Jagdverband 44, the Me 262 and the Luftwaffe’s Mavericks
Coming soon from Osprey and author Robert Forsyth is Jagdverband 44: The Luftwaffe’s Mavericks, the dramatic story of Jagdverband 44, the squadron of aces founded by leading Luftwaffe pilot Adolf Galland equipped with the new Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.
Jagdverband (JV) 44 was formed as a result of conflict and dissent within the Luftwaffe’s high command. Following disagreement with Reichsmarschall Herman Göring, the commander of the fighter arm, Adolf Galland, was dismissed from his post and exiled. He was given permission to set up a small fighter unit with which to prove that the revolutionary Me 262 was the war-winning jet fighter he believed it to be.
Assembling a small group of disillusioned and weary Luftwaffe fighter aces and flying instructors, Galland – arguably the most famous German fighter ace of World War II – moved his unit, JV 44, to Munich, from where it operated the Me 262 against USAAF aircraft bombing targets in Austria and southern Germany.
In this reappraisal of JV 44, published 30 years after his acclaimed and bestselling first study of the unit, leading Luftwaffe historian Robert Forsyth assesses Galland’s motives for forming the unit and whether it can be regarded more accurately as a ‘Squadron of Aces’ or a ‘Squadron of Outcasts and Exiles’. The book contains numerous first-hand accounts sourced by the the author during his research in the 1990s when he met with several former pilots from the squadron.
The 448 page book is currently available for pre-order in hardcover, audiobook and Kindle editions with release set for November 3.
Please Note: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
New Renders Detail Rare Birds Models’ Upcoming LeO H.246 Flying Boat
Rare Bird Models has released a series of renderings for their upcoming Lioré et Olivier LeO H.246 flying boat in 1/72 scale.
The H.246 was a French four-engine commercial flying boat developed in the late 1930s for Air France’s Mediterranean services, particularly routes linking southern France with North Africa. A high-wing parasol monoplane with a duralumin hull, it carried a crew of four and up to 26 passengers; its prototype first flew from Étang de Berre on 30 September 1937. Only six production aircraft were completed, and the war interrupted their intended civil role: examples served with Vichy French forces and, after capture, the Luftwaffe, while the surviving aircraft briefly returned to Air France service on the Marseille–Algiers route after 1945 before retirement in 1946.
The new renderings detail a “third possible option” representing F-AREN, which was captured by the Luftwaffe and used as a transport aircraft under registration 24+63. It was later deployed by KG200 in Norway. The armament includes 4 x MG15 in side positions and a MG13 in nose turret. As an additional option there will be 2 passenger salon interior versions – either with 11 x two stored stretchers or with 26 × seats for soldiers.
Click below to check out additional renders.
Continue reading New Renders Detail Rare Birds Models’ Upcoming LeO H.246 Flying Boat
1960 Cessna 172A For Sale: “Current, Ready to Fly”
A “Current, Ready to Fly” 1960 Cessna 172A has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
[L]OW TIME – SOLID MOTOR – LOGS from Day One! Airframe: 3,364.86 total time. Serial 47318. That’s about 51 hours a year across 66 years — low time for a 172A. Engine: Continental O-300-C, 1,421.86 SMOH against 1,800 TBO. Compressions at the last annual were 79, 74, 76, 79, 79, 78. Oil filter cut open and inspected, nothing in it. Sump and carb screens pulled and cleaned. Annual signed off 4 Sept 2025 by Myers Aviation, A&P/IA — airframe, engine and prop. Good until 30 Sept 2026. Avionics: Icom IC-A200 com, King KT-76A transponder with Ameri-King AK-350 encoder (Mode C), Flightcom 403MC intercom, ACK E-01 ELT with fresh batteries. Mods: Brackett induction filter (STC SA71GL), Great Lakes Aero windshield (STC SA211GL). AD 11-10-09 seat tracks complied. Full AD list in the records. Straight talk on what you’re buying: — No nav radio. Com and Mode C only — Needs ADSB Out added — Prop time since overhaul isn’t established in the records.
The aircraft is located in Blair, Nebraska and is currently available for US $65,000 although bids are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
Please Note: This post contains an eBay affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Update: Airscale’s Upcoming 1/32 Dornier Do 17Z
Airscale has provided a new update on their upcoming Dornier Do 17Z in 1/32 scale.
…the decals arrived from Cartograph…..I tried the internal ones and they are just what I envisioned and top, top quality. Also the box art is finalised and the last mould is being completed next week for all the injection moulded parts, so I should have the test shots in 2 weeks – then it is test integration time with the 3D details, followed by 3D production. I hope to open pre-orders in the next couple of months and to have kits at Telford SMW
As previously reported, the Do 17 was a German twin‑engine light bomber, nicknamed the “Flying Pencil” for its slim, streamlined fuselage, which was originally designed in the early 1930s as a fast mail and passenger aircraft before being adapted into a military bomber for the Luftwaffe. It served extensively in the early years of World War II, taking part in campaigns over Poland, the Low Countries, France, the Battle of Britain, and the invasion of the Soviet Union, where it proved fast and maneuverable but gradually became obsolete due to limited bomb load and range.
Click below to check out a series of newly released images.
Continue reading Update: Airscale’s Upcoming 1/32 Dornier Do 17Z
Alon A-2 Aircoupe For Sale: “Meticulously Restored, Grand Champion-Caliber”
A 1965/2020 Alon A-2 Aircoupe has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
A meticulously restored, Grand Champion-caliber Aircoupe finished to an exceptional cosmetic and mechanical standard. Factory-original Continental C90 professionally performance-overhauled by Ly-Con in July 2025. Engine time since overhaul: less than 10 hours. Propeller: less than 10 hours since factory new. Dynamometer tested at 115 HP @ 2,590 RPM. Airframe total time: 2,265 hours. All flight control systems bearings replaced. Fuel tanks disassembled, sealed and rebuilt with the addition of electric fuel sensor. Upgraded starter (BC) and (Plane Power) alternator. All applicable ADs complied with. No known damage history. Complete logbooks since new, accompanied by extensive restoration documentation.
The aircraft is located in Lakeport, California and is currently available for US $77,000. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
Please Note: This post contains an eBay affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
MiniArt to Release “Highly Detailed” P-47M Thunderbolt Advanced Kit
MiniArt has announced the upcoming release of a P-47M Thunderbolt Advanced Kit in 1/48 scale.
The P-47M varint was a late-war, high-speed Thunderbolt built for fast interception, using an uprated Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine and featuring the dorsal fin on the rear fuselage to improve directional stability with the bubble canopy. It was the quickest production P-47, but engine teething troubles limited its combat use, and it saw service only briefly with the 56th Fighter Group in Europe.
The upcoming kit (48042) is described as “highly detailed” with realistic representations of the metal surfaces, rivets and panel lines. Three decal options will also be included. The company previously released a Basic version with two marking options (Buy on eBay)
As of this writing, the new advanced kit is said to be “coming soon.” Click below to check out a series of newly released renderings.
Continue reading MiniArt to Release “Highly Detailed” P-47M Thunderbolt Advanced Kit
Please Note: This post contains an eBay affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
1974 Beech Baron B-55 For Sale: “Fresh Annual Just Completed”
A 1974 Beechcraft Baron B-55 has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
6,000 TT airframe hours, Continental IO-470-L engines (1,991/1,455 SMOH), and 3-blade Hartzell props (179/237 SPOH). Garmin GNX375 WAAS GPS/ADS-B in and out Transponder, Avidyne EX600 MFD, Century IV autopilot, HSI, fuel totalizer, and Insight Strikefinder. Features alcohol prop/windshield de-ice, heated pitot, engine heaters, and Rosen sun visors. Useful load 1,605 lbs. No known damage history. August 2025 annual at Beechcraft Service Center. Interior/exterior rated 6/10. Logbooks missing prior to 2013… FRESH AUGUST, 2026 ANNUAL JUST COMPLETED
The aircraft is located in Bardstown, KY and is currently available for bidding. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
Please Note: This post contains an eBay affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Scanning the Skies: Radar Research and Development Flying 1935-1977
Coming soon from Crecy Publishing and author Dennis Williams is Scanning the Skies: Radar Research and Development Flying 1935-1977
This book offers a detailed overview of a complex yet fascinating aspect of British aviation history, about which comparatively little has been published. The early development of radar in Britain culminated in the successful introduction of ground-based radar, which played a crucial role during the Battle of Britain. This was followed by the considerable challenges of designing airborne systems that had to be compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient. The widespread use of radar and other electronic systems (including countermeasures) made a significant contribution to the major operations of RAF Coastal Command in the North Atlantic and Bomber Command over Europe; these aspects are covered in detail. During the Cold War, development priorities included navigation and guidance systems for the V-bombers and guided missile projects. Equally important as the scientific advances were the aircraft on which these technologies were tested. A large part of the book is devoted to the aircraft types used in British radar research and development over five decades, from the modifications required for this specialized task and the airfields used to operate them to the operational procedures. The development of aircraft, on the one hand, and the radar and other electronic systems tested on them, on the other, combine to form a coherent history of aviation in the service of scientific research. The account essentially follows a chronological sequence and illustrates how the rapid development of airframes and engines, as well as the advances in electronics and later in computer technology, went hand in hand throughout the entire period under consideration.
The hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for October 31.
Please Note: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Eduard Releases Royal Hybrid P-51B Kit With PE, Resin, 8 Liveries and Book
Eduard has released a new P-51B “Royal Hybrid” Mustang model kit in 1/32 scale.
The P-51B was the Merlin-powered, long-range version of the North American Mustang that transformed the aircraft into one of WWII’s best escort fighters. Entering combat in late 1943, it could protect bombers deep into Germany thanks to its excellent range and high-altitude performance, and it typically carried four .50-caliber machine guns in the wings.
The new release (932011) features Eduard plastic parts, PE parts, painting masks and resin parts (cockpit, undercarriage bays, wheels, guns, exhausts). Eduard decals are also included with marking options for eight aircraft of the of 8th and 9th Air Forces. An added extra is a pictorial book about service of the P-51B/C Mustangs written by Jan Zdiarský.
Please Note: This post contains an eBay affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
1950 Beechcraft Bonanza BE35 For Sale: “Airworthy, Ready to Fly”
A 1950 Beechcraft Bonanza BE35 has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
Airworthy & ready to fly. A well-maintained early V-tail Bonanza that presents very well and is currently hangared. Powered by a Continental E-225-8 with approximately 110 hours since major overhaul, it combines classic Bonanza character with practical modern upgrades, including ADS-B Out, an STC’d electric auxiliary fuel pump, a spin-on oil filter, dual control yokes, a large rear-window conversion, LED anti-collision/strobe light and a 20-gallon auxiliary fuel tank. A strong choice for the buyer seeking a sharp, straightforward early Bonanza with a low-time engine, useful improvements, and an honest basic-VFR panel.
The aircraft is located in Keystone Heights, Florida and is currently available for US $67,900. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
Please Note: This post contains an eBay affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
