"The T-28 Trojan was the basic trainer for both the Navy and Air Force. Like the T-6 Texan that it replaced in the early 50s, many were converted to ground attack variants and saw action in Vietnam. The T-28 Trojan, manufactured by North American Aviation (NAA), was designed as a piston-engined military trainer aircraft. The T-28 was flown for the first time, designed to replace the T-6 Texan, on September 24 1949. The first of two prototypes was flown on September 26, 1949. Found satisfactory, a contract was issued and between 1950 and 1957. There were a total of 1,948 aircrafts built. A number of these aircraft were later supplied to Air Forces in South America and South East Asia particularly in Japan, Argentina, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, and Brazil. The Trojan, as it became known, had a frameless canopy and a Wright R-1300 engine that, when combined, and gave it a top speed that often exceeded 280 mph. First orders of 266 planes in 1950 eventually grew to 1,194. After it became evident that the Air Force had found a very successful design, the United Sates Navy and Marine Corps adopted it as well. Two years later, 489 standardized versions (T-28Bs) were ordered by the Navy, mainly differing from the T-28A in its use of the more-powerful Wright R-1820-86 engine. Following this, 299 T-28Cs were produced, which were fitted with an arrester gear for carrier-deck landing training. "
Scale: 1/32 scale model
Wing Span: 15
Length: 12.25
AT28NT
|
"The Warning Star is a US Air Force/US Navy airborne early warning radar surveillance aircraft manufactured by Lockheed, designed to serve as an airborne early warning system to supplement the Distant Early Warning Line. The RC-121D is the designation of EC-121D before 1962. The USAF operated three wings of EC-121s between 1954 and 1978. Its primary mission until the Vietnam War was to provide complementary early warning radar coverage to the Pacific and Atlantic barriers by flying orbits 300 miles offshore of the continental United States. The initial deployment of EC-121Cs began with the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing based at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts. The EC-121 Warning Star became operational on December 21, 1954 and was subsequently upgraded to EC-121D and later EC-121H. The EC-121s were used extensively in support of Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Linebacker/Linebacker II, to provide radar early warning and limited airborne control of USAF fighter forces engaging MiG interceptors. The EC-121s were designed to detect aircraft flying over water and ground clutter caused interference with their radar pictures. The RC-121D has a typical flight crew of 6, with 11-25 radar crew. It has a maximum speed of 299 mph and a range of 4,250 mi. An RC-121D is currently on display at the Chanute Air Museum in Rantoul, IL. "
Scale: 1/72 scale model
Wing Span: 20.5
Length: 19.25
AVC121DT
|
The CG-4A Glider was the most widely used U.S. troop/cargo glider of WW II. Flight testing began in 1942 and eventually more than 12,000 CG-4As were procured. Fifteen companies manufactured CG-4As.
Scale: 1/56 scale model
Wing Span: 18
Length: 10
AWG
|
"The brainchild of Charles H. Zimmerman, the F5U was intended to perform well as a fighter plane while being able to remain in flight at extremely low airspeed, making it easier to operate from carriers. The F5U's unusual appearance owed to a very low aspect ratio wing without a fuselage, which resulted in something looking like a flying saucer. This shape, combined with powerful engines driving large propellers, could plow through the air at low speed (40 mph!), since the whole airframe is immersed in the prop wash. The XF5U Flying Pancake was manufactured by Vought. It was a fighter aircraft and the brainchild of Charles Zimmerman during World War II. Its maiden flight was on the 23rd of November 1942 and its production was cancelled on the 17th of March 1947. The XF5U was the most unusual aircraft designed for the U. S. Navy. It consists of a flat, somewhat disk-shaped body with a very low aspect ratio wing without fuselage that looks like a flying saucer. The Xf5U has two 1,600hp Pratt and Whitney R-2000 radial engines. Its configuration was designed to have a low aspect ratio aircraft that will have a low takeoff and landing speed and high top speed. It can accommodate only one, the pilot; it has a length of 28 ft 7 in; wingspan of 32 ft 6 in; height of 14 ft 9 in; empty weight of 13 107 lb, loaded weight of 16,722 lb. and max takeoff weight of 18,772 lb. It has a maximum speed of 425 mph; range of 1,064 miles; rate of climb 718 ft per minute; and service ceiling of 34,492 ft. It has 6 x .50 machine guns or 4 x 20 mm machine guns or 2 x 1000 lb bombs. Charles Lindbergh has successfully flown the first flight of the V-173 and he was surprised that it was easy to handle. The aircraft’s main problem was its gearbox which produces unacceptable amounts of vibration. Even the design was really promising. The U.S. Navy came to a point where they had to switch from propeller driven planes to jet propelled planes. "
Scale: 1/27 scale model
Wing Span: 14
Length: 12
AXF5U
|
"The Blue Angels chose the A-4 in the early '70s, replacing the thundering F-4. By adopting the Skyhawk, the team now had an aircraft that was much more aerobatic than before. This allowed for a tighter display and the ability to keep much of the performance in front of the audience. The A-4 Skyhawk was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Corporation and was designed by Ed Heinemann. Its primary users are United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. Its maiden flight happened on the 22nd of June 1954 but it was introduced in 1956. The A-4 Skyhawk is a lightweight, single engine attack aircraft. It is said to be one of the most famous attack aircrafts ever designed. The short range attack and close support aircraft was originally intended for the U.S. Navy and Marine forces. The A-4F variant was a refinement of A-4E. It has extra avionics housed in a hump on the fuselage spine. Some of this variant served with Blue Angels acrobatic team during 1973 to 1986. The Blue Angels are the best U.S. military aerobatic team. They fly different kind of aircrafts including Grumman Hellcats, Bearcat, Panther, and the Skyhawk. The A-4 Skyhawk was chosen in the early 70s over F-4 as Skyhawk is said to be more fuel efficient than the Phantom. It was chosen because it was the aircraft that was more appropriate that time in the midst of an oil crisis. With the A-4 used by the team, different display was done. The Skyhawk was more aerobatic than the other aircraft. This allowed them to have a tighter display and be able to keep their performance in front of the audience. The pilots of the Blue Angels enjoyed flying the A-4 Skyhawk because it is easy to maintain and the accident rate was quite low. Eventually, there were new aircrafts that replaced the Skyhawk. It retired in 1976 for the U.S. Navy while in 1998 in U.S. Marine Corps. However it is still active in other countries."
Scale: 1/40 scale model
Wing Span: 11.75
Length: 17.25
CA04BA
|
"Manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Corporation and originally intended to operate from United States Navy (USN) aircraft carriers, the A-4 Skyhawk was designed by Ed Heinemann in response to the Navy's request for a jet-powered attack aircraft that would replace the A-1 Skyraider. Heinemann chose a design that would minimize size, weight and complexity. The result was an aircraft that weighed only half of the Navy's specification and had wings so compact that need not be folded for carrier stowage. The petite aircraft soon received the nicknames “Scooter”, “Bantam Bomber”, “Tinker Toy Bomber” and, in reference to its agility, “Heinemann's Hot-Rod”. The first prototype flew on June 22, 1954, and deliveries to the USN and US Marine Corps (USMC) began in late 1965. Production of the Skyhawk was put to a halt in 1979, and by then, a total of 2,960 aircraft had been built. The design of the Skyhawk is not uncommon among post-World War II planes. It had a delta wing, a tricycle undercarriage, a single turbojet engine in the rear fuselage and a cruciform tail. Armament included cannons and a large variety of bombs, rockets and missiles. The A-4 was the pioneer of the “buddy” self air-to-air refueling concept. This allows aircraft to supply fuel to others of the same type without the need for a dedicated tanker, and was particularly handy for small air arms or when operating in remote locations. In case of any hydraulic failure, the Skyhawk was also capable of emergency landing on drop tanks that were almost always carried by the aircraft. "
Scale: 1/32 scale model
Wing Span: 15.25
Length: 10.25
CA04MTE
|
"When the United States Navy (USN) set out to replace the piston-engined World War II-era A-1 Skyraider, the new attack aircraft needed to be all-weather and carrier-based. In 1957, the contract was awarded to Grumman, and the twin-engined A-6 Intruder was developed. The prototype made its first flight on April 19, 1960. The Intruder's career began in 1963 and would carry on for 34 more years. The A-6 was capable of low-level flying in all weather conditions, and its wings were very efficient at subsonic speeds. The aircraft's large, blunt nose and slender tail earned it a string of nicknames, including Double Ugly, The Mighty Alpha Six, Iron Tadpol, Drumstick and Pregnant Guppy. The Intruder was redesignated A-6A in the fall of 1962 and entered squadron service in February 1963. The A-6 became the Navy's and Marine Corps' principal medium and all-weather/night attack aircraft from the mid-1960s until the 1990s. The Intruder first saw combat during the Vietnam War, where it was used extensively against targets in Vietnam. The aircraft's ability to fly in any weather condition, long range and heavy payload of 8,170 kg made it invaluable during the war. However, its effectiveness in flying low and delivering its payload made it especially vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire. In the eight years that the A-6 was used during the war, the USN and USMC (United States Marine Corps) lost 84 aircraft to all causes. Ten were shot down by surface-to-air missiles, 2 were destroyed by Red Chinese Shenyang J-6s, 16 were lost to operational causes, and the remaining 56 were lost to conventional ground fire and anti-aircraft artillery. "
Scale: 1/48 scale model
Wing Span: 13.5
Length: 13.25
CA06NHVTR
|
"The A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft and was one of the first combat aircraft produced by Chance Vought. The A-7 was one of the first combat aircraft featuring a head-up display (HUD), doppler-bounded inertial navigation system and a turbofan engine. The A-7 first entered service with the US Navy during the Vietnam conflict and was then adopted by the United States Air Force. The A-7 Corsair II was nicknamed as ""SLUF"" (Short Little Ugly Feller) by pilots. The A-7s were used as a deception aircraft by the group between 1981 and 1989. The A-7B has a general ease of flying and excellent forward visibility but lacks in engine thrust. The A-7B incorporates a TF30-P-8 engine with 12,190 lbf of thrust. An A-7 donated from the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola Florida is located on the side of the road just outside Lake City, Florida. An A-7 can also be found at at Akron-Canton airport hangar at MAPS air museum in Akron, Ohio. There is also one mounted at the Atlanta Road side of Naval Air Station Atlanta in Marietta, Georgia. Another A-7 is on display at Tillamook Air Museum and another A-7 is located behind a fence in the parking lot of the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. There were many A-7s which survived. In 1971, A-7Bs which survived were further upgraded to TF30-P-408 with 13,390 lbf of thrust and there were 196 A-7Bs built. "
Scale: 1/40 scale model
Wing Span: 13.88
Length: 11.5
CA07NTE
|
"The A-10 Thunderbolt was manufactured by Fairchild-Republic for the United States Air Force. The A-10 is the first single-seat, twin engine jet aircraft especially designed for close air support of ground forces. A-10s are effective for ground combats, such as attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets. It also provides a limited air interdiction role. The A-10 is more commonly known by its nickname ""Warthog"" or simply ""Hog"". The A-10 Thunderbolt took its first flight on May 10, 1972. The first A-10s produced flew in October 1975, and was delivered to the 355th Tactical Training Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, in March 1976. The Warthog was later introduced and became operational in October 1977. A total of 715 A-10 Thunderbolt's were produced. During the Persian Gulf War in 1991, Warthogs were widely used and have shown their power as the greatest tank-killing aircraft in history. A total of 144 A-10's were deployed during the war and flew 8,624 missions with just five aircrafts lost. Pilots of the A-10's frequently flew up to three missions per day. Most aircrafts survived direct attacks from heat-seeking missiles and managed to return safely. "
|
"The American-manufactured AV-8B Harrier jet fighter of British design is on active duty with the Marines. It can take off vertically from the deck of a ship or forest clearing, and then accelerate to nearly the speed of sound. The AV-8B Harrier was a Short Take Off and Vertical Landing strike aircraft. It was manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, Boeing and BAE Systems. Its maiden flight was on the 09th of November 1978 and introduced on the 12th of January 1985. Its primary users are U.S. Marine Corps; Royal Air Force and Navy; Spanish Navy; and the Italian Navy. This aircraft was developed from Hawker Siddeley Harrier and BAE Sea Harrier. The AV-8B was a single-seat, light attack aircraft that provide offensive air support to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force or MAGTF. Its primary function was to attack and destroy surface targets under day and night visual conditions. It can operate from a variety of ships, forward sites such as roads, and many others. The AV-8B Harrier only accommodates one flight crew. It has a length of 46.3 ft; wingspan of 30.3 ft; cruise speed of Subsonic to transonic; and ferry range of 2100 nautical miles. It has armament of one fuselage-mounted 25 mm gun system; Standard air-to ground load: six Mk 82,500 pound bombs; standard air-to-air load: four AIM-9L/M sidewinder missiles; and provisions for carrying up to 9,000 pounds of ordinance on seven stations. The AV-8B tasks includes the conducting of close air support using conventional and specific weapons; to conduct deep air support; to conduct offensive and defensive antiair warfare; and many others."
Scale: 1/30 scale model
Wing Span: 12
Length: 18.4
CAH1
|
"The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II is a family of second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing jet multirole aircraft of the late 20th century. Developed from the earlier Hawker Siddeley Harriers, it is primarily used for light attack or multi-role tasks, typically operated from small aircraft carriers. Versions are used by several NATO countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and the United States. Though it shares the designation letter number with the earlier AV-8A Harrier, the AV-8B Harrier II was extensively redesigned by McDonnell Douglas. Both models are commonly referred to as the Harrier Jump-jet. The AV8B had its direct origins in a joint British-US project (Hawker-Siddeley and McDonnell Douglas) for a much-improved Harrier aircraft, the AV-16. However the British later pulled out of the program. Using things learned from AV-16 development, McDonnell continued the development work which lead to the AV-8B for the US Marine Corps. The aircraft was centered on the Marines' need for a light ground attack airplane and focused on payload and range as opposed to speed. The first Harrier IIs produced were commonly known as the Day Attack variant, and are no longer in service. Most were upgraded to Night Attack Harrier or Harrier II Plus standards, with the remainder being withdrawn from service. Several variants of the Harrier are used by four countries' military forces: the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain and Italy. The US Marine Corps has operated the AV-8B since 1985. "
Scale: 1/48 scale model
Wing Span: 7.38
Length: 11.25
CAH1TR
|
"The AT-38B Aggressor Northrop was one of the variants of the Northrop T-38 Talon, the world’s first and most produced supersonic trainer. The T-38 is still in service at present time with the Air Forces. The AT-38B Aggressor Northrop aircraft has a conventional configuration and it has a small, low, long chord wing, a single vertical stabilizer and a tricycle undercarriage. The T-38 first flew in 1959 and there were more than 1100 Talon aircrafts delivered to the Air Force from 1961 to 1972. The AT-38B Aggressor Northrop was used by the Air Educational and Training Command to prepare pilots for front line fighter and bomber aircraft such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15C Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-1B Lancer, A-10 Warthog and F/A-22 Raptor. The AT-38B Aggressor Northrop is an advanced and super sonic flight trainer aircraft which was also used as a fighter lead. It is the very first aggressor aircraft. The AT-38B was ordered by the US Air Force in 1950. The AT-38B Aggressor Northrop aircraft was much less expensive to operate because the LIFT program had reduced its cost. The LIFT program ended in 1993 when the USAF integrated the training with the UPT. "
Scale: 1/48 scale model
Wing Span: 5.5
Length: 11.25
CAT38T
|
"The AT-6 ""Texan"" advanced trainer, built by North American, is one of the most widely used aircraft in history. Also known as ""the pilot maker"", 15,495 Texans were built between 1938 and 1945. The U.S.A.A.F. procured 10,057 AT-6's; others went to the Navy as SNJ's and to more than 30 Allied nations. Most AAF fighter pilots trained in AT-6's prior to graduation from flying school. Many of the ""Spitfire"" and ""Hurricane"" pilots in the Battle of Britain trained in Canada in ""Harvards,"" the British version of the AT-6. To comply with neutrality laws, U.S. built Harvards were flown north to the border and were pushed across. In 1948, Texans still in USAF service were redesignated as T-6's. To meet an urgent need for close air support of ground forces in the Korean Conflict, T-6's flew ""mosquito missions"" spotting enemy troops and guns and marking them with smoke rockets for attack by fighter-bombers. More than 360 T-6's are still flying."
Scale: 1/32 scale model
Wing Span: 15.75
Length: 10.75
AT06AYT
|
"The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a single-engine, carrier-based dive bomber produced for the United States Navy (USN). It was the Navy's principal dive bomber during the latter part of World War II. Despite a reputation for being difficult to handle at low speeds, it was responsible for the destruction of more Japanese targets than any other aircraft. The Helldiver's good speed and range made it an essential tool in the far reaches of the Pacific Theater. Developed to replace the Douglas SBD Dauntless in USN service, the SB2C was able to carry a considerable array of armament and featured an internal bomb bay that reduced drag when carrying heavy ordnance. Due to demanding requirements set forth by both the Marines and the Army Air Forces, Curtiss incorporated features of a multi-role aircraft into the design. After the crashing of two prototypes, numerous modifications were specified for the production model. The size of the fin and rudder was enlarged, and fuel capacity and fixed armament were also increased. A total of 7,140 aircraft were produced during World War II. After suffering many delays due to the modifications, the Helldiver finally entered combat on November 11, 1943 on USS Bunker Hill, attacking the Japanese-held port of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea. By mid-1944, it had completely replaced the SBD. Although the SB2C had already entered naval service, it still had structural problems that forbid the aircraft crews from performing one of its main tasks, that is dive bombing in clean conditions. Following the Marianas operation in June and July of 1944, SB2C squadrons participated in the advance through the western Pacific to Okinawa and the Japanese home islands. After the Second World War, the Helldiver continued to serve in USN carrier bombing/attack squadrons until early 1949. Foreign use of the aircraft included employment by the Greek Air Force in the country's civil war of 1949, and carrier operations over Indochina by the French Navy from 1951 to 1954. It also saw service with the Royal Thai Air Force, and with France, Italy and Portugal for anti-submarine warfare. "
Scale: 1/32 scale model
Wing Span: 18.5
Length: 14
ASB2CT
|
"The Douglas SBD Dauntless, nicknamed ""Barge"", ""Clunk"" or ""Slow but Deadly"" and was the standard carrier-borne dive-bomber of the US Navy from mid-1940 until November 1943, when the Curtiss Helldiver replaced it. The SBD was gradually phased out during 1944, and the 20 June 1944 strike against the Japanese Mobile Fleet in the Battle of the Philippine Sea was its last major action as a carrier-borne aircraft. Total of nine Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless Mk 1 were received by the Fleet Air Arm under contract No. The first Dauntless, JS997, was delivered from Speke to the IAD Flight of the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) in November 1943, where it carried out handling and dive bombsight tests (JS997). The Dauntless was subsequently equipped at Wittering by 787 and 700 squadrons from July 1944 till February 1946. The SBD-5 model was the standard aircraft carrier based dive-bomber of the US Navy from mid-1940 until November 1943, when it was replaced by the Curtis SB2C Helldiver. This model of SBD Dauntless was considered obsolete even before the Pacific War started, and was supposed to be retired before Pearl Harbor occurred. Needless to say this did not happen. The SBD went on to be one of the most famous dive bombers in existence (next to the Stuka), and this was mostly due to extreme luck during the Battle of Midway."
Scale: 1/32 scale model
Wing Span: 15.5
Length: 12.5
ASBDT
|
