Created: Monday, 25 February 2008  -  Written by Flight Director   -  

Although, the legendary Starfighter was overburdened in fulfilling the roles of fighter, strategic nuclear fighter, reconnaissance aircraft and naval aircraft, it was very popular as the “Porsche of all jets” among the pilots. 292 crashes and 116 killed pilots during its operating time from 1960 to 1991 at the German Federal Air Force gave the Fighter the commonly known and little complimentary name “widow maker”. Herpa honors this important, although controversial airplane with this model, registered JA+116 of the Jagdgeschwader-71 Richthofen from Wittmund, East Friesland.

   Created: Sunday, 25 November 2007

In 1933, the amphibian Consolidated Canso, better known as the Catalina, was developed. The last version PBY-5A was launched in 1954. The aircraft, which is sea- and landworthy, was produced in more than 1,000 examples and has earned many merits as Air and Sea Rescue aircraft when rescuing military and civilian casualties. The model is based on the original PBY-5A registered 433939.

   Created: Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Only a few airlines have indulged in the 200 million US-Dollar Boeing 747-400F with the folding cargo bow hatch. Most airlines have had used passenger airplanes rebuilt to the 747-400SF (Special Freighter) standard for their cargo needs. Not so at Japan Airlines – they have even had two examples in their fleet since 2004. One of them is the original of this model with the registration JA401J.

   Created: Saturday, 06 October 2007

The NATO E-3A early warning aircraft have been operating from their German main operating base in Geilenkirchen near the Dutch border since February of 1982. 17 Boeing E-3A aircraft are available for the E-3A Component’s aerial surveillance and tactical missions. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first E-3A machines landing in Geilenkirchen, NATO equipped its airplane, registered LX-N90443, with a very impressive special livery containing the flags of NATO’s 26 member states. Now it is released in the 1/500 scale.

   Created: Monday, 10 September 2007

Herpa States: With the F/A-18, called Hornet, the US Navy is well-equipped. It carries a 20 mm cannon and is capable of carrying an external load of up to 7,7 tons of missiles and bombs. Two engines rated at 71 kN thrust accelerate the aircraft up to mach 1,8 and to a ceiling of 15 kilometers. The “Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102” is based in Atsugi, Japan, and currently deployed on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, which operates from the Pacific base Guam.

   Created: Tuesday, 28 August 2007

Herpa States: "The performances of the Eurofighter EF-2000 are impressive: two EJ-200 engines deliver up to 90 kN thrust, which give the aircraft a maximum speed of mach 2.1. It is well equipped with a Mauser cannon as well as up to 13 attachment points for bombs and missiles. 180 EF-200s are supposed to replace the aging F-4 “Phantoms” of the German air force. The first are already stationed at the air base Rostock-Laage, amongst them the original of this model with the registration 30 + 20."

   Created: Thursday, 08 February 2007

Herpa States: In 1986, Lockheed and Northrop accepted a bid to build a prototype each for a USAF contract, resulting in the YF-22 and the YF- 23. Lockheed won the competition with the F-22. At the end of 2002, the specifications had once again been extended – the interceptor was to also become an attack aircraft, and was then named F/A-22 (Fighter / Attack). Its serial production is imminent, with Boeing as a new partner manufacturing the wings and the tails.

   Created: Tuesday, 23 January 2007

User rating: 

 7.0

Another classics propliner from Herpa. Trans Canada Airlines, ancestor company of Air Canada, ordered 14 Lockheed L-1049G aircraft in 1954, including CF-TGE. Today, this special aircraft is a museum’s exhibit at Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto. Herpa released this model in two versions, one regular one and one exclusive for Air Canada Inflight sales. Both releasea are identical except the box.

   Created: Wednesday, 10 January 2007

Herpa states: The in 1972 commissioned fighter F-14A “Tomcat” has become history. The last of the 22 F-14s operated on the US aircraft-carrier USS Theodor Roosevelt was mothballed in spring 2006 at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson, in Arizona’s desert, replaced by F-18 “Super Hornets”. The “Tomcat” became especially popular with the broad masses with the release of the US movie Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, which showed the jet in every position imaginable. It is now being released in the 1/200 scale Wings Collection.

   Created: Tuesday, 05 December 2006

Herpa Says: "One of the world’s most famous and long-lasting airboats was already in 1933 – the Consolidated, later Convair, designed PBY “Catalina”. Various versions existed for this operators all over the world, whereas 167 examples of model’s original were delivered to the Navy as from 1940 on. They mainly served as surveillance, transport, and liaison aircraft."