Corgi 1/72 AA33622 Panavia Tornado GR1 ZA591 No16 Sqn 75th Anniversary
Panavia Tornado GR.1 - ZA591/ FN, RAF No.16 Squadron, 75th Anniversary Scheme, Mildenhall Air Fete, Suffolk, May 1990
Limited Edition: 1000
Dimensions: 232mm (Length) x 193mm (Wingspan)
With many RAF squadrons able to trace their establishment back to the early air operations of the Great War, the 1990s saw quite a number of them commemorating their 75th anniversaries. As was customary on these occasions, several squadrons would send one of their aircraft into the paint shop to be adorned with special anniversary artwork, much to the delight of aviation enthusiasts across Europe. These aircraft would spend the next few months attending official RAF events, open days and Airshows, where they would become some of the most popular and most photographed aircraft in the world. Without doubt, one of the most spectacular of the RAF squadron 75th anniversary schemes was the smart all-over black paint finish applied to Panavia Tornado GR.1 ZA591, an aircraft which would represent No.16 Squadron throughout their 75th anniversary year, and in some style. The aircraft itself went on to attract a couple of unofficial titles following its repaint, both of which where christened by RAF personnel. To most, she was simply referred to as ‘The Black Pig’, but following the participation of RAF Tornados in the Gulf War, where the black painted American F-117 Stealth Fighter played such a prominent role, she was also colloquially referred to as the ‘Stealth GR.1’. However you referred to her, No.16 Squadron’s ZA591 was certainly one of the best looking Tornados to ever to see Royal Air Force service