On the 14th of August 1974, in Manching, Germany, the airfield roared to life with the sound of the Tornado taking to the skies for the first time. This marked the culmination of years of rigorous design and engineering efforts by three European nations: The United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. The Panavia Tornado was destined to redefine modern warfare and aviation for decades.
The 50th anniversary of the Tornado's first flight was not just a celebration of a remarkable aircraft, but a commemoration of spirit, innovation, and resilience. It was a reminder that when nations come together with a shared vision, they can achieve extraordinary things.
The last 18 months of work on the flight model has seen the inaccuracies of the transonic aerodynamics resolved. Aviastorm has worked on fully simulating the unique flight characteristics of all wingsweep positions. The module’s aerodynamic model is matched with a detailed recreation of the mighty RB-199 engines which also power the electrical and hydraulic systems. The team have also simulated the generator electrical loads and the hydraulic pressures required to move the flight control surfaces and other mechanical systems.
The modeling of the complex flight controls and Control And Stability Augmentation Systems (CSAS) is now the biggest task still remaining to ensure correct aircraft handling, ready for comprehensive flight testing. Accuracy is important to mimic the unique flight performance and characteristics of this complex variable geometry aircraft.
The 3D model is also nearing completion and we are delighted to share these work in progress screenshots of the “First flight” Livery. For more updates visit the Aviastorm discord.
