Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series Die-cast Model

Panavia Tornado IDS – 44+97, AG 51, German Air Force, Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, August 2008

1:72 Scale.  Length: 9.2".  Wingspan (25 degree sweep): 7.6"


Limited production of approximately 750 models

In August 2003 the United Nations mandated an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to help the Afghan government provide effective security and develop security forces to prevent terrorist groups from forming in the country again. NATO took the lead of the ISAF and in 2007 as part of the operations Germany sent 6 Panavia Tornados from Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 "Immelmann" (51st Reconnaissance Wing) to Mazar-i-Sharif. These Tornados reconnaissance equipment were upgraded to improve their ability to detect IEDs. In 2008 Tornado IDS 44+97 was retired and sent to the Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim near Munich.

The Panavia Tornado was a joint project between the UK, West Germany and Italy to produce a two-seat, dual-engine aircraft with variable-sweep wings. The Tornado took its maiden flight on August 14, 1974 with the first aircraft delivered to the German Air Force on July 27, 1979. The variants of the Tornado are: IDS (interdictor / strike), ECR (electronic combat / reconnaissance) and ADV (air defense variant) interceptor. By the end of production in 1998 there had been 992 aircraft of all versions built of which 745 were IDS variants.

Hobby Master is a manufacturer of high quality, pre-assembled, diecast display models. Every model is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using specifications of the original aircraft or vehicle. They are made with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of a Tornado IDS features: