Created: Sunday, 15 November 2009  -  Written by MarathonA340   -  

In 1995, the Dutch Minister of Defense decided to purchase two DC-10-30Fs from Martinair assets. They were converted to KDC-10s capable of airborne refueling as well as transporting troops and cargo. In October 2004, the original of this model novelty was added a third example from United Airlines assets. It is operated minus its refueling system, basically flying as an original DC-10 in the versatile -30CF version with the registration T-255. This model is from the 334th Sqd. Sorry only one view available at this writing.

   Created: Friday, 10 July 2009  -  Written by Amirbatna   -  

The Transall C-160 is a french/german cargo turboprop introduced in 1967, and designed primarily to for the military. Unlike it's bigger american cousin the C-130 Hercules, it had a limited success, with 214 units built. It is however much loved and praised by the french and german air forces airmen. The Transalls were to be replaced by the long awaited Airbus A400M a while ago, but the "long awaited" part make them fly until now. Besides the air forces of the manufacturing countries, the south african air force operated a large fleet of this model, and the turkish air force still does. The little model surely deserves a genuine interest and a thorough inspection. The reader is asked to forgive me for having skipped the research concerning the exact wing our little friend belonged to. Enjoy the review.

   Created: Friday, 03 July 2009  -  Written by sanverm   -  

Within its Scenix Edition series, Herpa is releasing a diorama set to mark the 60th anniversary of the start of the Berlin airlift, which will take the onlooker back audio-visually to the dramatic times of the blockade. From June 24, 1948 until May 12, 1949, The Soviet Union blocked all access roads via water and land to the Western sectors of Berlin to force the western allies to pull out of Berlin, which the Soviet Union claimed for itself. They then provided the West-Berlin population via air with food and coal. Three C-47 models of the US Air Force – among the also the legendary “Camel Caravan To Berlin” with the hand-painted camel “Clarence” on the fuselage as well as “The Berlin Train” whose original is now displayed on the premises of the former Rhine Main Air Force Base near Frankfurt /M. – sound their unique engines in front of the Tempelhof airport scenery. With the historic plea of former mayor Ernst Reuter to the “Peoples of the world”, a speech by US president Harry S. Truman and an excerpt from the reporting by the Deutschen Wochenschau of the time, these dramatic months come to life again. The set is limited to 1,200 items.

   Created: Thursday, 18 June 2009  -  Written by Antesyd   -  

The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) (in Greek: Πολεμική Αεροπορία (ΠΑ), Polemikí Aeroporía, literally "Military Aviation") is the air force of Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the world. During the period of monarchy (1911-1922) & (1935-1974) the force was known as the Royal Hellenic Air Force (HRAF), (Ελληνική Βασιλική Αεροπορία (EBA), Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía). The motto of the Hellenic Air Force is "Αίεν Υψικρατείν" (Aien Ypsikratein), Always Dominate the Heights, and the HAF ensign represents a flying eagle in front of the Hellenic Air Force roundel. The Hellenic Air Force is one of the three branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces. My personal highlight at RIAT 2007 is for sure this special coloured HAF Hercules showing Herakles on the tail. The title means "Hercules continues his labors, anywhere, anytime" and additionally to this the Greek cockade has been changed in a way to represent the 12 labors of Hercules. What an excellent idea! It also celebrates 170.00hrs are being celebrated.

   Created: Wednesday, 13 May 2009  -  Written by Antesyd   -  

The Belgian Air Force (Now the Air Component, of the Belgian Armed Forces).was founded in 1909 as a branch of the Belgian Army. It originally carried the name of Compagnie des Ouvries et Aérostiers. On October 15, 1946, the Belgian military aviation was turned into an autonomous force, independent of the Belgian Army. The entrance into service for the Belgian C-130H was between 24/07/1972 (CH-01) and 02/04/1973 (CH-12) and the home base is Melsbroek. The C-130 is used by the 20ste squadron. This squadron is together with the 21ste squadron the 15th transportwing. The symbol of the wing is the Sioux-indian. The C-130 dispose of STOL-quality's (Short Take-Off and Landing), this means that the plane needs only a small strip to land or take-off This is very useful when they use improvised "airports" in Africa, where COMOPSAIR C-130s are commonly used. This aircraft was painted in this paint scheme was used during the early 90s to celebrate the first 20 years of C-130 operations in the Belgian Air Force (as it was called then).

 

Sources: http://users.telenet.be/C130/C-130index.htm and Wikipedia.

   Created: Monday, 06 April 2009  -  Written by jkwan12345   -  

User rating: 

 8.3

Boeing’s long-haul interception radar-platform is based on the civilian Boeing 707-300C of 1961. This airplane, equipped with the latest electronics, was for the first time capable of completely monitoring a surveillance area with radar, finally preventing opposing forces being able to operate undetected at low level flights. The USAF operates 33 machines, among them the original of this model with the registration 71-1407 of the “552nd Air Control Wing” based at the Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

   Created: Wednesday, 01 April 2009  -  Written by Rammstein   -  

The Transall C-160 was designed for the use of transport operations. It was built by a consortium of French and German aircraft manufacturers for the French and German air forces. It is now also used by the South African Air Force and Turkish Air Force as well as Air France, Manunggal Air Service and Balair for civil operations. The aircraft Herpa have attempted to recreate in model form, bears the registration, 5029.

   Created: Tuesday, 31 March 2009  -  Written by MarathonA340   -  

The success story of the famous aerobatic team “Blue Angels” of the US Navy’s Marine Corps began in 1946 with impressive formation flights. With the group’s and fleet’s quickly rising popularity, a transportation airplane soon became necessary to bring the equipment as well as the crew itself to the air shows. In 1959, after initially operating a Douglas R4D-5 and a Curtiss Commando, the Blue Angels commissioned a Douglas R5D-3 – which was the US Navy’s name for the DC-4 – with the registration 50868. According to the fleet’s inventory, it received the plain name “8” and it was operated until March 1968. Herpa is now releasing this airplane in the 1/500 scale.

   Created: Thursday, 19 March 2009  -  Written by kaitanium   -  

The F-16 “Fighting Falcon” is best imagined as a Volkswagen Golf with a Porsche motor. It’s light weight paired with enormous energy has made the F-16 the most successful jet-engined interceptor and fighter-bomber of all time. It replaced famous predecessors like the F-104 “Starfighter” and the F-4 “Phantom”. The original of this mold novelty carries the registration 3001.

   Created: Thursday, 05 March 2009  -  Written by kaitanium   -  

Beginning in 1966, the US Navy and the Marine Corps launched 522 aircraft of the F-4J series in their particular squadrons alone, whereas this version was equipped with wider tires, a new radar and with stronger General Electric J-79 engines. Via several development stages, the F-4H-1, back then still called the Super Damon, took off on its maiden flight in 1958. Four years later, the name F-4 Phantom-II was officially launched. In 1967, McDonnell merged with the Douglas Corp., and became McDonnell Douglas. Henceforth, it developed successfully in both the civilian and military areas. By 1981, McDonnell Douglas was able to sell well over 5,200 Phantoms to twelve countries.