(All images by mjjlive, reproduced with permission)
One of the few surviving Panavia Tornado GR1 strike aircraft not to be reduced to produce (stripped for parts then scrapped), the beautifully restored ZA399 sits on an industrial estate south of Manchester.
ZA399 first flew in November 1982 and played a key role during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, where it was tasked with daring low and medium altitude bombing missions against heavily defended Iraqi targets.
Known as ‘Granny‘ during the conflict, ZA399 was among 60 GR1s deployed to air bases at Muharraq in Bahrain, as well as Tabuk and Dhahran in Saudi Arabia.
But unlike some Gulf War veterans, which still fly today, this aircraft was not among 142 Tornados updated to GR4 standard during the late 1990s. And so it was that ZA399 made her final flight in December 2001.
After almost 20 years service, the ex-617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron strike jet was relegated to secondary ground instructional duties at RAF St Athan in Wales until 2006, when it was transferred RAF Cosford in Shropshire, England.
After several years serving as a ground trainer, the retired bomber was bought by Jet Art Aviation and moved to its premises in Yorkshire for a sprucing up.
And thanks to the help of some spare parts from another old Tornado GR1 trainer, formerly of the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE) at RAF Cottesmore, ZA399 was soon looking as good as new.
Purchased by Oliver Valves LTD, the decorated Tornado can now be seen guarding the entrance to their premises in Knutsford, Cheshire.
Keep reading – Scrapping a Panavia Tornado – Luftwaffe Style
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