavia Tornado IDS 44+97 – AG 51 Immelmann, Luftwaffe, Piacenza-San Damiano AB, Italy, Operation Allied Force 1999

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA6714: Panavia Tornado IDS 44+97 of AG 51 Immelmann, Luftwaffe, Piacenza-San Damiano AB, Italy, Operation Allied Force 1999. Production run of 750 models.

Length 9.25 inches Wingspan 7.75 inches

In August 2003 the United Nations mandated an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to help the Afghan government to provide effective security and develop security forces to prevent terrorist groups from forming in the country again. NATO took the lead of the ISAF and in 2007 as part of the operations Germany sent 6 Tornados from Aufklarungsgeschwader 51 “Immelmann” (51st Reconnaissance Wing) to Mazar-i-Sharif. These Tornados reconnaissance equipment were upgraded to improve their ability to detect IEDs. In 2008 Tornado IDS 44+97 was retired and sent to the Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim near Munich.

Designed in collaboration with Britain, West Germany and Italy, the Tornado was first flown on August 14th, 1974 and is thought by many to be the most important military aircraft in Western European history. Nicknamed “The Flying Fin” because of its large tail fin, the Tornado has a variable wing sweep design and is capable of taking off and landing on short airstrips. It is equipped with terrain-following radar, which allows for hands-off, low-level flight in any weather. There are three primary versions: an electronic combat/reconnaissance version, an interceptor and a highly versatile strike fighter-bomber capable of carrying almost all of NATO’s air-launched weapons.