[BlackBeard]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Panavia Tornado GR.1A Royal Air Force No.2 (AC) Sqn, ZA371, Norway, 1995(Hobbymaster)

Beautiful model, congratulations on another addition to your vast collection.

Unlike the Jaguar the Tornado wasn't much of an export success.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Which brings us to the question of the burden of pensions on the defence budgets.

Very controversial & touchy topic indeed.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Lo-Lo-Lo clean it could outrun the mighty F-15 and all Soviet fighters. 800 knots at sea level is insane! The climb rate quoted of 77metres/second sounds like an MTOW figure.

Thanks for the info, I was under the impression that the MiG27s R-29 engine was a beast & the most powerful of its time.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by BlackBeard

Unlike the Jaguar the Tornado wasn't much of an export success.

The Jaguar was affordable by third world nations {like ours}. The Tornado was an expensive machine. Also the British were willing to upgrade/modify the Jaguar to meet customer needs. That helps.

Thanks for the info, I was under the impression that the MiG27s R-29 engine was a beast & the most powerful of its time.

The two most powerful engines of the 1970s and till mid-1980s in regular squadron service were the Tumanskii R-29 rated at 11,500 kgf and the F-14's GE 110-400 rated at ~12,250 kgf. Speed at lo-lo is not just a function of the engine installed but also the power loading {power to weight ratio}, the wing design, thrust at low altitudes, drag situation, weight and so on.

[Jeroen]

I have been rummaging through some of my old photo albums. Unfortunately, not much of my early aviation photography has been left.

I found a few planes we have discussed in this thread. So I scanned them. (Photoscan app).

These images were taken at Le Bourget, Paris airshow. I can't determine the exact year anymore. Probably late 70s/early 80s.

But the Jaguar Sepecat was on display, with its under-overwing hardware.





The only image I have found on the F-16 with its red-white-blue livery. Next to an F15.



Jeroen

[BlackBeard]

Originally Posted by mirashub

SPARROW OR MOSS

"Frisky Sparrow, recover at Bamboo" or "Ramesh, one five two to Greenhouse". Just a few words spoken into the black ether, in the dead of night. They probably meant little to the uninitiated but made a big difference to the intended recipients of the messages. In fact, the difference between safe recovery or ejecting, possibly in enemy territory.

Originally Posted by BlackBeard

Don't forget Chuck Yeager was very actively supporting the PAF in 1971 war as a member of the MAAG, our ex navy chief Adm. Arun Prakash flying a hunter destroyed his beechcraft on the ground...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoUEYdHoBew&t=13s

Above video sums up the SPARROW incident nicely, also I stand corrected, apparently Adm. Arun Prakash did not shoot the beechcraft, it was somebody else.
I wasn't aware that Chuck Yeager was actively involved in the interrogation of our captured pilots, amazing..tells you the level of American involvement in aiding & assisting Pakistan!

[Freespirit27]

Originally Posted by BlackBeard

https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=OoUEYdHoBew&t=13s
I wasn't aware that Chuck Yeager was actively involved in the interrogation of our captured pilots, amazing..tells you the level of American involvement in aiding & assisting Pakistan!

Yeager's support and Uncle Sam support would be very different things.. Since a hardware was offered and this Yank had prior service experience and had trained the pilots, he kind of got more personal than may have been US intent!

[FlankerFury]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 HAL Ajeet/Gnat Mk.2 E1983, No. 2 Sqdn "Winged Arrows", Indian Air Force 1991
The HAL Ajeet (Hindi: अजीत, for "Invincible" or "Unconquerable")

Dark Skies released this today

https://youtu.be/KOU26lr7x-o?si=Tbj-ZQX1zjqyOFRU

It contains some impressive footage of Gnat's in action.
Interesting to note that India was the only one with extensive combat experience involving Gnat's, RAF and other buyers only used it as a trainer. It touches upon the Ajeet near the end.

The footage for Sabres show the F-86D Sabre Dogs instead of the F-86F that we're in PAF service.

F-86D Sabre Dog


F-86 Sabre in PAF livery

[skanchan95]

1:144 Grumman F-14D Tomcat VF-31 "Tomcatters", US Navy, AJ100/ Bu No.164342, USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71 , Last Tomcat Cruise 2006
F-14D, Bu No. 164342 was delivered to the US Navy on Aug. 22, 1991. While serving with VF-31 (the last US Navy F-14 squadron), this F-14D participated in the last Tomcat cruise aboard the Roosevelt (CVN-71) and was one of the last US Navy F-14s to see combat in Iraq. It now resides at the Wings Over Miami Air Museum located at Kendall-Miami Airport, US.

The Super Tomcat
The ultimate evolution of the legendary Tomcat, the F-14D "Super Tomcat" was known for its enhanced capabilities over earlier A & B variants. Introduced in 1991, it boasted an advanced radar, targeting systems, and increased air-to-ground capabilities.

The F-14D was first delivered to the U.S. Navy in 1991, 17 years after the original F-14A Tomcat made her maiden flight. The F-14D had the following upgraded features over the earlier B varinat :
AN/APG-71 radar (which replaced the AWG-9 radar) & Glass cockpit
Airborne Self Protection Jammer
Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS)
Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) targeting system
SJU-17(V) Naval Aircrew Common Ejection Seats (NACES)
Infrared search and track (IRST)
Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS)
Carrying capacity for four Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JADMs) (thus bolstering the fighter’s air-to-ground strike capabilities)
ROVER III Full Motion Video (FMV) (after 2005; not all D-models received this)

A total of 37 F-14D airframes were built from scratch, and for good measure, 18 of the F-14A specimens received D-model upgrades, and were thus re-designated the F-14D(R).

The F-14D’s last combat hurrah took place in a bombing mission carried out by two F-14Ds belonging to the aircraft USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) over Iraq on 8 February 2006. The Tomcat’s swan song in U.S. Navy service (not counting the Iranian Air Force, which still uses the plane to this day) took place on 14 September 2006, carried out by F-14D Bureau Number (BuNu)164603, number 711 of the 712 Tomcats built.

VF-31 Tomcatters

US Navy Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31) "Tomcatters" was the new designation given to VF-3A on August 7th, 1948. The squadron transitioned from the F6F Hellcat through the F9F Panther, F2H Banshee, F3H Demon and F-4 Phantom II before upgrading to the F-14 Tomcat in 1981. The Tomcatters deployed several times with the F-14 on various Nimitz Class carriers. They deployed with the F-14 for the last time aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2005 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was during this deployment that VF-31 became the last F-14 squadron to drop a bomb in combat. The squadron returned home in 2006 and and transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet, being redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 31 (VFA-31).



General characteristics
Crew: 2 (Pilot and Radar Intercept Officer)
Length: 62 ft 9 in (19.13 m)
Wingspan: 64 ft 1.5 in (19.545 m)
Swept wingspan: 38 ft 2.5 in (11.646 m) swept
Height: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Wing area: 565 sq ft (52.5 m2) wings only
1,008 sq ft (94 m2) effective area including fuselage
Empty weight: 43,735 lb (19,838 kg)
Gross weight: 61,000 lb (27,669 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 74,350 lb (33,725 kg)
Fuel capacity: 16,200 lb (7,348 kg) internal fuel; 2 × optional 267 US gal (222 imp gal; 1,010 L) / 1,756 lb (797 kg) external drop tanks
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans, 16,333 lbf (72.65 kN) thrust each dry, 26,950 lbf (119.9 kN) with afterburner

Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph, 2,485 km/h) at altitude
Mach 1.2, 794 kn (914 mph; 1,470 km/h) at sea level
Cruise speed: 420 kn (480 mph, 780 km/h)
Range: 1,600 nmi (1,800 mi, 3,000 km)
Combat range: 503 nmi (579 mi, 932 km) fighter escort
204 nmi (235 mi; 378 km) deck launched intercept
150 nmi (170 mi; 280 km) fleet air defense with 1.91 hours of loiter
Service ceiling: 53,000 ft (16,000 m) plus
g limits: +7.5 g (+6.5 g operational limit)
Rate of climb: 45,000 ft/min (230 m/s) plus
Wing loading: 96 lb/sq ft (470 kg/m2)
48 lb/sq ft (230 kg/m2) effective
Thrust/weight: 0.88 at gross weight (1.02 with loaded weight & 50% internal fuel)
Takeoff roll: 2,500 ft (760 m)
Landing roll: 2,400 ft (730 m)

Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled rotary cannon, with 675 rounds
Hardpoints: 10 total: 6× under-fuselage, 2× under nacelles and 2× on wing gloves with a capacity of 14,500 lb (6,600 kg) of ordnance and fuel tanks, with provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets: 7x LAU-10 rocket pods (for a total of 28 rockets)
Missiles: AIM-54 Phoenix, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles
Bombs:
JDAM precision-guided munition (PGMs)
Paveway series of laser-guided bombs
Mk 80 series of unguided iron bombs
Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster munition
Other:
Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS)
LANTIRN Targeting System (LTS) pod (AN/AAQ-14)
2× 267 US gal (1,010 L; 222 imp gal) drop tanks for extended range/loitering time

Avionics
Hughes AN/APG-71 radar
AN/ALR-67 radar warning receiver
AN/AAS-42 infrared search and track, AAX-1 TCS
AN/ASN-130 Inertial navigation system
Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) upgrade

























1:144 F-14A VF-84 & F-14D VF-31

[V.Narayan]

IL-2 Shturmovik :: USSR, Eastern Front WW-II :: Tamiya, 1:72

Length is ~6.5 inches; Wingspan is 8 inches

No reader of this thread would not have heard of the legendary IL-2 Shturmovik ground attack aircraft which along with the T-34 tank and Yak series fighters helped win the war on the Eastern Front in WW2. The sheer scale of fighting on the Eastern Front combined with the vastness of the geography over which it was fought dwarfed every other land battle not only of WW2 but all history.

The IL-2 excelled as an army direct support aircraft attacking tanks, artillery, convoys, bridges et al. Its bath tub of armour 5mm to 13mm thick. This housed the engine and pilot but unfortunately not the rear gunner {in most variants}. While the armour ate into the Shturmovik’s weapon payload the 23mm cannons and the 100kg bombs and WW2 era rockets proved adequate for the tasks and tribulations of the Russian Front. Like Russian aircraft it was rugged, designed for the Russian winter, operated from muddy airfields and just kept going.

42,330 IL-2s and its Mark II successor the IL-10 were built making this the most produced military aircraft in history. The next closest military machine is the Messerschmitt Bf-109 at 35,090. The last major Air Force to retire the IL-10 was the Chinese PLA Air Force in 1972.

Today's modern attack helicopters are the successors of the IL-2.

Basu Roy is the maker and painter of this excellent scale model.

I'm posting on this thread with my on photos after 2 years. Hope to show off many more over the coming months.

Data Box

Crew: 2
Length: 38 ft 3 in Wingspan: 47 ft 11 in
Wing area: 414.4 sq ft

Empty weight: 4,425 kg
Max take-off weight: 6,360 kg
Fuel capacity: 730 L

Powerplant: 1 × Mikulin AM-38F liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,280 kW (1,720 hp) (take-off power)

Maximum speed: 220 knots (410 km/h) at low altitudes
Radius: 206 nm (380 km) ; Endurance: 2.75 hr

Armament
2 × fixed forward-firing 23×152mm VYa-23 cannons, 150 rounds per gun
2 × fixed forward-firing 7.62×54mmR ShKAS machine guns, 750 rounds per gun
1 × manually aimed 12.7×108mm Berezin UBT machine gun in rear cockpit, 300 rounds

4 to 8 ground attack rockets
6× 100 kg (220 lb) bombs in wing bomb-bays and underwing or
4× dispensers for 48 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) PTAB anti-armour bombs (192 total) in wing bays

[FlankerFury]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

IL-2 Shturmovik :: USSR, Eastern Front WW-II :: Tamiya, 1:72

Length is ~6.5 inches; Wingspan is 8 inches

The level of detail is incredible!

The importance of this aircraft was emphasized in a telegram from Joseph Stalin to an Ilyushin plant, which stated, "Our Red Army now needs the Il-2 as much as the air it breathes and the bread it eats..."
For context, the production of this type was delayed due to relocation of facilities caused by Nazi Germany's invasion of Soviet Union, as part of Operation Barbarossa

The last major Air Force to retire the IL-10 was the Chinese PLA Air Force in 1972.

It must've been thoroughly outdated by then but still, it's quite remarkable for a plane that was designed in the 1940's.

Another similar propeller driven, ground attack plane that comes to mind is the Douglas A-1 Skyraider.

It too was developed in the 1940's (unlike the Shturmovik, the Skyraider entered service after WWII was over.) and served upto the 70's.

Today's modern attack helicopters are the successors of the IL-2.

The name Shturmovik has become a generic Russian name for attack aircraft, so the Su-25 would qualify as a successor too.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by FlankerFury

Another similar propeller driven, ground attack plane that comes to mind is the Douglas A-1 Skyraider.
The name Shturmovik has become a generic Russian name for attack aircraft, so the Su-25 would qualify as a successor too.

The Vietnam war gave the A-1 a long lease of life. It was certainly a masterpiece design of ruggedness, endurance and load carrying ability. As often any aircraft we name we are likely to find on these pages. My A-1 and skanchan96's Sukhoi Su-25 below.

Folks, Coming up next,

--I am a twin engined twin boom military transporter
--Powered by the P&W R4360 air cooled radials putting out ~3500 shp each
--Two Air Forces fitted me with auxiliary turbojets to augment my performance

Who am I? Guys the last one is a giveaway!

[Navneet]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

--Two Air Forces fitted me with auxiliary turbojets to augment my performance

Who am I? Guys the last one is a giveaway!

Sounds like Indian Air Force's C119 Packet with jet pack.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

IL-2 Shturmovik :: USSR, Eastern Front WW-II :: Tamiya, 1:72

Beautiful model of a great aircraft! Congratulations and thank you for the informative post.

Basu Roy is a genius!

Can't wait to see what you share next (which I assume is a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar)

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

The IL-2 excelled as an army direct support aircraft attacking tanks, artillery, convoys, bridges et al. Its bath tub of armour 5mm to 13mm thick. This housed the engine and pilot but unfortunately not the rear gunner {in most variants}. While the armour ate into the Shturmovik’s weapon payload the 23mm cannons and the 100kg bombs and WW2 era rockets proved adequate for the tasks and tribulations of the Russian Front. Like Russian aircraft it was rugged, designed for the Russian winter, operated from muddy airfields and just kept going.

Years later and in the early 2000s, as a tribute to the IL-2, there was PC flight simulator released named after the IL-2 titled "IL-2 Sturmovik" based on the IL-2's role in WW2, and later many sequels were released under the same title. It used to be one of the most popular flight sim titles in those days.

Originally Posted by FlankerFury

The name Shturmovik has become a generic Russian name for attack aircraft, so the Su-25 would qualify as a successor too.

The "spiritual" successor of the Il-2 would have been a very ugly and lesser known aircraft called the IL-102. Like the IL-2, it even had a tail gunner station (remotely operated). It did not move beyond the prototype stage though.


Like the Northrop A-9, glad the IL-102 did not move beyond the prototype stage or else both of them would have been competing with each other for the title of ugliest ever in-service aircraft . The Americans chose the Fairchild Republic A-10 over the Northrop A-9, while the Russians chose the Su-25 over the IL-102.

*Prototypes of the A-10 (above) and A-9(below)

[FlankerFury]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Folks, Coming up next,

--I am a twin engined twin boom military transporter
--Powered by the P&W R4360 air cooled radials putting out ~3500 shp each
--Two Air Forces fitted me with auxiliary turbojets to augment my performance

Who am I? Guys the last one is a giveaway!

Fairchild C-119 fits the description.


BharatRakshak | Packett Image Gallery

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by FlankerFury

Fairchild C-119 fits the description.

Originally Posted by Navneet

Sounds like Indian Air Force's C119 Packet with jet pack.

And C-119 it is. Flanker Fury and Navneet share the gazillion rupee lottery prize....

[FlankerFury]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

And C-119 it is. Flanker Fury and Navneet share the gazillion rupee lottery prize....

Hey skanchan95 got it too

Which other Air Force bolted a turbojet to their Packetts? USAF? I'm guessing these were flown overloaded in Vietnam or piston engines were simply too slow.