2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of the first flight of the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft – MRCA TORNADO in Manching, Germany. Between 1979 and 1998, almost 1,000 aircrafts were built for the Air Forces of Germany, Great Britain, Italy and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Millions of flight hours have been logged to date in times of peace and crisis. To celebrate this unique occasion we, Alex T. (Pilot) and Peter G. (WSO), have decided to start a very special watch project.
In cooperation with the Swiss pilot watch manufacturer Fortis and the Juwelier Kerner – Mr. Merath from Ulm, we were able todesign our TORNADO watch with our motto „50 YEARS – ON TIME ON TARGET“.
The new dial shows us a „Target Run“ with its Initial Point at 6 o‘clock and the Target at the 12 o‘clock position as a color-highlighted square and triangle.
The original X0 is used as the target label instead of a 12.
To do justice to our 50 years, the orange „50“ is shown as a „hidden error“ on the second time zone.
The hand for the second time zone represents our TORNADO with a 45° wing position, moving through space on its way. The iconic TORNADO lettering and the MRCA logo complete the dial.
The Flieger F-43 Triple-GMT Tornado Edition shines in a brushed 43mm titanium case with a 12 hour GMT Bezel turning bidirectional within half-hour clicks. It’s meant to be flown through timezones.
The Fortis Werk 13 Automatic Manufacture Calibre comes with a bi-directional rotor system and a traversing bridge fixed at both sides to improve resistance to shocks and vibration. Werk 13 has an integrated GMT Complication with jumping hour feature and a Power Reserve of 70 hours. Further it is certified as a Chronometer by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).
For the back, we were inspired by the equally iconic „TEAM TORNADO“ patch, the TORNADO flying low towards us. This patch is available to „Everyone“ who has completed training or reached their X-thousandth flying hour. In addition, our watch motto as the lettering „50 YEARS – ON TIME ON TARGET“ and the addition „1974-2024“ and „ONE OF 150“ – here too we are a team, everyone has one of the 150 watches.