Falklands War 2? Argentina’s new fighters a serious threat...

Argentina’s announcement that it plans to acquire 24 Saab Gripen fighter-bombers caused scarcely a ripple in the headlines last week, and so far has produced no reaction from Whitehall.

It should. The purchase calls the bluff on Britain’s current stance on the Falkland Islands. This is the first major purchase of new military aircraft by the Argentine government since the Falklands War 32 years ago.

Buying the Gripen shows serious intent. It is more capable than any aircraft the RAF currently deploys – and could match anything the RAF is likely to have in five to eight years’ time, which is when the Fuerza Aerea’s new attack planes are expected to become fully operational.

http://www.theweek.co.uk/world-news/61045/falklands-war-2-argentina-s-new-fighters-a-serious-threat

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo crashes in Mojave desert.

One person is dead Friday after Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo experimental rocket plane crashed in the Mohave Desert after the aircraft suffered an “in-flight anomaly” during a test flight.

Virgin Galactic said on Twitter early Friday that its SpaceShipTwo plane would be conducting its fifty-fifth test flight that day as the company continues to work at offering clients an opportunity in the future to fly in one of the vessels to the edge of outer space, or around 62 miles from Earth. Shortly after the exercise began, however, Virgin Galactic said simply that the craft “experienced an in-flight anomaly.”

“Virgin Galactic's partner Scaled Composites conducted a powered test flight of #SpaceShipTwo earlier today,” the account tweeted later. “During the test, the vehicle suffered a serious anomaly resulting in the loss of SpaceShipTwo.”

http://rt.com/usa/201315-virgin-spaceship-crashes-mojave-desert/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29857182

Final product photos HA4503 F-15D Eagle NASA.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4503 F-15D Eagle N897NA, NASA, 2011.

NASA had asked for replacements for their aging 1976 F-15B and what they got were three 1978 and 1979 F-15Ds, they had been hoping for newer than that. F-15D 79-0007 c/n 0577/D018 was delivered to the USAF August 25, 1980 before arriving at the Dryden Flight Research Center on September 11, 2010 and given the civil registration of N897NA. 

All three replacements were former 325th FW aircraft based at Tyndall AFB, Florida. The F-15Ds had all their military equipment removed and were tasked with flight research and mission support.

Final product photos HA4502 F-15I Ra'am Israeli Air Force.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4502 F-15I Ra'am No. 269 69th "Hammer Squadron", 2009.

In 1998 the IDF began to receive their McDonnell Douglas F-15I Ra’am (Thunder) with the intent to have them operationally ready by late 1998 but because of rising tension in the Persian Gulf the first F-15I was ready by June 1998, well ahead of original plans. 

In 1999 three Israeli pilots took part in Red Flag at Nellis AFB using aircraft supplied directly from McDonnell Douglas and carried USAF serials. When the operation was over the aircraft were flown back to Israel by the same pilots. The aircraft with Israeli tail number 269 arrived in Israel on May 27, 1999 and assigned to the 69th Squadron "Ha'patishim" (Hammers).

Final product photos HA3853 F-16AM Belgian Air Force.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3853 FA-117, Belgian Air Force, 2008.

Lockheed F-16 88-0042 was produced by SABCA in Belgium as c/n B-199 serial FA-117. It was delivered to the Belgian Air Force on November 22, 1989 and assigned to BAF 1 Squadron on November 23, 1989. In July 1993 the aircraft went to the 349 Squadron in May 1996 it went to BAF 2W. 

This aircraft was twice chosen to wear special markings. The first in June 1994 marked with 'D-Day Invasion Stripes' to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy and the second in September 1996 with a tail logo for 50th anniversary of the BAF.

Final product photos HA3850 F-16AM Royal Netherlands Air Force

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3850 F-16AM Block 15 J-063, Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Lockheed F-16AM was manufactured for the RNLAF under license by Fokker as c/n L-263 serial J-063 and delivered in April 1989 for the Block 15 OCU (Operational Capability Upgrade). In January 1991 the aircraft was assigned to the 315 Squadron but over the next 8 years flew with 4 other squadrons. 

On March 24, 1999 while assigned to the 322 Squadron and piloted by Major Peter Tankink J-063 shot down a Yugoslav MiG-29 with an AIM-120A AMRAAM. The aircraft’s last known squadron is the 313 Tiger Squadron at Volkel AB.

Final product photos HA3608 F-106 119th FIS "The Last".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3608 F-106 Delta Dart 59-0043, 119th FIS, 1988 "The Last".

In February 1960 the 211th F-106A Delta Dart 59-0043 c/n 8-24-172 was completed and in March 1960 assigned to the 27th FIS Loring AFB, Maine. In July 1971 the aircraft transferred to the 83rd FIS at Loring before leaving for Dover AFB, Delaware and the 95th FIS. 

On January 24, 1973 59-0043 began a fifteen and a half year stay with the 119th FIS/177th FIG Atlantic City, New Jersey ANG and was named “Spirit of Atlantic City”. In mid-1988 the aircraft went to storage, later converted to a drone but in 1998 was given a reprieve and sits on “Celebrity Row” at Davis-Monthan AFB as the last airworthy F-106.

Final product photos HA2812 F/A-22 Edwards AFB 2002.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2812 F/A-22 Raptor AF 91-4002, Edwards AFB 2002.

Lockheed F/A-22 EMD Raptor 02 AF 91-4002 rolled off the production line at Marietta, Georgia on February 10, 1998 and conducted its maiden flight from Dobbin ARB (Air Reserve Base) on June 29, 1998 piloted by Paul Metz. 

On July 25, 1998 the aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Military and flown to Edwards AFB on August 26, 1998. At Edwards AFB Raptor 002 joined Raptor 001 in the F/A-22 test program. By the end of 1998 these two F/A-22s demonstrated they could attain Mach 1.4 without after-burners.

Final product photos HA2119 F-100D Super Sabre Turkish Air Force.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series F-100D Super Sabre 0-63390, Turkish Air Force November 10 1971, First Lieutenant GUROL.

In the early 1950s Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) began receiving F-100 Super Sabres and in 1972 when the USAF phased out their F-100 Super Sabres from their active service a large number of aircraft went to ANG units, Denmark and Turkey. 

Over the years the Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) received approximately 206 F-100D and F variants. In 1974 the Turkish F-100s saw heavy use during the conflict between Turkey and Greece over the ownership of Cyprus. The last Turkish F-100D was retired in 1982. This F-100D is ex-USAF 401ST TFW, # 56-3390 / 0-63390.

2014 Culpeper Air Fest - Joe Anderson & Sea Harrier

Here is a video of the Culpeper demo. It includes the take off where the Sea Harrier took some damage. The boards were destroyed beyond recognition so score one for XZ439.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sea-Harrier/101459489912250?sk=timeline

2014 Navy Hornet Ball.

The 2014 Hornet Ball Video made by "Wingnut"! The Hornet Ball is an annual event consisting of all the West coast Naval F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet squadrons, their pilots and guests. Each year's ball features a video compiled from the squadrons' year of flying in both combat and training missions. 

World’s Last A-7 Corsair II attack aircraft retired from active service in Greece.

The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) has retired the A-7 Corsair II from active service with a ceremony at Araxos airbase.

On Oct. 17, the Hellenic Air Force organized a ceremony to celebrate the retirement of the last A-7 Corsair flying with 116 Combat Wing (116 PM) jets at Araxos airbase after 39 years of active service. 

The event included static displays of A-7 and F-16 aircraft, a photography exhibition, flights and aircraft transits and demonstrations by the Air Demonstration Teams “Zeus” with an F-16 and “Daedalus” with a T-6A aircraft.

Along with the last A-7s aircraft in the typical exotic camouflaged color scheme, a retired Corsair in a celebratory livery was unveiled during the ceremony at Araxos airbase.

As a consequence of the retirement of the last A-7 light attack planes, the HAF operates now 157 F-16s, 44 Mirage 2000 and 45 R/F-4Es.

During the Araxos spotters day, there was the opportunity to observe the local F-16s involved in their usual training activity. Photographer Daniele Faccioli attended the event at Araxos and took the images in this post.

Me 262 found in the Netherlands.

A Messerschmidt 262  has been found and excavated in the Netherlands. According to Martin Bull on DAF, IF, that's the w/nr shown in the photo (30026) it would be Me 262 A-2a 'VI+AZ' built Leipheim July 1944. 

It went to Kommando Schenck in August and made at least seven flights, during which it suffered numerous technical faults. On 12 September, Uffz. Herbert Schauder was killed in the aircraft at Elden near Arnhem, having just taken off from Rheine. The aircraft was shot down by flak, believed to be German.

See @EricFeijten on Twitter.
http://www.museumvlbdeelen.nl/me-262-fotos-opgraving/