Coming soon from Helion and Company and author Mikhail Timin is the second volume in a major four-part study that examines the Soviet Air Forces stationed in the Baltic region in the months before the German invasion of June 1941.

Air Battles over the Baltic 1941 Volume 2: The Eve of War, Early 1941 examines the crucial months leading up to the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Drawing on Soviet and German archival sources, Timin reconstructs the condition of the Soviet Air Forces in the Baltic region during early 1941, and compares them directly with the Luftwaffe units preparing to strike across the border.

The book explores the Red Air Force’s continued efforts to expand and modernise. While some units received new fighters and bombers, many still relied on outdated types, and shortages of fuel, spares and ammunition undermined readiness. Training remained inconsistent, with thousands of inexperienced pilots entering frontline regiments, often with minimal flying hours. Timin demonstrates how Soviet commanders struggled to balance the urgent need for combat preparation with the administrative demands of constant reorganisations… Richly illustrated with colour profiles, photographs, maps and tables, this volume offers a balanced assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of both the Soviet and German alignments in the Baltic. It demonstrates how structural weaknesses, training shortfalls and misplaced assumptions left the Red Air Force dangerously exposed on the eve of war, setting the stage for the catastrophic battles of 22 June 1941.

The 108 page paperback book is currently available for pre-order with release set for May 31. This is also the set release date for Volume 1.

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ICM has released their new, late-production HP.52 Hampden (Churchill’s “Flying Suitcase) model kit in 1/48 scale.

The HP.52 Hampden was a British twin-engine RAF medium bomber whose unusually narrow, deep fuselage gave it the famous nickname “Churchill’s flying suitcase” or simply the “Flying Suitcase.” It entered service in 1938, saw early World War II bombing and maritime strike duties, and was remembered for being fast and effective but extremely cramped for its four-man crew.

As previously reported, the release (48354) continues ICM’s recent line of Hampden kits and faithfully preserves the geometry and proportions of the original aircraft. It includes rivet detail on the fuselage, wings and tail surfaces, marking options for four aircraft and multiple bomb types that can be positioned in the bomb bay or under the wings.

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A Maule M-7 260C Super Rocket has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

Maule M-7 260C Super Rocket — N240SC; This Maule M-7 260C Super Rocket has been meticulously maintained, always hangared, and comes with complete logbooks and service manuals. Powered by a Lycoming IO-540-V4A5 with 420 hours since recall compliance, it is equipped with Wipaire 3000 amphibious floats (never in salt water) with full corrosion protection and vertical wheel sensors. The sale includes conventional landing gear with tailwheel, as well as a custom tug and tow bar. Avionics include ADS-B In/Out, Garmin, and Bendix/King systems, along with safety and situational awareness instruments. The interior is tan leather, and the exterior is red and white. Cruises at about 128 mph on floats, seats five, and has a gross weight of 2,750 lbs. Annual inspection completed November of 2025.

The aircraft is located in The Villages, Florida and is currently available for US $350,000 although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

Coming soon from Aeronaut Books and author Jonathan J Wagstaff is Boum! A History of the SPAD XII Canon: How France’s Greatest Ace & Aerospace Engineers of WWI Created the World’s First Production Canon-Armed Fighter

On 27th July 1917, a secret new weapon took to the skies over the Western Front. It carried a devastatingly large armament derived from naval designs and ingeniously engineered to fire through the propeller shaft of the aircraft. The secrecy of the project was such that even the sound of the weapon was reportedly censored in contemporary accounts.

When it finally entered combat, the impact of the 37mm canon on wood and canvas was overwhelming: “The effect was immediate, the aircraft was cut in two and burned, the wings went to one side, the fuselage to the other…”.

This book charts the remarkable story of the SPAD Canon aircraft of WWI — from early French experiments in canon-armed planes, to the power of one ace’s fame and family connections in steering government decisions, and the emergence of SPAD’s frontline types and their relatively obscure contribution to the conflict. It also explores the legacy they carried into the next great war.

Boum! is the first English-language study of the fascinating SPAD Canon aircraft. It shines a light on their history through newly rediscovered documents, photographs, and films from archives across the globe. This is a compelling story of innovation, ambition, and the people behind the machines, that will appeal to both general readers and aviation enthusiasts alike.

The book is heavily illustrated with 240 photos (28 in color), color profiles of 21 aircraft, four paintings, many drawings, and scale drawings of the Spad 12 and 14 in its 241 pages.

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Special Hobby has released a new series of images detailing the 3D modeling progress on their upcoming Hawker Tempest kits.

The Tempest is one of the legendary British WWII fighter aircraft. It was developed as an evolution of the Hawker Typhoon with a refined laminar-flow wing, powerful Napier Sabre engine, and four 20mm cannons for superior speed and firepower. Introduced in 1944, it shone in low-level intercepts, destroying over 600 V-1 flying bombs and engaging Luftwaffe jets like the Me 262 while supporting ground operations.

The company states that they are working on a family of Tempest kits in 1/72 scale, reportedly including the Tempest Mk.II, Tempest Mk.V and Tempest Mk.VI. As of this writing, no timeframe for launch has been announced.

Click below to check out additional images.

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A 1982 Piper Saratoga has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

his 1982 Piper Turbo Saratoga PA-32R-301T is a well-maintained and fully equipped aircraft offering excellent performance, comfort, and range, making it ideal for both personal and business travel. With 5,372 total airframe hours, this aircraft is powered by a Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD engine with 1,576 hours since major overhaul and 424 hours remaining until TBO, delivering reliable turbocharged performance. The Hartzell HC-E3YR-1RF three-blade propeller, overhauled in 2016, has only 40 hours since inspection and contributes to smooth and efficient flight characteristics. The avionics suite is well-appointed and designed for modern navigation and communication needs, including a Garmin GNS 430 WAAS GPS/Nav/Com, Garmin SL30 Nav/Com, Garmin Aera 796, Garmin GDL 88 ADS-B In and Out, and a Garmin GTX 327 transponder. A JPI EDM 700 engine monitor provides accurate engine data, while the Bendix/King KFC 275 autopilot system enhances flight control and reduces pilot workload. The aircraft also features factory-installed air conditioning for added comfort. With a range of approximately 900 nautical miles, a maximum takeoff weight of 3,600 lbs, and a useful load of 1,200 lbs, this Saratoga is built for efficiency and practicality. It includes complete logs, a well-maintained airframe, and a recently completed 100-hour inspection, confirming its airworthy condition. This aircraft is ready to fly and offers an excellent opportunity for buyers seeking a dependable and capable platform.

The aircraft is located in Reeds Spring, Missouri with offers currently being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

Recently released by Aeronaut Books and author Colin Owers are volumes 5 and 6 of USN and USMC Aircraft 1911–1919:

Volume 5 of this series covers the aircraft that the USN/UMC used in Europe in WWI when they could not obtain combat machines from the USA… The story is told in unprecedented detail from official records and personal reminiscences. The political background is also woven into the story as to why the US air services had to rely on foreign manufactured aircraft and not US manufactured ones. The post-war career of those that served in the USN/USMC is also covered.

Volume 6 completes the story of the foreign aircraft that the USN/USMC had to rely on in order to enter combat in WWI… The experimental aircraft that the USN was interested in are also covered as is the post-war career of some of these in the USN shipplane units.

Volume 5 offers 262 pages and is illustrated with 256 photographs, nine three view drawings, and 20 color profiles, as well as original drawings and sketches. Volume 6 has 205 pages with 192 photographs, nine color profiles and nine three-view drawings of significant types.

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Arma Hobby recently released their new Curtiss P-36C Hawk model kit in 1/72 scale.

The P-36C was an improved 1938–39 American fighter that refined the earlier P-36 with a stronger airframe, a 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-17 engine, and better armament, though it was still quickly overshadowed by more advanced wartime fighters. It was a sleek, all-metal monoplane with retractable landing gear and good handling, and only about 30 were built.

As previously reported, the offering (70082) includes 3D-printed spent-cartridge containers for the wing-mounted machine guns, painting masks for the cockpit and wheels, a 3D file for self-printing additional details (pilot’s seat with harness, fuselage bulkhead, instrument panel, exhaust pipes), and three marking options (27th Pursuit Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, National Air Races, Cleveland, Ohio, September 1939; 27th Pursuit Squadron, USAAC, Selfridge Field, Michigan, 1939; 27th Pursuit Squadron, USAAC, Selfridge Field, Michigan, 1939).

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A 1968 Piper PA-28-140/150 Cherokee has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

1968 PA-28-140/150 for sale — N5764F, S/N 28-25067. Total time airframe (TTAF): 4454 hours. Since major overhaul (SMOH): 1855 hours. Equipped with a Lycoming O-320-E2A engine producing 150 HP at 2700 RPM. Engine compression readings are 72/80, 72/80, 74/80, and 72/80. The annual inspection was completed in July 2025. The aircraft features a fresh interior with shoulder harnesses (STC), new tinted windows, and a new glareshield. All Airworthiness Directives (ADs) have been complied with, and all logbooks are available.

The aircraft is located in Lake Worth, Florida and is currently available for US $52,500 although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

Coming soon from Air World and author Julian Grenfell is The Vulcan B2 in the Cold War: Could the V-Force Have Helped Defeat the Soviets. Written by an Air Electronics Officer with some 4,500 flying hours in Avro Vulcans, the new title sets out to answer the commonly asked question about Cold War V-force nuclear deterrent: “If the balloon had gone up, would it have got through?”

The Vulcan B2 in the Cold War analyses the state of air power in the early years of the Cold War, examining the hot wars of Korea and Vietnam, as well as the early versions of Soviet and Chinese air defence systems and how effective they might be at countering the RAF’s nuclear bomber fleet. The UK’s deterrent had to be survivable of a Soviet pre-emptive ballistic missile strike, or had to be airborne before such a strike took place. The early warning system provided Bomber Command’s headquarters with some 3½ minutes to 4½ minutes warning to get the V-force airborne. The average time to get these aircraft airborne was an astonishing 1 minute 53 seconds.

The author explains the ‘combat environment’ the Vulcan would have to fly into to be able to release its weapon. It would have to be capable of outpacing enemy fighters and avoid detection from the radars of surface-to-air missiles. Such factors were considered in what was called the ‘Probability of Kill’. The effectiveness of the Vulcan in evading Soviet defences was put to the test during several critical moments of the Cold War. One such instance was the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

Another supremely important element of the Vulcan’s role was the nature of the weapon the Vulcan carried and its method of delivery. All of this is discussed in this intriguing investigation into how the Vulcan, and more specifically the B2 variant, would have fared should the Cold War have turned ‘hot’.

The 256 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for May 31.

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