Introducing the Hanhart 417ES Tornado to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Tornado's first flight!

August 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the Tornado, a new multirole fighter jet under European defense cooperation. To commemorate this occasion, HANHART, a pilot's watch manufacturer based in Germany's Black Forest, has collaborated with PANAVIA Aircraft GmbH to release a special edition. Only 148 pieces will be sold worldwide, based on the date of the first flight, August 14th.

Hanhart releases a limited edition model to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Tornado's first flight!

Hanhart has released a limited edition model, the 417ES Tornado, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Tornado's first flight.

　August 14, 1974, is a special day in aviation history: it was on this day that a Tornado took to the skies for the first time as part of flight tests of a new multirole fighter jet in the context of European defense cooperation. The two-tone white and reddish-orange aircraft, bearing the registration number P.01 D-9591, was flown by a British and German crew at the "Bundeswehr Aircraft and Aviation Equipment Technical Centre and Aircraft Airworthiness Centre" under the radio callsign "LUNA 23" for testing purposes.
　British pilot Paul Millett sat in the forward cockpit and German test pilot Nils Meister sat in the aft cockpit. The maiden flight was safely completed after 33 minutes at Ingolstadt-Manching.

　The maiden flight marked a milestone for European defense cooperation, with the Tornado now equipped in large numbers by partner air forces in Germany, the UK and Italy, as well as exported to Saudi Arabia.　

　As a commemorative model of the Tornado, this one is truly special. The case back is embossed with an aerial view of an airplane with its wings angled at 67 degrees, emblazoned with the TORNADO logo. Additionally, the location, date, flight time, registration number, and serial number "XXX/148" are engraved.

　To enhance the vintage feel of this piece, the indexes, hour, minute and stop-second hands are coated with luminous material in an old radium colour.

A journey into the past

　This piece not only inherits the distinctive details of the past, but also incorporates modern materials, making it a sort of "time machine."
　Of particular note are the sharply elongated, highly polished chamfers that mark the transition from the satin-brushed lugs to the flanks. The fluted bezel, a typical HANHART style feature, rotates continuously in both directions, while the red position markers are reminiscent of historic models, as are the dial details. The bicompax layout and lettering appear to be direct copies of the early 417, with the numbering, font, and brand name also making a comeback.

Hanhart, a supplier to the German Air Force

　As a supplier to the young German Air Force, HANHART delivered one of the first service watches for aircrew to the German Bundeswehr in 1955. The basic model of this special edition matches the appearance, dimensions, and functionality of the 417 ES service watch from that time. HANHART supplied this watch to the German military for almost 10 years, until 1963, when the company decided to focus on producing manual-winding stopwatches. This historic, rare 417 has since become a sought-after vintage chronograph among collectors.