Pharewell to the Phantom.

The US Military bid a final farewell to the mighty McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II on December 21st, 2016, as the last active examples were paid off in a ceremony and brief flying display under heavily overcast skies at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo, New Mexico. 

While the Phantom II officially retired from US front line squadron use in 1996, more than 300 examples underwent conversion into QF-4 full-scale aerial target drones over the past 30 years. These aircraft performed an essential service, both in testing the effectiveness of munitions in realistic situations, as well as providing training for fighter pilots in the art of air-to-air combat against live targets. 

The last QF-4 conversion, formerly RF-4C 68-0599, rolled off the modifications line at AMARG in Tucson, Arizona during April, 2013. The QF-16 will take over where the QF-4 left off.

For much more pictures follow the link.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/pharewell-phantom.html

Aussie Mustang Flies Again.

Shortly after 2.30pm on Friday December 16th, 2016 in Tyabb, Victoria, a crowd of over 100 people watched as Commonwealth CA-18 Mustang PR.22 A68-199 took to the skies on her maiden, post-restoration flight. Nick Caudwell was at the controls. 

Engineer Peter Robinson accompanied him in the rear seat, while Judy Pay flew chase in her North American T-28 Trojan. After the brief, 20-minute hop testing systems and controls, A68-199 returned to Earth without incident; the pilot stating she was “a delight to fly”.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restorations/aussie-mustang-flies.html

Hobby Master releases for March 2017.

Only jets in 1/72 from HM for March 2017. First up is a "Gulf of Sidra Incident" F-14A Tomcat MiG killer followed by an A-4C Skyhawk MiG killer and a Syrian MiG-23MS IAF F-4E killer. Lots of killers for March then!

There are also two Luftwaffe "Bavaria" F-104G Starfighters, an Aggressor F16C, RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet, an S-3A Viking off the USS Nimitz and a WA coded F-35A.

In 1/48 only a single P-51D Mustang, "Gentleman Jim".

Pre-production photos HA8411 P-47D Thunderbolt Glenn Eagleston.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8411 P-47D Thanderbolt Major Glenn Eagleston, 535rd FS/354th FG, France 1944.

Pre-production photos HA3713 CF-101 Voodoo "Lynx One"

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3713 CF-101 Voodoo 101043, 416 Sqn., RCAF "Lynx One".

Pre-production photos HA3325 F-5E Tiger II "Snipers".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3325 Northrop F-5E Tiger II 730355, VMFT-401 "Snipers", June 2006.

Pre-production photos HA1976 F-4N Phantom VF-84 "Jolly Rogers".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1976 McDonnell Douglas F-4N Phantom II 150415, VF-84, USS Roosevelt, over Mount Etna, 1975.

Final product photos HA0190 MiG-21FL Egyptian AF Six Day War.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA0190 MiG-21FL 5081, United Arab Republic Egyptian Air Force, Six-Day War, 1967.

The Six Day War took place from June 5 to June 10 1967. The participants were an alliance of Arab countries consisting of Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq against Israel. Israel was aware of the build up of the neighboring Arab states armed forces and decided to launch a preemptive strike on June 5. Israel inflicted heavy losses on the Arab nations and captured the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights and Jerusalem. A UN cease-fire was agreed to on June 10.

The MiG-21FL is a downgraded variant of the MiG-21PF and meant for the Third World market. It is has the lesser powerful R11F-300 engine. This variant also lacks the ability to carry RS-2US beam-riding missiles and has the basic version of the RP-21 radar. The FL has a wide chord fin as well as a brake chute fairing.

Final product photos SM5008 D3A1 "Val" Zuikaku "Battle of Coral Sea".

SkyMax 1/72 Flying Heroes Series SM5008 Aichi D3A1 "Val" Dive Bomber Model 11 EII-235, Carrier Zuikaku "Battle of the Coral Sea".

This Aichi D3A1 “Val” Dive Bomber EII-235 was flown by Lt. Tamotsu Ema from the carrier Zuikaku during the raid on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Ema was the buntaicho (leader of 9 aircraft) and he successfully returned to the carrier that day. 

Ema’s bombers are partly responsible for the sinking of the destroyer USS Simms, an oiler and damaged USS Yorktown. During the Battle of the Coral Sea EII-235 was damaged and pushed over the side to make room for other returning aircraft.

Final product photos HA8509 P-51B Mustang "Short-Fuse Sallee".

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8509 P-51B Mustang 43-12434 "Short-Fuse Sallee", 356th FS, 354th FG, 9th AF, 1944.

Originally built as RAF Mustang MK. III FX-906 but returned to the USAAF in January 1944 it was assigned to the 356th FS. The USAAF serial was 43-12434 and assigned to Captain Richard Turner who named it “Short-Fuse Sallee” after his short tempered sweet heart. 

Between January 5 and April 11, 1944, while flying P-51B 43-12434 “Short-Fuse Sallee”, Captain Turner managed eight kills and four damaged. In May 1944 43-12434 was reassigned and later Turner stopped using “Short-Fuse Sallee” on his aircraft when he received a “Dear John” letter.

Final product photos HA5101 F/A-18E Super Hornet VFA-14 Tophatters.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA5101 F/A-18E Super Hornet 16634, VFA-14 Tophatters "90th Anniversary Scheme" USS Nimitz, 2009.

VFA-14 “Tophatters” call themselves the oldest and boldest and with good reason, they formed in 1919 making them the oldest active USN squadron. The squadron began aircraft-carrier service aboard the USS Langley. 

The original squadron name was adopted in 1927, the“High-Hatters” which was relevant for the day and supposed to mean the very best, elite. 

In 1942 the name was changed to “Tophatters”. In 2001 the squadron became VFA-14 instead of VF-14 and are based at NAS Lemoore, California. This scheme represents the 90th Anniversary of the squadron.

Final product photos HA4704 RA-5C Vigilante, USS Independence.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4704 RA-5C Vigilante 156642, USS Independence, 1970s.

Because of an early 1960s USN mission change the A-5 Vigilante production was halted and the high speed reconnaissance RA-5C variant was begun. The first RA-5Cs Vigilante was delivered in 1963. 

North American RA-5C 156642 was delivered to the USN in 1970 and assigned to RVAH-3. Over the next decade the aircraft served with five squadrons and a couple of them twice. In 1979 the aircraft was struck off charge and sent to the USN Weapons Center at China Lake, California and a year later salvaged.