It will be emotional when Tornado is retired – last RAF pilot trained to fly jet
The famous aircraft will leave RAF service before the end of March.
The last ever pilot to be trained for Tornado jet operations by the RAF has said it will be “emotional” when the aircraft is retired this year.
Flight Lieutenant Nathan Shawyer, 27, has flown Tornados into Syria and Iraq in the fight against Islamic State in his two years with 31 Squadron.
“I’m the last ever Tornado pilot to be trained by the RAF,” he said.
The Tornado has been in service since 1979 and was first used in combat during the first Gulf War.
Its capabilities will be transferred to the Typhoon, which will also be Flt Lt Shawyer’s next aircraft.
Speaking at RAF Marham in Norfolk, where the Tornado is based, he said: “It’s an absolutely awesome machine to fly.
“It’s best suited at low level, it’s very stable at low level and that’s where it really enjoys itself.”
Flt Lt Shawyer, originally from Devon, said it will be “quite emotional” when the Tornado leaves service.
“A lot of people have invested a lot of time into the Tornado,” he said.
“It’s given us 37 years of fantastic service and been all over the world and done a lot of things for the United Kingdom.”
He said it would be remembered as the “workhorse” of the RAF.
“It’s really given its due in terms of being the platform to depend on and rely on for the last couple of decades.”
RAF Marham Station Commander Group Captain Ian ‘Cab’ Townsend said there will be a “finale flypast” around the UK to commemorate places that have contributed to the Tornado over the years.
There will also be a single sortie over the disbandment parade at RAF Marham on March 14, he said.
More than 1,300 people had requested to come.
