Final product photos HA0186 MiG-21PFM No.7207 Czechoslovak AF.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA0186 MiG-21PFM No. 7207, 11th Fighter Regiment, Zatec AB, Czechoslavak AF.

MiG-21PFM No. 7207 c/n 94A7207 was completed in July 1968 and delivered to the Czechoslovak Air Force on May, 1968. From 1987 – 1991 the aircraft was Bort 7207 with the 11 SLP (11. stihaci letecky pluk – 11th Fighter Air Regiment) 3.letka (3rd Squadron) stationed at Zatec AFB, Czechoslovakia. 

In 1993 former Czechoslovakia was divided into two separate countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. That same year 7207 was transferred to the Slovak AF and in 1994 put into storage at Sliac, AB and was later scrapped.

Final product photos HA0185 MiG-21PFM 1st Sqn. Polish AF.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA0185 MiG-21PFM No. 6910, 1st Sqn., 62nd Fighter Regiment Polish Air Force, Poznan-Krzesiny AB, 1994.

Red 6910 c/n 94A6910 was delivered to the 34th Fighter Air Regiment (34th Pułk Lotnictwa Myśliwskiego) on April 5, 1968. Later the aircraft went to the 62nd Fighter Regiment and given a paint scheme marking the 40th anniversary of the unit in 1994. 

In mid January 1994 the 62nd would be renamed the 3rd Fighter Regiment of Poznań. The aircraft was retired and placed on display and later sold to a German shopping mall where it hangs from an interior roof and painted light blue.

Pilot dies after P-47 crashes into New York's Hudson river.

The second world war plane that crashed into the Hudson river on Friday night has been raised, after the body of its pilot was recovered, authorities said.

Rescue divers removed the body of 56-year-old William Gordon, of Key West, Florida, from the river late on Friday. The single-seat P-47 Thunderbolt crashed near the George Washington bridge between New York and New Jersey, according to the New York police department, which responded to the incident.

On Saturday, officials supervised the lifting of the plane’s wreckage from the river. The cause of the crash was being investigated by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.

The aircraft, owned by the American Airpower Museum, was being flown as part of celebrations for its 75th anniversary. The aircraft completed a partial loop before it plummeted into the water around 7.30pm, authorities said.

The plane was part of a trio, with a P-40 and a photo plane, that took off from Republic Airport in Farmingdale, Long Island. The other two planes landed safely, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/28/second-world-war-plane-crashes-into-new-yorks-hudson-river

http://airshowstuff.com/v4/2016/pilot-bill-gordon-killed-when-p-47-thunderbolt-crash-lands-in-hudson-river/

Two F/A-18s crash off North Carolina coast.

Two Navy jet fighters crashed off the coast of North Carolina during a routine training mission on Thursday, sending four people to the hospital, officials said.

Early reports indicated that the jets collided, but that was not confirmed by the Navy as of Thursday afternoon.

The Coast Guard said four people were recovered and have been rushed to a hospital. A Navy official said the crews were rescued by a nearby fishing boat. A Coast Guard helicopter was also on scene, about 20 to 30 miles off Cape Hatteras.

The Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched from the air station in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The station's helicopters perform ocean search-and-rescue operations off North Carolina and Virginia as far east as Bermuda.

The fighters were based in Virginia Beach and collided about 10:40 a.m., said Navy spokesman Ensign Mark Rockwellpate. Witnesses reported seeing four parachutes floating down into the Atlantic after the incident.

The sea route is heavily traveled by ships entering and leaving Norfolk, one of the busiest cargo ports on the East Coast.

A Navy official told Reuters that initial reports point to some kind of an "in-flight mishap." The jets were conducting a routine training mission. The Navy said it will conduct a "safety investigation."

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/05/26/2-fa-18s-crash-off-north-carolina-coast-report-says.html

Photos of Corgi AA37208 Halifax B.VII "Vicky The Vicious Virgin".

Corgi AA37208 Handley Page Halifax B.VII, PN230/EQ-V ‘Vicky The Vicious Virgin’, RAF No.408 ‘Goose’ Squadron, No.6 (RCAF) Group, Linton-on-Ouse, 1945.

Final product photos HA3355 F-5F Tiger II ROCAF.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3355 Northrop F-5F Tiger II 5385, ROCAF, Taiwan.

This F-5F modex 5385 was manufactured in 1980 as 80-0297, one of three F-5F-NOs built under contract numbers VH1007/VH1009. This aircraft was assigned to the 737th TFW / 7th TFG at Taitung AB. The 7th TFG is comprised of the 44th FS, 45th FS and 46th FS. 

In 1988 the 46th FS became subordinate to the Tactical Training and Development Center (Taiwan Top Gun) also located at Taitung AB. These aircraft have a bare metal finish simulating PLAAF aircraft and act as aggressors in the Tai Chung Training Range.

Final product photos HA2513 F-105 "MICKEY TITTY Chi" Korat 1967.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2513 F-105 Thunderchief 60-0424 "MICKEY TITTY Chi" 34th TFS/388th TFW Korat RTAFB, Thailand 1967.

On June 3, 1967 F-105D 60-0424 nicknamed “MICKEY TITTY Chi” flown by Major Ralph L. Kuster Jr. of the 34th TFS/388th TFW stationed at Korat RTAFB, Thailand was part of the attack flown against Bac Giang railway bridge. 

The F-105s flew a tight pod formation so they could deploy their ECM effectively against the SAMs and AAA fire. Kuster was the lead and used his gun camera to record the positions. Departing, they encountered MiG-17s, Kuster and another F-105 destroyed both. 60-0424 was lost to AAA fire one month later.

Final product photo Ju-87 G-1 Dubno, Ukraine 1944.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA0158 Ju-87 G-1 GS+MH, 10.(Pz)/SG 1, Dubno, Ukraine, June 1944.

On the morning of June 22, 1944 Soviets launched “Operation Bagration” to retake Belorussia and Ukraine. 1.7 million Soviet troops along with 6,000 pieces of armor attacked 34 German divisions with total surprise. 

By July 17, 1944 Germany had lost 300,000 dead and 120,000 captured and lost more than 2,000 tanks. This meant the loss of German Army Group Center. 

Still wearing its factory registration, Ju-87 G-1 GS+MH from 4. Flieger-Division 10th (Pz) / SG 1 based at Dubno, Ukraine took part in the failed defense.

INSIDE: The look inside B-29 Doc during first low-speed taxi.

On May 11, 2016 the B-29 known as Doc moved under its own power for the first time since 1956. This video includes raw video footage from inside the cockpit during the low-speed taxi test.

On the Move: B-29 Doc low-speed taxi.

For the first time since 1956, the nearly restored B-29 known as Doc moved under its own power. The restoration crew performed the first of many low-speed taxi tests on May 11, 2016 as the final preparations are underway before first flight.

Tempest Fugit – The Resurrection of Two of Hawkers’ Finest Fighters.

The Hawker Tempest is one of the most revered ground attack aircraft of WWII, and yet so few of them survived beyond the mid-1950s. Despite several efforts to resurrect one of the awesome beasts to airworthy condition over the past four decades, none have made it past the finish line so far. 

However, a dedicated ex-pat Englishman, Andy Salter, is attempting to breathe new life into not just one, but two of these charismatic fighters at Kermit Weeks’ facility in Polk City, Florida. Mr. Weeks’ Tempests are the Napier Sabre-engined Mk.V variant, EJ693, and the Bristol Centaurus-powered Mk.II prototype, LA607. 

Interestingly, the Tempest II never saw combat during WWII, unlike the Mk.V, which was actually the first of the type to enter service, beginning in January, 1944. They were the scourge of Nazi ground forces in Europe during the latter stages of the war, and one of the few aircraft fast enough to chase down the V-1 flying bombs as well.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/aviation-museum-news/tempest-revival.html

Bell P-63F King Cobra Took to the Skies Again.

Without fanfare, the Commemorative Air Force’s Bell P-63F Kingcobra took to the skies again on April 14th, near Houston, Texas. The Kingcobra had been ground-bound since an October, 2013 belly-landing at Skywest Airport near Midland, Texas. 

As forced landings go, the aircraft had not suffered too much structural damage in the incident, but the engine, propeller and reduction gear box needed a good deal of expensive rework, for obvious reasons. P-63F 43-11719 is maintained by the P-63 Sponsor Group and one of only two of the variant ever built. 

She is also just one of three currently active Kingcobras in the world (the others being the Palm Springs Air Museum’s P-63A 42-68864 “Pretty Polly” and the Legacy of Flight Museum‘s P-63C 43-11223).

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/caf-p-63f-king-cobra-flies.html

World’s Only Marine PBJ WWII Bomber Flies After 23 Years

On Sunday May 15th, at alittle before 2pm local time, the world’s last known surviving PBJ-1J Mitchell took to the skies over Camarillo, California again, following adecades-long, down-to-the-last-rivet restoration with the Southern California (SoCal) Wing of the Commemorative Air Force’s. 

As is typical on such test flights, a chase plane shadowed the Mitchell for much of the hour-long flight, sitting off her wingtip right up until the old bomber alit once more on terra firms. The flight seemed to go smoothly, and many supporters were onhand to see her soar again and cheer her home. A local TV newschannel even covered the proceedings as well.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/warbird-collections/commemorative-air-force-news/worlds-surviving-pbj-1-flies-again.html

Aviation72 Short Tucano T1 RAF Central Flying School ZF141.

Regtheveg posted photos of the Aviation73 AV7227003 1/72 Short Tucano T1 RAF Central Flying School ZF141. It comes with U/C  fixed down, certificated 600 pieces, and a display stand is provided.

Corgi Westland Lynx, AH1GT, XZ221.

SniperUK has posted photos of Corgi's latest Westland Lynx, AH1GT, XZ221. This model has definitely benefited from Sniper's input having numerous detail correction done and looks really good.

Corgi AA32624 , Lancaster PM-M2 , ED888 , No.103 Sqn.

This much anticipated model from Corgi has landed leaving collectors dumbfounded at how such an expensive model can have so many flaws!!!

While the overall build quality is good, the model has a flew faults that significantly detract from what could have been an excellent release. 

The significant issues are as follows:

• Rear of front turret not painted.
• Nose art inaccurate with Swastikas reversed and not angled, bomb colours not correctly represented.
• Lincoln tails.
• Twin instead of quad .303s in the tail turret.

Yes many other Lancaster releases have been flawed but this is one of the most expensive Lancaster releases yet. People expect to get what they're paying premium prices for, an excellent model, not a flawed one. We expect more from you Corgi.

Photos courtesy of regtheveg.