Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Meet the aircraft
Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany jointly developed the variable-sweep Tornado through Panavia. The IDS served strike missions, the ECR suppression of air defences and the ADV interception. Mission equipment and performance differ between these versions.
Aircraft background
Wikipedia contributors · Read more ↗Trusting the aircraft while keeping the cockpit conversation precise
After the Hawk, Hickson’s first impression was of a much larger and more complicated aircraft. The Tornado’s appearance matched the work it had been built to do, but her strongest memories also concerned the crew’s concentration. On a night exercise in poor weather, conversation with the navigator became brief and professional as they monitored the aircraft together. Reconnaissance brought another kind of challenge.
Hush-Kit interview · July 2020. RAF Tornado GR.4A experience, including Exercise Red Flag; equipment differs from earlier GR.1 and IDS variants.
Hush-Kit · Read more ↗Both crew positions support the navigation workload
X-Trident lists pilot and navigator 3D cockpits, a moving map, terrain-following and terrain-avoidance radar functions, and a radar-warning receiver. The navigation equipment also includes air-to-ground and air-to-air TACAN.
Panavia Tornado · X-Plane 11
X-Trident · Read more ↗Into the cockpit
YouTube Fast Times Vero
TORNADO By IndiaFoxtEcho FULL TUTORIAL | Start Up | Wing Sweep | Jettison | Steering | MSFS2020 Xbox
A simulator walkthrough covering startup, wing sweep and ground controls.
IndiaFoxtEcho Tornado; MSFS 2020 Xbox
Watch on YouTube ↗Preview images are served by AirframeDB. Videos open on YouTube only when you choose to watch.
Meet Panavia Tornado
Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany jointly developed the variable-sweep Tornado through Panavia. The IDS served strike missions, the ECR suppression of air defences and the ADV interception. Mission equipment and performance differ between these versions.
Panavia Tornado
Panavia → · Explore the family →
Panavia Tornado
Wikipedia contributors · Panavia Tornado ↗X-Trident · X-Plane 11 →Aircraft type designators
Use the code for the model you are flying. The linked authority lists the applicable aircraft.
History & design
A farewell route brings crews and onlookers together
The RAF’s February 2019 report describes Stephen Hillier leading a four-aircraft farewell formation over Scottish locations including Lossiemouth and Leuchars. It was his final Tornado flight, during a series of public flypasts ahead of the type’s retirement from RAF service.
Royal Air Force · Chief of the Air Staff takes final Tornado flight over Scotland ↗Personal final flight and farewell flypasts; not the final flight of every Tornado operator
Development milestones
First flight: 14 August 1974
Wikipedia contributors · Panavia Tornado ↗Panavia Tornado · family/variant named by the source · Wikipedia revision 1373903744
Pilot accounts
Trusting the aircraft while keeping the cockpit conversation precise
After the Hawk, Hickson’s first impression was of a much larger and more complicated aircraft. The Tornado’s appearance matched the work it had been built to do, but her strongest memories also concerned the crew’s concentration. On a night exercise in poor weather, conversation with the navigator became brief and professional as they monitored the aircraft together.
Reconnaissance brought another kind of challenge. Hickson enjoyed the flying and the task of observing the ground, while finding the prescribed descriptions of structures and equipment awkward to learn. Her example of having to describe a communications pylon shows how much of the job involved exact reporting.
Hush-Kit interview · July 2020. RAF Tornado GR.4A experience, including Exercise Red Flag; equipment differs from earlier GR.1 and IDS variants.
Read the full account · Hush-Kit ↗Confidence grows from the aircraft and the person behind you
Napier remembered the Tornado as huge and complicated after the Hawk he had flown in training. Once inside, he found the cockpit roomy and sensibly arranged, with the head-up display and projected map dominating the view ahead. Familiarity turned the imposing first impression into confidence in the aircraft’s everyday work.
He particularly valued its steadiness in turbulence at low level, but placed equal emphasis on training and trust in the navigator behind him. Years with squadrons in Germany gave him many distinct flights rather than one easy choice for a favourite story.
Hush-Kit interview · April 2016. RAF Tornado GR.1 flying from 1985 to 1994, chiefly at Brüggen; 1,750 hours on type reported in the interview.
Read the full account · Hush-Kit ↗A museum visit brings the old aircraft back
Seeing an F.3 in a museum still made Dunn emotional. He remembered taking his children to East Fortune and wanting to show them the aircraft’s details, a response rooted in pride at having flown it. His affection remained strong even though he was candid about the type’s limitations in its assigned role.
A very different memory came from a deployment journey towards Red Flag. A winter diversion to Halifax ended with the aircraft landing on a snow-covered runway; using reverse thrust suddenly surrounded the crew with blown snow. In the interview, that frightening loss of visibility sits beside the warmth of the museum visit.
Hush-Kit interview · October 2023. RAF Tornado F.3 air-defence pilot; this variant’s role and cockpit differ from GR.1/GR.4 strike aircraft.
Read the full account · Hush-Kit ↗In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
Compare simulator versions →X-Plane 11Panavia Tornado
X-Trident · Released
Panavia Tornado
X-Trident · Released
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024 (retailer-listed compatibility)Tornado GR1/IDS
IndiaFoxtEcho · Released
Tornado GR1/IDS
IndiaFoxtEcho · Released
Aircraft specifications
Published figures for the named real-aircraft variant. Simulator equipment and performance can differ.
| Specification | Published value |
|---|---|
| Length | 16.72 m (54 ft 10 in) |
| Wingspan | 13.91 m (45 ft 8 in) at 25° sweep |
| Height | 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in) |
| Wing area | 26.6 m² (286 sq ft) |
| Empty weight | 13,890 kg (30,622 lb) |
| Gross weight | 20,410 kg (44,996 lb) |
| Max takeoff weight | 27,215 kg (59,999 lb) |
| Powerplant | 2 × Turbo-Union RB199 -34R Mk 103 afterburning 3-spool turbofan, 43.8 kN (9,800 lbf) thrust each dry, 76.8 kN (17,300 lbf) with afterburner |
| Maximum speed | 2,400 km/h (1,500 mph, 1,300 kn) at 9,000 m (30,000 ft) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.2 |
| Service ceiling | 15,240 m (50,000 ft) |
Manuals & resources
Find your next read
Choose a topic for a short introduction and a link to the original source. Simulator references identify the developer and edition they cover.
Simulator documentation
A supplied buddy tanker supports the refuelling featurePanavia Tornado · X-Trident · X-Plane 11
The package describes animated air-to-air refuelling with an included buddy tanker. Custom lighting, throttle animation and sound accompany the cockpit systems and moving-map features.
X-Plane 11 version 3.5 developer store description
X-Trident · Read the source ↗Both crew positions support the navigation workloadPanavia Tornado · X-Trident · X-Plane 11
X-Trident lists pilot and navigator 3D cockpits, a moving map, terrain-following and terrain-avoidance radar functions, and a radar-warning receiver. The navigation equipment also includes air-to-ground and air-to-air TACAN.
Tornado for X-Plane 11 · product listing version 3.5
X-Trident · Read the source ↗Pilot account
Trusting the aircraft while keeping the cockpit conversation preciseHush-Kit interview · July 2020. RAF Tornado GR.4A experience, including Exercise Red Flag; equipment differs from earlier GR.1 and IDS variants.
After the Hawk, Hickson’s first impression was of a much larger and more complicated aircraft. The Tornado’s appearance matched the work it had been built to do, but her strongest memories also concerned the crew’s concentration. On a night exercise in poor weather, conversation with the navigator became brief and professional as they monitored the aircraft together. Reconnaissance brought another kind of challenge.
Mandy Hickson
Hush-Kit · Read the source ↗Confidence grows from the aircraft and the person behind youHush-Kit interview · April 2016. RAF Tornado GR.1 flying from 1985 to 1994, chiefly at Brüggen; 1,750 hours on type reported in the interview.
Napier remembered the Tornado as huge and complicated after the Hawk he had flown in training. Once inside, he found the cockpit roomy and sensibly arranged, with the head-up display and projected map dominating the view ahead. Familiarity turned the imposing first impression into confidence in the aircraft’s everyday work. He particularly valued its steadiness in turbulence at low level, but placed equal emphasis on training and trust in the navigator behind him.
Michael Napier
Hush-Kit · Read the source ↗Developer documentation
Tornado GR1/IDS — product listingTornado GR1/IDS · MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024 (retailer-listed compatibility)
Product listing captured 2026-09-30; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue
orbxdirect.com · Read the source ↗Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Aircraft background
Panavia TornadoWikipedia contributors · Research background · retrieved 2026-09-12 Chief of the Air Staff takes final Tornado flight over ScotlandRoyal Air Force · 22 February 2019Product
Panavia Tornado XP11X-Trident · Official developer / designated store catalogue · checked 2026-09-12 Tornado GR1Just Flight · Official developer / designated store catalogue · checked 2026-09-12 IndiaFoxtEcho TORNADO Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) - Orbxorbxdirect.com · Product listing captured 2026-09-30; edition scope from the reviewed catalogueType designator
ICAO Doc 8643 — aircraft type designatorsInternational Civil Aviation Organization · Public search data retrieved 2026-09-14; authority update 2026-09-03Built-in force-feedback profiles
Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.
Catalogue programme-20261022-v1 · 2 profile choices
IndiaFoxtEcho Tornado IDS / GR.1 / GR.4 / ECR
IndiaFoxtEcho · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
IndiaFoxtEcho Tornado IDS / GR.1 / GR.4 / ECR: Artificial feel motivates a restrained powered-control response.
Panavia Tornado
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Review pending
X-Plane 11
Panavia Tornado: Artificial feel motivates a restrained powered-control response.
Panavia Tornado
Panavia Tornado: Artificial feel motivates a restrained powered-control response.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Panavia Tornado · X-Plane 11 · family starting point
Panavia Tornado · Historical XP11 catalogue scope; compatibility is not transferred to XP12.
The simulator model and controls
Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany jointly developed the variable-sweep Tornado through Panavia. The IDS served strike missions, the ECR suppression of air defences and the ADV interception. Mission equipment and performance differ between these versions.
This starting point selects Panavia Tornado. Its aircraft-level settings do not select a particular developer’s custom systems.
How this profile feels
Artificial feel motivates a restrained powered-control response. Spring resistance builds with the selected airspeed response. A separate aerodynamic term adds speed-dependent control load.
Pitch and roll trim move the artificial-feel neutral in the documented architecture. Valid trim provides the configured pressure relief. Autopilot following is off.
Controls and trim
The reviewed Tornado rendition uses a hydraulic direct-link control model with artificial feel. Pitch and roll trim move the feel system’s neutral. Wing sweep, slats, flaps and Krueger devices share a composite simulator channel, with model-specific configuration and mission fits.
About the values
The gains are normalized profile settings. They describe the chosen effect balance; hand force depends on the device and its output limits. IAS references are tuning values rather than operating limits. Physical acceptance of this revision remains pending.
Documentary review and sources
These decisions describe the documentary basis and remaining gaps for this revision. Aircraft documentation and a starting setting describe different kinds of evidence.
Aircraft and variant
Not yet reviewedThis starting point selects Panavia Tornado. Its aircraft-level settings do not select a particular developer’s custom systems.
Flight controls
Not yet reviewedThe reviewed Tornado rendition uses a hydraulic direct-link control model with artificial feel. Pitch and roll trim move the feel system’s neutral. Wing sweep, slats, flaps and Krueger devices share a composite simulator channel, with model-specific configuration and mission fits.
Trim
Not yet reviewedPitch and roll trim move the artificial-feel neutral in the documented architecture. Pitch authority 0.3 relieves permitted loading; hydraulic centre movement is off. Roll authority is 0.09.
Autopilot and stability
Not yet reviewedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
Not yet reviewedGear, flap and ground cues follow the selected settings and available simulator-reported states.
Speeds and limits
Not yet reviewedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
Not yet reviewedThe profile targets xplane11. Add-on-specific controls use only the supported references configured by this profile.
Force-feedback settings
Not yet reviewedThe settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
Starting settings and their rationale
These configured values are starting estimates. The explanations describe what each setting controls; physical validation appears separately below.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.8 | What it controls and whyArtificial feel motivates a restrained powered-control response. The baseline spring is 0.8. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 90 KIAS. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.25 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.25 with an indicated-speed reference of 300 KIAS. The hydraulic-load factor of 0.35 scales that modeled term; it is a selected artificial-feel approximation. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value300.0 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value90 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.65 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.65 and 0.65, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value0.65 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
All 44 starting settings and their rationale
The settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.8 | What it controls and whyArtificial feel motivates a restrained powered-control response. The baseline spring is 0.8. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 90 KIAS. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.035 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.25 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.25 with an indicated-speed reference of 300 KIAS. The hydraulic-load factor of 0.35 scales that modeled term; it is a selected artificial-feel approximation. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| QBlend Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it. |
| QSpring Minimum Factor | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whySets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength. |
| QSpring Start Knots | Starting value20 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed spring blend starts rising. This is a feel threshold, not a flight limit. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value90 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value300.0 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThe high-speed spring-stiffening gain is 0. No additional speed-driven stiffening is added; this does not disable independent aerodynamic loading. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening limit | Starting value5 | What it controls and whyLimits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.65 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.65 and 0.65, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value0.65 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whyPitch and roll trim move the artificial-feel neutral in the documented architecture. Pitch authority 0.3 relieves permitted loading; hydraulic centre movement is off. Roll authority is 0.09. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0.09 | What it controls and whyScales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response. |
| Force Trim Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyEnables local force trim, separate from aircraft-owned trim and add-on integration qualification. |
| GLoad Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it. |
| Rate Damping Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot follow authority | Starting value0.1 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Autopilot neutral hold strength | Starting value0.6 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions. |
| Gain | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whySets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate. |
| Gain | Starting value0.14 | What it controls and whySets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate. |
| Maximum flap index | Starting value3 | What it controls and whySets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3. |
| Minimum flap index | Starting value2 | What it controls and whySets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees. |
| Gain | Starting value0.1 | What it controls and whySets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate. |
| Shaker Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyPermits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment. |
| Stick shaker amplitude | Starting value0.9 | What it controls and whySets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.4 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0.32 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.9 | What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse. |
| Gain | Starting value0.5 | What it controls and whySets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.06 | What it controls and whySets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
Limits and open questions
- The in-development MSFS page cannot qualify the retained XP11 Tornado. Variable sweep, manoeuvre flaps, CSAS and SPILS require scoped custom signals.
- No simulator launch or physical force validation.
Physical validation
No physical force validation is recorded in this public catalogue for this revision. Documentary review and software checks do not establish how a particular device feels.
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