Tornado jets roared over the skies of The National Memorial Arboretum today (Tuesday) to mark the aircraft’s retirement from Royal Air Force service after almost 40 years.

BGUK_1491100 - Tornado jets roared over the skies of The National Memorial Arboretum today (Tuesday) to mark the aircraft’s retirement from Royal Air Force service after almost 40 years. Designed by Panavia, the aircraft was a collaboration between the UK, Germany and Italy – coming into RAF service in 1979. It saw combat during the Gulf War of 1991, while also flying operations over Kosovo, Iraq and Syria. A flight of Tornado jets returned home to the UK for the last time on February 5, landing at RAF Marham in Norfolk. The Tornado will be replaced by the F-35 Lightning. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hiller, a former Tornado pilot, said: “I will personally be very sad to see the Tornado retire. “We can all take immense pride in what the Tornado has achieved in defence of the nation over nearly four decades.” The RAF will say farewell to the Tornado jets in a three-day flypast starting on Tuesday, February 19. Three of the jets are set to fly around the country, passing many RAF bases. The Tornadoes are due to be fully retired in March after 40 years of service.