Tornado: In the Eye of the Storm

by John Nichol

As the formalities drew to a close, Sir Stephen rose to his feet. He recounted his own final flight a few days earlier, when he had flown a series of flypasts over iconic Tornado sites. As he led the last formation over Tain Air Weapons Range in Scotland, the Range Safety Officer’s voice could be heard on the radio. ‘Tornado flight, are you ready for a message?’ ‘Go ahead,’ Hillier replied. ‘Tornado, as you depart Tain Range for the last time, can I just say what an honour and privilege it has been to serve the Tornado force over the past decades.’ The Range Officer then continued with his regulation weapons safety check. ‘So Tornado – for the final time – I ask you to confirm you are all now switches safe.’ There may have been a slight crack in the Chief of the Air Staff’s voice as he told the story. ‘In that time-honoured way which we all know so well, the radio calls rippled up through the formation.’ ‘Three, switches safe.’ ‘Two, switches safe.’ ‘One, switches safe. Thank you, Tain. Tornado is en route.’ Everyone in the audience, many with tears in their eyes, knew this was the last goodbye for the faithful aircraft that had flown an astonishing 186,000 hours on combat operations.