Tidal Wave: Highly Anticipated Saga of Courage and Survival in WW2 Now Available
Now available from NYT Bestselling author Adam Makos and Ballantine Books is Tidal Wave: The Pilots, the Princess, and the Enemy Ace – A True Story of Courage and Survival in WWII.
It’s summer 1943, and the world is on fire. Lieutenant Ernie Poulson, a twenty-two-year-old outdoorsman from Utah, finds himself at the controls of America’s most advanced bomber, the B-24, brought to North Africa for a top-secret mission. On the far side of Europe, Lieutenant Constantin Cantacuzino, Romania’s most daring ace, duels Soviet fighters on the Eastern Front while searching for purpose in an unwinnable war.
In Nazi-aligned Romania, Princess Catherine Caradja walks a perilous line between loyalty to her country and quiet defiance, as German forces dig in around the oil refineries in her backyard. And in the royal palace, twenty-one-year-old King Michael of Romania—mocked and sidelined by a Nazi-backed dictator—quietly plots to seize his nation’s destiny before it is lost forever. Continue reading Tidal Wave: Highly Anticipated Saga of Courage and Survival in WW2 Now Available
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Coming Soon: MiniArt’s Highly Detailed P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt Advanced Kit
MiniArt will soon release a new P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt advanced kit in 1/48 scale.
The P-47N-2-RE was a rocket-equipped modification of Republic’s long-range P-47N fighter: specifically, an early P-47N-1-RE retrofitted with underwing rocket-launching stubs rather than a separate new-production model. Developed for the vast distances of the Pacific during World War II, the P-47N featured enlarged, squared-tip wings with additional fuel capacity, enabling long-range missions including B-29 bomber escort. Powered by a turbo-supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine producing up to 2,800 horsepower, it combined eight .50-caliber machine guns with bomb- and rocket-carrying capability, making it a heavily armed escort and ground-attack aircraft during the war’s final Pacific campaigns.
The upcoming release (48066) is described as “highly detailed” with realistic metal surface, fine rivet and panel details. It includes photo-etched parts and marking options for four aircraft. As of this writing, an exact release date has not yet been announced.
Check out box contents and livery profiles below.
Continue reading Coming Soon: MiniArt’s Highly Detailed P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt Advanced Kit
1963 Beechcraft B33 Debonair For Sale: “Always Hangared, Fresh Annual”
A 1963 Beechcraft B33 Debonair has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
This 1963 Beechcraft B33 Debonair combines classic straight-tail styling with updated avionics and a well-documented foundation for personal travel. Powered by a 260-horsepower Continental engine, this aircraft has 4,180 total airframe hours and 900 hours since engine overhaul. Cruise performance is 180 knots with a fuel burn of approximately 14.5 gallons per hour, making it an appealing choice for pilots seeking cross-country capability in a classic Beechcraft. The panel features a Garmin 430, dual Garmin G5 instruments, and a new autopilot, bringing modern navigation and flight instrumentation to this established airframe. The aircraft has always been hangared, has no damage history, and comes with a fresh annual inspection.
The aircraft is located in Richmond, Minnesota with offers currently being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
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New Book Compiles Air Combat Recollections From Pilots in Every Theater of WW2
Coming soon from Air World and author Martin Bowman is Voices in Flight: Squadrons Scramble!: RAF and Commonwealth Fighter Pilots of the Second World War, which offers air combat stories and follows fighter pilots scrambling under alarms, from southern England and Malta to the Blitz.
Feel your pulse race and your heart pound as you follow the pilots of The Few running for their aircraft as the alarms sound and the enemy attack for a second time on a day of glory and death over the sunny skies of southern England. Then, beyond the Spitfire Summer of 1940, how the RAF’s pilots scrambled to defy the enemy over the battered ruins of Malta, the George Cross Island, or to defend Britain at night during the blacked out months of the Blitz.
The prelude to D-Day, the disastrous raid on Dieppe was the scene of the RAF’s biggest air battle up to that point in the war, and Operation Overlord was shielded by the overwhelming aerial might of the 2nd Tactical Air Force. All these momentous events are told through the words of those pilots who fought in the unforgiving arena of the dogfight where a single moment can turn victory into defeat, life into certain death. Continue reading New Book Compiles Air Combat Recollections From Pilots in Every Theater of WW2
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Eduard Releases 1/32 Malcolm Hood P-51B/C Mustang Hybrid Kit With Resin, Plastic Parts
Eduard has released a new “Hybrid Edition” P-51B/C Mustang (Malcolm Hood) model kit in 1/32 scale.
The P-51B and P-51C Mustangs fitted with the Malcolm Hood were modified versions of the Merlin-powered, long-range Allied fighters used in Europe from late 1943. Their distinctive British-made, bulged Perspex canopy replaced the original framed, hinged cockpit hood with a rearward-sliding design, providing more headroom and improved sideways and rearward visibility while retaining the “razorback” fuselage. Fitted to many USAAF P-51B/Cs and RAF Mustang IIIs, the Malcolm Hood was a canopy modification rather than a separate production variant. Both types carried four .50-caliber machine guns and combined strong high-altitude performance with the range needed to escort bombers deep into Germany; the improved canopy helped pilots maintain situational awareness before the later P-51D introduced its characteristic bubble canopy.
Eduard’s new release (932013) includes Eduard plastic parts, PE parts, resin parts (cockpit, undercarriage bays, wheels, guns, exhausts), painting masks and Eduard decals with marking options for five aircraft.
Click here to buy the kit on eBay. Check out box contents and livery profiles below.
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1969 Piper Cherokee 180D For Sale: “Fresh Annual, Custom Interior”
A 1969 Piper Cherokee 180D has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
1969 Piper Cherokee 180D, N7922N, serial 28-5333. Hobbs 9,966 / Tach 9,964, engine 845 SMOH. Dynon SkyView HDX and Avidyne IFD440 avionics. Custom interior 2026. Annual completed Oct 2026. Buyers to verify times, logs, and condition by inspection and logbook review…
The aircraft is located in Boerne, Texas and is currently available for US $160,000 although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos.
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New Book Studies How Pubs and Clubs Sustained WW2 Pilots During Britain’s Darkest Hour
Coming soon from Air World and author Justin Omps is Pubs, Pilots, and the Battle of Britain: Churchill’s ‘Few’ Living Life to the Full in Britain’s Darkest Hour. As the title suggests, the book deals with fighter pilots’ reliance on pubs and clubs as lifelines, from blackout boards to night revelry.
In August 1940, Spitfire pilot Tim Vigors was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over Kent. After crash-landing in a field, he realized he would have to pass through London to get back to his squadron’s airfield. He decided there was no rush, called his girlfriend Jill, and hours after nearly dying, he was dancing the night away at London’s fashionable 400 Club.
This juxtaposition of mortal combat and carefree revelry was not unusual – it was daily life for the young men of Fighter Command. Pubs, Pilots, and The Battle of Britain reveals how Britain’s pubs and clubs became crucial lifelines during the Battle of Britain. These weren’t just places to drink – they were unofficial messes, refuges where fear and grief could be drowned in camaraderie, becoming even the centres of squadron identity. At the White Hart in Brasted, Biggin Hill, pilots signed the now-famous blackout board that became a roll call of Britain’s aerial defenders. At the Cat & Custard Pot near RAF Hawkinge, pilots who flew cover during the Dunkirk evacuation found momentary peace in its ancient rooms. Continue reading New Book Studies How Pubs and Clubs Sustained WW2 Pilots During Britain’s Darkest Hour
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Dora Wings Releases New P-47D-1 Thunderbolt (Razorback) Kit With Plastic, Resin and PE Parts
Dora Wings has released their new P-47D-1 Thunderbolt (Razorback) model kit in 1/48 scale.
The P-47D-1 was an early production version of the American WW2 fighter, distinguished by its “razorback” fuselage—a raised spine behind the cockpit that restricted rearward visibility. Powered by a turbo-supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine and armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, it combined strong high-altitude performance, formidable firepower, and a rugged airframe capable of absorbing substantial damage. The D-1’s principal improvement over the preceding P-47C-2 was additional engine-cowling flaps for better cooling; 105 were built at Republic’s Farmingdale factory. It belonged to the early Thunderbolt generation that established the type as a capable bomber escort, before later versions expanded its celebrated ground-attack role.
The new kit (DW48056) includes 138 plastic parts, 28 photo-etched detail parts, 3 resin parts and decals with marking options for four aircraft. Click here to buy on eBay, and look below for livery profiles and kit contents photos.
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2018 CubCrafters Carbon Cub EX-2 For Sale: “Low Time, Modern Avionics, Three Sets of Wheels”
A 2018 CubCrafters Carbon Cub EX-2 has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
This 2018 CubCrafters Carbon Cub EX-2 is a highly capable experimental amateur-built aircraft designed for exceptional short takeoff and landing performance, recreational backcountry flying, and responsive sport aviation. With approximately 203 total airframe hours since new, this Carbon Cub offers an impressive combination of low time, modern avionics, and specialized performance equipment. Power comes from a Titan CC340 carbureted engine rated at approximately 180 horsepower, providing strong performance for the aircraft’s lightweight design. The cockpit features an advanced Garmin G3X Touch avionics installation, including an autopilot system with electric trim, Garmin GTX345R transponder, ADS-B In and Out capability, synthetic vision, and a GTR 200 VHF communication radio. Additional equipment includes an angle-of-attack indication system with visual and audible alerts, SiriusXM weather and audio capability, stereo intercom, dual USB charging ports, and provisions for Bose active-noise-reduction headsets. The aircraft also features electronic ignition and an emergency locator transmitter with remote control. Three sets of wheels are included, providing additional versatility for differing operating requirements. With its excellent interior, effective cabin heating, modern avionics, and performance-oriented design, this Carbon Cub EX-2 presents an exciting opportunity for pilots seeking a distinctive and capable recreational aircraft.
The aircraft is located in Ninety Six, South Carolina with offers currently being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
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USAF Museum Completes Restoration of Bleriot XI [Video]
After eight months of dedicated work, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio has completed restoration of their 1909 Bleriot XI.
As previously reported, The type is famous for being the first aircraft to cross the English Channel in July 1909, and it was used by several famous early aviators from Louis Bleriot himself, to Adolphe Pégoud to Harriet Quimby. It even saw service in the early months of WW1. The museum’s specific example was built from factory drawings by Ernest C. Hall of Warren, Ohio in 1911. He donated it to the museum in 1939. It was removed from public display in 2023 for restoration, with work beginning earlier this year.
The aircraft has since been rolled out for its official photoshoot and plans call for it to return to display in the museum’s early years gallery some time this month. Check out additional photos and a video of the completed aircraft below.
Continue reading USAF Museum Completes Restoration of Bleriot XI [Video]
