Hanhart
417 ES Tornado Maiden Flight

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TORNADO MAIDEN FLIGHT

417 ES Tornado Maiden Flight
August 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Tornado’s maiden flight. To mark the occasion, Hanhart is launching a special edition limited to 148 pieces with the kind support of PANAVIA Aircraft GmbH. The number of units results from the day and month of the maiden flight on August 14, 1974.

TIME MACHINE

JOURNEY INTO THE PAST
The 417 ES Tornado Maiden Flight is a kind of time machine, as it combines the style-defining details of the past with the most modern materials of our time. The sharply drawn and highly polished chamfers that mark the transition from the satin-finished horns to the flanks are particularly ingenious. As a typical stylistic feature of a Hanhart, the fluted bezel rotates continuously in both directions. Its red position markings are just as reminiscent of the historical model as the details on the clock face. The typical Hanhart layout with totalizers at 3 and 9 o’clock and the lettering appear to be the spitting image of the early 417 ES. The numbers, fonts and brand lettering from back then were also reactivated.

SWISS-MADE QUALITY

IN FOCUS: PRECISION AND RELIABILITY
To ensure that the chronograph impresses with its precision and reliability, the reliable Swiss-made Sellita AMT5100 M movement with flyback function operates behind the screw-down stainless steel case back. In addition to stop-seconds, it offers a power reserve of up to 58 hours when fully wound. The historic 417 was also wound by hand, although its radius of action outside the cockpit was severely limited due to its limited water resistance. The new 417 ES TORNADO, limited to 148 pieces, is water-resistant up to 10 bar.

SPECIAL ELEMENT

THE COCKADE – GER/IT/UK
The 417 ES TORNADO bears the cockade in the colors of the three partner nations (Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom) on the dial under the running seconds at 9 o’clock. P.01 carried this cockade below the cockpit on the port side. The eye of the second hand has been reduced in size to make the cockade more visible, in contrast to the standard watch.

RELIABILITY FOR GENERATIONS

TIMELESS DESIGN
As one of the most traditional manufacturers of pilot’s watches in history, Hanhart continues to place the highest demands on itself today and is guided by the following maxims: incomparable precision and reliability, perfect readability and simple, safe operation as well as the best robustness.

DARKNESS? NO PROBLEM!

SUPER-LUMINOVA
The hands and numerals of the Hanhart 417 Tornado Maiden Flight are coated with Super-LumiNova® old Radium GL to ensure optimum readability by day and night.

A WATCH LIKE NO OTHER

UNIQUE DESIGN
The TORNADO logo is located on the lower half of the dial. An embossed view of the airplane from above with wing position 67° and the TORNADO logo adorn the case back of the watch. In addition, the place, date, flight duration, registration number and the consecutive limitation number XXX/148 are engraved on the base. The hour indices and the hour, minute and stop-second hands are coated with luminous material in the color Old Radium to emphasize the vintage appearance of the watch.

MULTINATIONAL MASTERPIECE

AUGUST 14, 1974 – A FLIGHT MAKES HISTORY
On this day, a TORNADO took to the skies for the first time as part of the flight testing of a new multi-role combat aircraft in European armaments cooperation. The aircraft, painted in white and red-orange with the registration number P.01 D-9591 was flown with the radio call sign LUNA 23 by a British-German crew for test purposes at the Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61. In the front cockpit was Paul Millett from the United Kingdom, in the rear cockpit was the German test pilot Nils Meister. The first flight ended safely and successfully in Ingolstadt/Manching after 33 minutes. As a supplier to the young German Air Force, Hanhart delivered the first service watches for flying crews to the Bundeswehr in 1955. The basic model for the special edition corresponds in its appearance, dimensions and function to the 417 ES service watch of the time.

LEATHER STRAP OR STEEL BRACELET

OUTSTANDING WEARING COMFORT
On the wrist, a black calfskin strap with a waistband-style carpet pad ensures a high level of comfort from day one. The Alcantara lining also promises a particularly pleasant feel against the skin. A stainless steel pin buckle with the historic Hanhart logo provides a secure hold. The limited-edition watch is also available with an optional high-quality stainless steel bracelet.