Century Wings 10th Anniversary "Jolly Rogers" F-14A Tomcat.

Century Wings is celebrating their 10th Anniversary with a special edition of their very first VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" F-14A Tomcat release. 

The model will have the following special features to differentiate it from the original release:     

• Magnet attachment gear
• Flap down wing for landing style
• 2 Arresting hook parts ( Normal style and Hook Down Style)
• Fully opened jet nozzle
• Special design package

The Columbine II Arrives in Bridgewater

Following an epic, year-long maintenance effort in Marana, Arizona, Dynamic Aviation has successfully flown their Lockheed VC-121A Constellation Columbine II to her new home, in bucolic Bridgewater, Virginia. 

President Eisenhower’sformer transport, and the first to use the callsign “Air Force One”, arrived amid much fanfare at Dynamic Aviation’s main base of operations a little after 2pm local time, following a four-hour flight from Mount Pleasant, Texas. 

Strong tail winds brought the Connie in half an hourearlier than expected, and the silver bird circled gracefully over the smallairfield a couple of times before touching down gently on the narrow runway.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/columbine-ii-arrives-home.html

“Even though we will lose CAS capacity, we are retiring the A-10 anyway”

Taken on February 26, the picture in this post shows an A-10 Warthog in action during a joint air attack team exercise at Yakima Training Center, Washington, where the “Hogs” trained alongside the AH-64 Apache helicopters deployed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., providing Close Air Support (CAS) to Soldiers with 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Still, this kind of training will come to an end in the near future. In fact, in spite of its unmatched capabilities in the CAS role, the U.S. Air Force will soon retire its A-10 fleet.

As reported by DefenseNews.com, the service has recently revealed the number of A-10s that will be retired each year before the type is completely withdrawn from service in 2022.

The plan call for the retirement of 49 planes or 2 squadrons in fiscal year (FY) 2018. This will be followed by 49 aircraft in FY2019, 64 in FY2020, and 96 in FY2021.

http://theaviationist.com/2016/03/24/us-air-force-retiring-a10-anyway/

Red Flag 16-2: Italian, Turkish and U.S. Forces Train Together.

The second Red Flag of 2016 featured an international coalition training against a dynamic and integrated “Red Adversary” Force.

The exercise, running from Feb. 29 to Mar. 11 included some 23 units representing the US Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and contingents from NATO partners: the Aeronautica Militare (AM – Italian Air Force) and the Turkish Air Force (TAF).

Participating units launched from Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, and trained over the 2.9 million acres of land, and 12,000 sq miles of airspace afforded by the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR).

All told, some 75 aircraft (and 1700 personnel) participated in the exercise including eight Italian Eurofighter Typhoons (or F-2000A, as the aircraft is designated in Italy) at their first Red Flag and the Turkish Air Force contingent made of six F-16s and two KC-135R tankers. The US team included the F-16CM, F-15E, F-15C, E-3G a variety of helicopters, drones (MQ-9), tankers (KC-135R) specialized aircraft and 2 of the 3 Global Strike Command bombers, the B-52H and B-1B. The wide variety of aircraft are typical of a coalition force should it be thrust into battle.

http://theaviationist.com/2016/03/22/red-flag-16-2-italian-turkish-and-u-s-forces-train-to-fight-advanced-adversary/

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

Cold Blade 2016 – Train - Trust - Win

Cold Blade 2016 was a European Defence Agency’s Helicopter Exercise Programme’s exercise conducted in Finnish Lapland between Feb. 29 and Mar. 18.

The objective of the exercise was to strengthen interoperability and improve operating capabilities in arctic conditions.

The following video, released by the Finnish Defense Forces shows Finnish NH-90 and German CH-53GA helicopters perform white-out approaches and landings at remote locations located in uninhabited areas, in snowy and extremely cold environments.

http://theaviationist.com/2016/03/25/watch-this-video-of-finnish-nh-90-helicopters-in-action-during-ex-cold-blade-and-under-aurora-borealis/

Hobby Master releases for May 2016.

Big news for May is the first release of the 1/72 scale MiG-23M Flogger "Yellow 49" 787th IAP based in East Germany. 

Other stand outs include the VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" F-14A Tomcat, equipped with Phoenix, Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles as well as TARPS, and the "Wallbangers" E-2C Hawkeye both off the USS Nimitz.

There is also an F/A-18C Hornet VFA-25 "Fist of the Fleet" and a SkyMax "Battle of Midway" Aichi D3A1 "Val" of the Akagi.

In 1/48 there is a F4U-1 Corsair flown by Lt. Kenneth Walsh and a Tuskegee P-47D. In 1/200 we see a US Navy WV-2 (EC-121P) from VW-13.

Pre-production photos HA4807 E-2C Hawkeye 2000 "Wallbangers".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4807 Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 2000 165649, VAW-117 "Wallbangers", USS Nimitz February 2008.

Pre-production photos HA5001 EA-6B Prowler VAQ-136 Gauntlets.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA5001 EA-6B Prowler 164402, VAQ-136 Gauntlets late 2011. NEW TOOLING!!!

Pre-production photos HA1972 F-4D Phantom II Hawaii ANG.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1972 McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II 154th TFG 199th TFS, Hawaii ANG "Aloha Alert".

This photo explains why combat planes still wear camouflaged color schemes!

A unique U.S. Navy F/A-18F bearing a brown camouflage scheme has likely had many question why a US Navy Strike Fighter would be such a color.

A recent pass by the “Rhino” deep through “Rainbow Canyon” should put those questions to rest as the jet almost disappears as it races through the canyon at a very low level.

This particular F/A-18 belongs to the VFA-122 “Flying Eagles” based out of NAS Lemoore and flown by the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS). The FRS is tasked to train aircrew and maintenance personnel to fly and maintain both the Legacy Hornet and the Super Hornet – or “Rhino” as it is called.

http://theaviationist.com/2016/03/16/camouflaged-in-the-rainbow-canyon/

Final product photos HA1948 F-4F Phantom II JG71 NORM 81.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1948 McDonnell-Douglas German F-4F Phantom II 38+33, JG71 "Richthofen" NORM 81 Colour Scheme.

In June 1959 West Germany’s first jet fighter unit was formed as Jagdgeschwader 71 (JG 71 – Fighter Wing 71). The Geschwaderkommodore (equivalent of Group Commander or Wing Commander) was the highest-scoring fighter pilot of all time Erich Hartmann. 

JG 71 originally was based at ex-RAF base Ahlhorn but in 1961 it transferred to Wittmund. April 21 1961 was the 43rd anniversary of the death of “The Red Baron” Manfred Von Richthofen and the unit was given the honourary title of “Richthofen”. 

JG 71 received the first F-4F Phantom II in 1974 that were used as Fighter/Bomber/Attack but in 1988 became strictly a Fighter Wing. The F-4F is due to be decommissioned by 2012 when they are replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Final product photos HA5202 F-14D Tomcat VF-31 "Christine".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA5202 Grumman F-14D Tomcat BuNo. 159600, VF-31 September '05 - March '06, Final Cruise "Christine".

Grumman F-14A Tomcat BuNo 159600 was delivered on July 16, 1975 and assigned to VF-124 Gunfighters and then VF-101 Grim Reapers to train Tomcat crews. In 1987 it transferred to VF-142 Ghostriders, VF-14 Tophatters and back to VF-142. 

In 1994 159600 was remanufactured to a D model and joined VF-2 Bounty Hunters. In 2003 VF-101 Grim Reapers took possession until 2004 when it made its final home with VF-31 Tomcatters. In 2006 on the Tomcat’s final cruise the aircraft was named Christine and became the longest serving USN F-14.

Final product photos HA4512 TF-14 Eagle 'Bicentennial'.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4512 TF-15 Eagle 'Bicentennial' 1976 Farnborough International Air Show.

The F-15B was originally designated McDonnell Douglas TF-15A in the early 1970’s. Aircraft 71-0291 was the second two-seater variant produced. It made its first flight on October 18, 1973 and was re-designated an F-15B on December 1, 1977. 

Over time the aircraft was used to develop the FAST PACK (conformal fuel tanks) used on the F-15E and made world-wide sales tours. One stop in 1976 was the Farnborough Air Show wearing a paint scheme to celebrate the 1976 American Bicentennial. 71-0291’s career ended as a Battle Damage Repair trainer.

Final product photos HA2620 AV-8B Night Attack VMA-211.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2620 AV-8B Night Attack 165419,  VMA-211 "Wake Island Avengers".

USMC VMA-211 “Wake Island Avengers” was formed in 1937 as Marine Fighting Squadron 4 (VF-4M) equipped with F3F-1s and F2F-1s. On July 1, 1941 the squadron was re-designated VMF-211. During the 1980’s VMA-211 flew A-4M Skyhawks but in 1990 they transitioned to the new AV-8B Night Attack Harrier and in 2000 they added the AV-8B II+ radar Harrier. 

Originally manufactured as AV-8 II 162951 it was renumbered as AV-8B (NA) 165419. On June 19, 2015 while with VMA-311 Harrier 165419 sustained more than 2 million dollars damage.

Final product photos HA2414 MiG-15bis Soviet Aerobatic Team.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2414 MiG-15bis No. 573, Soviet Aerobatic Team, USSR, 1950s.

The first organized Soviet air show was held August 18, 1933 at the Central Moscow Aerodrome called Gorky Park. In 1934 the exhibition moved to Tushino Airfield just outside Moscow. The displays were mostly large numbers of aircraft in formations spelling out Lenin, Stalin or SSSR. 

Between then and 1950 there were a few display teams such as the Red Five performing basic manoeuvres but in 1950 the Red Falcons were formed performing high speed formation flying. The team lasted until about 1955.