Final product photos, HA3531, F/A-18B RAAF 3 Sqn, 2006.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3531, F/A-18B RAAF A21-103, 3 Squadron, 2006.

RAAF F/A-18B serial A21-103 was built as c/n 0215/ATF103 and along with A21-104 were flown by C-5 Galaxy to Australia arriving on June 6, 1984. These two aircraft were re-assembled and when A21-103 rolled out on November 16, 1984 it was considered the first Australian built Hornet. 

After flight testing A21-103 was delivered to 20 CU (Conversion Unit) at Williamtown on May 17, 1985. On January 1, 2005 the aircraft was with the RAAF 3 Squadron at Williamtown.

Final product photos, F-105D Thunderchief "The Polish Glider".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA2510, F-105D Thunderchief 59-1822, "The Polish Glider" 44th TFS/355th TFW Takhli, Thailand, 1970.

Republic F-105D s/n 59-1822 was assigned to the 44th TFS 355th TFW with the tail code RE. The 44th TFS was referred to as “Yankee Air Pirates” by their enemy. 

This aircraft was flown by Major Don Kutyna of Polish decent so he named 59-1822 “The Polish Glider” and he was given the nickname “Yankee Air Polack”. Major Kutyna flew 120 combat missions over Vietnam. Later Kutyna became Commander of the Air Force Space Command at Peterson AFB, Colorado from 1987 – 1990. 

From 1990 until 1992 he was Commander in Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Space Command. In 1992 after 35 years in the military he retired as a General. 59-1882 was retired to the Polish Aviation Museum in Cracow, Poland awaiting restoration.

Final product photos, HA3811, F-16CG 421st FS "Black Widows".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3811, F-16CG 88-0471 421st FS "Black Widows", Balad Air Base, Iraq, 2006. 421st FS motto - "Kiss of Death".

On January 29, 1990 F-16C 88-0471 was accepted by the USAF and assigned to the 388th FW at Hill AFB, Utah. The aircraft deployed in support of ODS, four times in support of Operation Southern Watch and three time in support of OIF. 

On June 23, 2006 88-0471 was the Boss Bird for the 421st "Black Widows" and was being flown by Lt. Col. Mark Cline 421st EFS Commander. On this day his aircraft along with F-16 88-0428 were the first block 40 F-16s to reach 6,000 hours while flying in combat conditions.

Pre-production photos, HA3406, Japan T-2 Trainer, Special Marking 2003.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3406, Japan T-2 Trainer, 21st Fighter Training Squadron "Special Marking" 2003.

Pre-production photos, HA3207, A-26B Invader, Tony Curto, Iwakuni AB, South Korea.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3207, A-26B Invader flown by Captain Tony Curto, 13th Bomber Sqn., 3rd Bomber Wing, Iwakuni AB, South Korea, March 1951.

Pre-production photos, HA8207, F4U-1A Corsair VMF-111, No. 122, Gilbert Islands.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series, HA8207, F4U-1A Corsair VMF-111, No. 122, Gilbert Islands, September 1944. It comes with flaps in the down position.

Doolittle Raiders gather for final reunion.

The Doolittle Raiders gathered for their final reunion April 17-21 at Fort Walton Beach not far from the Eglin Field airstrip where crews trained to get the lumbering Mitchell off the ground in 500 feet to mimic their takeoff on a carrier.

The surviving Doolittle Raiders have held reunions to carry on the legacy of the mission. At every gathering, there is a case with 80 silver goblets inscribed with each raider's name. 

Only four remain upright; the rest are inverted for those who died in the raid or since. The surviving raiders offer a toast in remembrance to those who “gave their all in success of our mission, and to those who have joined them since.”

The four who remain are: Cole; former Staff Sgt. David Thatcher, 91, a Silver Star recipient; retired Lt. Col. Edward Saylor; and retired Lt. Col. Robert Hite, 93. Hite did not travel to the reunion.

For the full article please see follow the link below.

Three of the four remaining Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, from left to right: Lt. Col. Richard Cole, Lt. Col. Edward Saylor and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher in the hangar dedicated April 16 to Saylor at Eglin Air Force Base. (Thomas Brown / Staff)

http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130421/NEWS/304210004/Doolittle-Raiders-gather-final-reunion

Catalina splash and go Lake Illawarra NSW.

Some interesting pics of a Catalina taken by my friend Dilli, on DAF, from the land of Oz. Thanks Dilli. 

I was fortunate enough to have the day off when the local Historical Aviation Restoration Society decided to get their Black Cat's feet wet 

Arrived late  promptly parked myself in a terrible viewing position for the initial 'splash-down'  but was able scurry over to where the action was for the second run....the pilot made it look easy  

Pre-production photos, HA7720, P-51D "DoDo" flown by Capt. Clinton Burdick.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series, HA7720A/B, P-51D Mustang QI-B "DoDo" flown by Captain Clinton Burdick, 361st FS, 356th FG, 8th USAAF, England, 1944. The "A" version includes a stand with a plate signed by the pilot.

Pre-production photos, HA3902A Japan T-4 Trainer.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3902A Japan T-4 Trainer "86-5605" 31st TSQ, 1st AW, JASDF.