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Historic:

As the oldest dedicated bomber squadron in the Royal Air Force, it was somehow fitting that No.IX Squadron took the honor of becoming the world's first operational Panavia Tornado unit in front-line service when it was equipped with the GR.1 variant in June 1982.

The Tornado was a highly advanced, nuclear-capable strike attack and reconnaissance aircraft of the late Cold War era, with its potentially devastating capabilities meaning that at least four squadrons were usually based in Germany for much of its early service.

Tornado ZD748 was produced as a GR.1 variant in 1984 and delivered to No.IX Squadron at RAF Bruggen on 8th October that same year, where she wore the code AK and was referred to colloquially as "Anola Kay".

Proud of their celebrated squadron history, ZD748 later benefitted from some special artwork in commemoration of wartime Avro Lancaster B.I W4964, one of only 35 Lancasters which completed at least 100 operational missions: the celebrated "Centurions".

This famous aircraft was "J for Johnnie" and carried the Johnny Walker whiskey brand artwork on its nose, along with the firm's equally famous motto, ‘Still Going Strong' and its impressive mission tally scoreboard.

This aircraft dropped a 12,000Ib Tallboy bomb on the German Battleship Tirpitz on 15th September 1944. Tornado ZD748 was still carrying her "Johnnie Walker" artwork when she was pictured in the static aircraft display at the RAF Waddington Airshow in the summer of 1993.

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.

The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.

Info: Panavia Tornado GR.Mk 1 - RAF No.9 Sqn, ZS748 Johnnie Walker