F-14D Tomcat U.S.Navy VF-213 Blacklions 2006 Final Cruise.

Photos of the latest Century Wings F-14D Tomcat from the US Navy VF-213 Blacklions 2006 Final Cruise are up on the CW website.

Moscow deploys air defense systems to western Syria.

Following the downing of a Russian Su-24 by the Turkish Air Force on Nov. 24, that caused the death of one pilot (the other one was rescued and brought back to Latakia on the following day) Moscow has decided to put in place some new measures to protect its air group operating in northwestern Syria.

First of all, all the Russian attack planes will be escorted by Su-30SM Flankers during their missions against ground targets in Syria (previously, they operated without air cover).

Second, Moscow has decided to deploy at least one S-400 SAM battery to Latakia, to protect its planes from aerial threats in a range of 250 miles. As explained in a previous post about this air defense system, the S-400 (SA-21 “Growler” according to the NATO designation) is believed to be able to engage all types of aerial targets including VLO (Very-Low Observable) aircraft within the range of about 400 km at an altitude of nearly 19 miles.

Third, Russia has already moved the Moskva guided-missile cruiser off the coast of Latakia. Equipped with early warning systems and outfitted with 8 S-300F Fort anti-air systems with a range of 90 km and ceiling at 25,000 mt. Actually, the cruiser has been operating in the eastern Mediterranean to provide cover to the Russian air forces in Syria since Sept. 30.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/11/25/all-the-weapons-sensors-moskva/

Turkey 'downs Russian warplane on Syria border'.

The Turkish military has reportedly shot down a Russian military aircraft on the border with Syria.

Russia's defence ministry said an Su-24 had crashed on Syrian territory after being hit by fire from the ground, and that its pilots had managed to eject.

But Turkish military officials said Turkish F-16s had shot down the plane after repeatedly warning its pilots they were violating Turkish airspace.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34907983
http://theaviationist.com/2015/11/24/ruaf-su-24-shot-down-by-turkey/

Update: http://theaviationist.com/2015/11/24/ruaf-su-24-shot-down-by-turkey/

Pre-production photos HA8452 P-47D Thunderbolt "Fiery Ginger IV"

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8452 P-47D "Razorback"  Thunderbolt 42-22668, Col. Neel Kearby "Fiery Ginger IV" 348th FG., New Guinea, March 1944.

Final product photos HA2619 AV-8B Harrier II Cherry Point.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2619 AV-8B Harrier II Plus VMA-231 164562 CG-01, Cherry Point MCAS Havelock, May 2012.

USMC aviation can trace its beginning to 1912 with VMA-231 beginning as 1st Division, Squadron 1 February 8, 1919. 1921 they became the First Air Squadron “Ace of Spades”. The ace is the first card in a suit, the A in the top left stands for Air and the S in the bottom right stands for Squadron. 

AV-8B Harrier II 164562 first flew January 15, 1994 and was delivered to VMA-223 January 31, 1994 and transferred to VMA-231. In 2012 the aircraft was painted to celebrate “Marine Aviation Centennial”.

Final product photos HA2315 Beaufighter Mk.IC No. 272 Sqn., Malta.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2315 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IC T3317/XK-?, No. 272 Sqn., Malta 1941.

Early in July 1941 RAF No. 272 Squadron transferred 8 Bristol Beaufighters from Edku, Egypt to Malta. During July 1941, Sqn. Ldr A.W. Fletcher CO, a Canadian, flew Beaufighter Mk. IC T3317/XK-? on a strafing attack on Sicilian airfields destroying four SM.79s and two CR.42s. 

Two days later Fletcher destroyed three more SM.79s just before the squadron was sent back to Egypt in early August 1941. Because of his rank Sqn. Ldr A.W. Fletcher CO was able to wear the ?.

Corgi AA33714 Heinkel, He111P Oslo.

Regtheveg posted pics of the new 1/72 scale Corgi AA33714 Heinkel He 111P, Oslo, Certificated Limited Edition of 1000 pieces on MHIII.

Another good choice by Corgi, ours went in literally 5 minutes although only a measly amount of stock was received, late again due to an administration error with the new Hornby computer system.  

It's a fairly old tooling, so has it's faults, 10 years and counting, but it's nicely finished, very heavy, and has some of the detail that Corgi like to make a song and dance about usually, but they just slipped this one out without fanfare.

Some customers wailed about it not being a BOB release, but most buyers won't give twopence.

Under bright light there is a noticeable colour mismatch from front to main body, and other plastic parts, but it's not so apparent to the MK1 eyeball in normal light, it's a dark aircraft all over.

I'd say buy it if you want it and get a chance, as it looks to be sold out (unless some left stashed in China) - we've got none left, so it's neither here nor there to me, but if anyone is stupid enough to do them cheap enough, I'd pick them up myself for the retirement fund.

For more photos please follow the link.

https://www.facebook.com/Dora-9-Diecast-117765251636451/

First photos of the Air Force 1 B-25 Mitchell.

Regtheveg posted some photos of the Air Force 1 B-25 Mitchell on MHIII.

Some pictures for you chaps.

These are from AF1 and it looks to me like that liquid stuff they smear on the model to preserve it, is all over the model, otherwise it's incredibly shiny!

I'll try to keep up to date and post pics when we get these, which will be in the new year sometime.

It's listed to us as "B-25 bomber model (Army Green)" in the inimitable way that AF1 does things.

So, an early view, no idea if pre-pro or production - all complaints to PBR as he made them make it  

Oh yeah - It's 69.99 Pounds Sterling RRP over here, which ain't bad for a big model like this.

Corgi AA37807 Albatros D.VA, 2049/16 Ltn Hermann Goering.

Regtheveg posted photos of the Corgi 1/48 AA37807 Albatros D.VA, 2049/16 Ltn Hermann Goering JAFU, Jasta 27 Iseghem Aerodrome 1917 on the new Model Hangar III forum. 

Another dead cert "collectors model" for Corgi, which will sell out in the medium term and have a premium price in a year or two.

This model is very firmly fixed into the inner clam, so be very careful removing it, there are raised "clips" in the clam at the tips of the wings, and close to the fuselage.

It's very good to see that Corgi had got 2 blocks of polystyrene put between the wings, to save them collapsing if the box takes a hit. This was a problem with the early releases of this model, where dozens arrived in pieces.

Certificated Limited Edition of 1000 pieces.

Aviation200 1:200 AV21301014 Canada Armed Forces CC-130E.

Regtheveg posted photos of the Aviation200 1:200 AV21301014 Canadian Armed Forces Lockheed CC-130E Hercules 130306 on the new MHII forum.

Corgi AA36406 Eurofighter Typhoon, 'Operation Ellamy', Libya, 2011.

Regtheveg has posted photos of the of the new 1/72 scale Corgi Operation Ellamy Eurofighter Typhoon on the new MHIII forum.

Just arrived - I haven't put the ordnance on as it's so fiddly and prone to breaking off the pylons, or ruining the tiny pins that plug in under the wing. It's an old tooling so maybe it can be forgiven, just like the BOB version, It has been a widely asked for scheme over here in the UK. Certificated limited edition of 1000 pieces.

Final product photos HA7909 Boeing P-12E "Skylarks".

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7909 Boeing P-12E Aircraft 10 from "Skylarks" Demonstration Team, Maxwell Field, AL 1937.

The Skylarks were formed in 1935 and instructed by Captain Claire Chennault of the aerial demonstration team “Three Men on the Flying Trapeze” that disbanded in 1936. Flying the Boeing P-12E the team learned tight formations such as loop formations, inverted flight, Immelmans and double rolls. 

The highlight of their short existence came when the performed at the 1937 National Air Races held in Cincinnati Ohio. The team consisted of Carl Storrie, Clayton Hughes, Wilbur Aring and CO Capt. Charles McAllister. Shortly thereafter; the “Skylarks” were disbanded when personnel were re-assigned.