Flt Lt Nathan Shawyer was the last ever RAF pilot to be taught to fly the Tornado. He spoke to Key Aero’s Dino Carrara about his time on the legendary jet, including what it was like to be on the final conversion course, then going straight on operations over Iraq and Syria and being part of the retirement celebrations for the aircraft.
Q. Over what period did the final XV (Reserve) Squadron Tornado Operational Conversion Unit course run and what was the name of the final course?
A. The final XV (Reserve) Squadron course on the Tornado started in June 2016 and went on until February 2017. It was called 74 Long Course, differentiating it from a short course – which the refreshers fly – and a long course which someone like me who's never flown the Tornado before gets enrolled into and that was all up at RAF Lossiemouth.
