The cockpit of Star Wars iconic, futuristic spacecraft is based on the style of the WWII B-29.

Did you know that the Star Wars saga most famous spacecraft featured a cockpit clearly inspired to a World War II heavy bomber?

Well, the iconic greenhouse-style window of the Millennium Falcon was designed with the style of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, a strategic bomber flying 30 years before Han Solo and Chewbacca first appeared driving the iconic spacecraft into the hyperspace, in mind.

The Superfortress featured pressurized cabin with the peculiar windows layout, tricycle dual wheeled landing gears, and a quite-advanced-for-the-time, remote, electronic fire-control system that controlled four machine gun turrets that complemented a manned, semi-automatic, rear gun turret.

Indeed, you most probably remember that gun turrets also equip George Lucas’s spacecraft and are used by both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker to fight Imperial TIE fighters as the Millennium Falcon escapes Death Star in Episode IV.

Anyway, the connections between WWII aircraft and Star Wars go well beyond the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit or manned gun turrets: it’s not a secret George Lucas draw inspiration from WWII newsreel and movies. Among them, 633 Squadron (1964) and The Dam Busters (1955) film about one of the Royal Air Force’s most famous raid in WWII against the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams, pivotal to Hitler’s industrial heartland in the Ruhr Valley, inspired the famous Death Star attack featured in “A New Hope.”

http://theaviationist.com/2015/12/15/millennium-falcon-b-29-cockpit/

NATO’s three most advanced combat planes flying together during exercise.

The photographs in this post were taken recently in the skies near Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

They show a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon and a French Air Force Dassault Rafale, flying together during the inaugural Trilateral anti-access/area denial exercise scheduled for Dec. 2 – 18.

Hosted by the 1st FW (Fighter Wing), the East Coast drills focus on integrated operations with the aim to gain an understanding of the required tactics, techniques, procedures as well as logistics and support associated with fighting in a highly-contested scenario made of layered long-range air defenses.

To make things even more realistic, the exercise does not only feature the NATO’s premiere combat aircraft but also a wide variety of supporting assets: along with the “Bad Guys” (U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and the Langley-based T-38 Talons that always train against the Raptor stealth fighter) there are U.S. E-3 AWACS as well as U.S. and French Air Force tankers.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/12/10/raptor-typhoon-rafale-train-together/
http://theaviationist.com/2015/12/27/trilatex-2015-final-report/

B-17 Flying Fortress Walkaround Aluminum Overcast.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC).

Even though it also participated in the War in the Pacific, attacking Japanese airfields and shipping early in WWII, it was used primarily in Europe, against German industrial and military targets. Serving with the Eighth Air Force, in UK, and Fifteenth Air Force, in Italy, the aircraft was used a strategic, high-flying, long-range bomber capable to sustain heavy battle damage.

Throughout the conflict, little less than one half of the 1.5M tons of bombs dropped by US aircraft on Germany and occupied territories were dropped by B-17s.

Between 1935 and May 1945, 12,732 B-17s were produced. Of these aircraft, 4,735 were lost during combat missions. Less than 100 B-17 airframes have survived since then, less than 15 are airworthy, none of them is a combat veteran. Among the Flying Fortress bombers that can still take to the air, there’s EAA’s B-17G-VE, serial number 44-85740, nicknamed “Aluminum Overcast.”

As explained by the EAA website, “Aluminum Overcast” carries the colors of the 398th Bomb Group of World War II, which flew hundreds of missions over Nazi-held territory during the war: in particular, it commemorates B-17G #42-102516 which was shot down on its 34th combat mission over Le Manior, France, on Aug. 13, 1944.

Filmed by our reader and friend Erik Johnston, the following walkaround video provides the unique opportunity to see the pilot Ken Morris sharing his extensive knowledge of this iconic airplane.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/12/21/b-17-flying-fortress-walkaround/

Final product photos HA5201 F-14A Tomcat VF-211 "Fighting Checkmates".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA5201 F-14A Tomcat US NAVY USS Enterprise (CVN-65) VF-211 "Fighting Checkmates" CO, 2004.

What would become VF-211 Strike Fighter Squadron 211 “Fighting Checkmates” began in 1945 as Bombing Squadron SEVENTY FOUR (VB-74). On December 23, 1975 VF-211 made its first F-14A flight signalling the end to their old F-8 Crusaders. 

VF-211 was the ninth USN squadron to receive the F-14A Tomcat. In late 2003 the “Fighting Checkmates” left on their final F-14 cruise in support of OIF and would return to NAS Oceana in 2004 to start the transition to the F-18FSuper Hornet. F-14A 161603 was SOC April 20, 2005.

Final product photos HA4806 E-2C Hawkeye 111 Sqn. RSAF.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4806 Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 111 Squadron, RSAF, Tengah Air Base Republic of Singapore Air Force.

RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) 111 Squadron “Jaeger” was formed in 1987 when they received four Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning aircraft. 

111 Squadron is located at Tengah Air Base located in Western Singapore with the main function of providing airborne surveillance and early warning as well as search and rescue and air traffic control. 

111 Squadron Jaeger is a hawk-like bird known for its vigilant and courageous behaviour, so appropriate for the squadron motto “Vigilance In Control”. RSAF #014 is USN Bu.No 162795 MSN A109.

Final product photos HA4805 E-2C Hawkeye Israeli Defense Force.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4805 Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 942, Israeli Defense Force.

The Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye was first introduced to the IAF in 1981 when 4 aircraft were delivered. Israel was the first foreign country to obtain the E-2Cs. 

The aircraft were assigned to the 92 Squadron “Daya (Milvus) Squadron” and played a role in the 1982 Lebanon War and other conflicts over the following years. Israel was the first user to install air-to-air refuelling capabilities. 

In 2002 Israel sold 3 of the 4 E-2Cs to Mexico with the remaining aircraft being placed in the Israeli Air Force Museum.

Final product photos HA4208 Boston Mk.V No. 13 Sqn. RAF, Greece.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4208 Boston Mk.V No. 13 Squadron, RAF, Greece 1945.

The RAF received 90 Boston V’s in October and November 1944. The Boston V (A-20K) and the Boston IV (A-20J) are the same except the IV used Wright R2600-23 engines while the V used Wright R2600-29. No 13 Squadron began in 1915 in Gosport doing reconnaissance. 

They joined WWII in Algeria in 1942 then Egypt and Italy before moving to Greece in September 1945. The No. 13 Squadron Boston V’s were used to lead bombers and would drop flares to mark the area where the bombers should drop their loads.

Corgi January to June 2016 Aviation Archive Catalogue.

Corgi have released their latest, surprisingly large, catalogue featuring new releases from January to June 2016. Some long dormant molds like the Ju 52, Halifax P-38 Lightning and Me 262 make a great comeback! 

A 25th Anniversary Gulf War theme sees a trio of fast movers in the form of a Buccaneer, Jaguar and Tornado. A nice BAC Lightning is also included.

Some items missing from the last catalogue makes an appearance and Corgi seems to introducing an economy line in the form of a Spitfire, Hurricane and a Hawk. 

AA36012 Corgi 60th - BAE Hawk Red Arrows Jan-16 £29.99

AA27603 Corgi 60th - Hawker Hurricane Mk1, V7357/SD-F, J.H. 'Ginger' Lacey, RAF No.501 Sqn, Gravesend 1940 Jan-16 £24.99

AA39211 Corgi 60th - Supermarine Spitfire Mk1, R6800/LZ-N , Rupert 'Lucky' Leigh, No.66 Sqn, Gravesend 1940 Jan-16 £24.99

AA27106 Messerschmitt Bf109G-2, Oberleutnant Günther Rall, Staffelkapitan 8./JG 52, Gostanovka, August 1942 May-16 £44.99

AA27604 Hawker Hurricane MKI, V7795, Plt Off William 'Cherry' Vale, RAF 80 Sqn, Maleme, Crete, 1941 Apr-16 £44.99

AA27702 North American Mustang F51-D, 'Was that too fast?', 18th Fighter Bomber Group USAF, South Korea 1951 Mar-16 £44.99

AA27703 North American Mustang Mk.IV, Werner Christie, No.150 Wing, RAF Hunsdon, 1945 Jun-16 £44.99

AA32315 BAC Lightning F.6 XP770/D, RAF No.56 Squadron ‘Firebirds’, RAF Wattisham 1975 May-16 £59.99

AA32624 Avro Lancaster B.III, ED888, PM-M2, 'Mike Squared', RAF No.103 Sqn, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire, 1944 Jan-16 £134.99

AA34112 Blackburn Buccaneer, XW533/A, 'Miss Jolly Roger', RAF No.237 OCU, Gulf War 25th Anniversary Apr-16 £59.99

AA34316 Focke-Wulf FW190 F-8, 'Black 3', Feldwebel Eugen Lorcher, II./SG2, 5 Staffel, Aufthausen, May 1945 Apr-16 £44.99

AA35414 SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1a/3, XZ356/EP, 'Mary Rose', RAF No.6 Sqn, Gulf War 25th Anniversary Mar-16 £54.99

AA35710 Messerschmitt Me262A-1a, 'Red 7', Plt.Ofz. Franz Gapp, 8./KG6, Podersam, Saaz, May 1945 Mar-16 £44.99

AA36613 Lockheed P-38J Lightning, 44-23590, 'Scrapiron IV', Cpt L E Blumer, 393rd FS/367th FG, France, 1944 Mar-16 £64.99

AA36908 Junkers Ju52, 4U+NH, 2/KGzbV1, Operation Merkur, Crete, 1941 Apr-16 £104.99

AA37208 Handley Page Halifax B.MkVII, PN230 EQ-V, 'Vicky the Vicious Virgin', RAF No.408 Sqn, No.6 (RCAF) Gp Jun-16 £109.99

AA37707 Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a, C1149/W 'Schweinhund', Capt. Duncan Grinnell-Milne, No.56 Sqn RFC, 1918 Feb-16 £54.99

AA39007 Westland Lynx HAS 3 (ICE), assigned to HMS Endurance, 2002 Feb-16 £54.99

AA39806 Panavia Tornado GR.1, ZA447/EA, 'MiG Eater', RAF No.15 Sqn, Gulf War 25th Anniversary Jan-16 £69.99

AA39006 Westland Lynx, AH1GT, XZ221, 'J' 654 Squadron Army Air Corps, Iraq, 1991 - delayed from 2015 Jan-16 £44.99

AA27701 P51-D Mustang, Lt. Julian H Bertram, 362nd FS, 44-14798 G4-V ‘Butch Baby’ - delayed from 2015 Jan-16 £39.99

AA37609 Westland Wessex, Queen's Flight, Hendon - delayed from 2015 Jan-16 £49.99