Coming soon from Pen & Sword and author Salvador Mafé Huertas is Grumman F-14 Tomcat: A Navy Jet in Service, a study of the aircraft that defined US naval air power through decades of combat, versatility, and enduring cultural iconography.
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was a cornerstone of US Navy air power from the 1970s through to its retirement in 2006. Designed as a twin-engine, two-seat, supersonic interceptor, the F-14 was engineered to dominate the skies, primarily to counter Soviet aircraft during the Cold War.
The Tomcat’s sleek, angular design and distinctive variable-sweep wings gave it a menacing yet elegant silhouette, embodying both agility and raw power. Capable of adjusting its wing angle mid-flight – sweeping back for high-speed dashes or forward for enhanced manoeuvrability – the Tomcat adapted seamlessly to diverse combat scenarios, achieving speeds exceeding Mach 2.3 and a range of approximately 1,600 nautical miles.
As would be expected with an aircraft that remained in service for a number of decades, the F-14 had an impressive operational career. The type saw combat during the end of the Vietnam War, and was involved in the Lebanon Crisis in the early 1980s, Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War, the Balkans Conflicts of the 1990s, flew strike missions during Operation Desert Fox (1998) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). and even flew over Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in the early 2000s. It was in these conflicts that the Tomcat proved its mettle in reconnaissance, air superiority, and later, precision strike roles with the addition of the LANTIRN targeting system.
Beyond its technical prowess, the F-14 gained cultural fame through its starring role in the 1986 movie blockbuster Top Gun, and its subsequent sequel, cementing its image as a symbol of American military might and pilot bravado.
Though retired by the US Navy in favour of the F/A-18 Hornet, the F-14 remains operational in limited numbers with Iran’s air force – a fact which is given due attention in this study. The Tomcat’s legacy endures as a marvel of engineering and a cultural touchstone of aviation history all of which is revealed in this visual feast.
The page book is currently available for pre-order with release set for November 30.
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MikroMir has released a new tool model kit of the DFW T.28 Floh in 1/32 scale.
The Floh was a tiny German biplane fighter prototype from 1915, designed by Hermann Dorner and built by Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke as a fast interceptor. Despite its compact, unusual shape, it could reach about 180 km/h with a 100 hp Mercedes engine. Its poor forward visibility and tricky landing behavior made it difficult to fly, and after prototype testing it never entered service and was eventually abandoned.
The new release (32-007) includes plastic and photo-etched parts as well as decals for the prototype machine, which was the only example ever constructed. Click below to check out box contents and the product page.
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A 1967 Piper Cherokee 180 has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
This 1967 Piper Cherokee 180 is a well-maintained, low-time aircraft offering dependable performance and excellent value for private pilots, flight training, or cross-country travel. Features & Highlights: 2,300 total airframe hours, 300 hours since factory remanufactured engine, 2,000-hour engine TBO, Current annual inspections, Excellent overall condition, Registration: N4964L
The aircraft is located in Santee, California with offers currently being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing.
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Coming soon from Key Publishing and author Roger Staker is Piston, Passengers and Payload, which follows the development of British piston-engine passenger and commercial transport aircraft between the end of the Great War and the early 1950s, when piston engines were superseded by jets and turboprops.
This period saw rapid change at a technological level, in response to an emerging market for transport of all types. It also witnessed the birth, failures and mergers of numerous air transport companies.
Flying was not without risks, Alongside the acknowledged successes that helped to make the world a smaller place, there were tragedies, Lessons learned from these contributed to the safer travel environment that we enjoy today. The pace of commercial aircraft development was given added urgency by World War Two, with many civilian aircraft pressed into military service: not all survived.
Featuring many previously unseen photos, this book is the story of a previously closed chapter in British aviation and offers detailed accounts of 17 manufacturers whose advanced designs paved the way.
The page book is currently available for pre-order with release set for September 30.
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Modelsvit has provided an update on the development of their new tool Martin AM-1 Mauler model kit in 1/48 scale.
The Mauler was a bulky, single-seat, carrier-based attack aircraft developed by the Glenn L. Martin Company for the U.S. Navy during World War II, intended to haul very heavy ordnance loads from fleet carriers but entering service only in 1948 due to development delays and technical troubles, and serving in small numbers until the early 1950s before being eclipsed by the more successful Douglas AD Skyraider.
The latest update features test shots of the latest sprue production. Check them out below.
A Piper PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
Great flying PA-22-160. TTAF 3070 TSMO 239, times may change, Annual 10/25, Basic panel, MX170B Nav/COM, Skybeacon ADSB out, lightweight battery, oil filter, Brackett air filter, Air Tech alternator, Niagra Oil cooler, Steve’s Gascolator, Dakota cub fuel selector, sealed struts, Ceconite recover in 1981, fabric is still good, exterior paint is 6/10, interior is 8/10.
The aircraft is located in Minden, Louisiana and is currently available for US $45,000 although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
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A&A Models has announced the upcoming release of a new tool 1/48 Republic XP-72 model kit in two boxings.
The XP-72 was a prototype fighter-interceptor developed from the P-47 Thunderbolt, built around the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major engine to deliver far higher speed and climb performance than its predecessor. First flown in February 1944, it reached roughly 490 mph in testing, carried heavy machine-gun or cannon armament, but never entered production because jet fighters and the end of World War II overtook the project.
The new release will be offered in four-bladed prop (4816) and contra-rotating propeller (4817). Additional details and build photos have yet to be released. Click below to check out an additional image.
A Wag Aero Sportsman project has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):
4 Seat Aircraft. Wag Aero Sportsman 2 + 2 SN. 2538. STOL Just like a Piper cub design. Like Alaskan Bush Plane. Lycoming 0-360 180 hp – No logs – No Propeller. Engine mount Aero fabricator’s part # M-525-100 SN.40 FAA-PMA. Lots of parts – wing tanks – extra ribs – windshield (cracked). No wing struts and hardware.
The aircraft is located in Townville, South Carolina and is currently available for bidding. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.
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The latest build log on our YouTube channel DX Modelworks focuses on this 1/20 scale Albatros D.Va.
The model was built using Dudley / Golden Age Reproductions plans and represents an OAW variant wearing the colors of the machine flown by Karl Kallmunzer of Jasta 78b. The new video concisely details the project with photo documentation and tips that will likely be helpful to anyone who would like to build the model themselves. A link to the plans is also provided in the video description.
Click below to check it out. If you’re pleased with what you see, please consider browsing the channel’s other build logs covering aircraft from the dawn of flight through the golden age. Likes, shares and subscribes are also greatly appreciated!
New this month from Eduard is a 1/48 “Malcolm Hood” P-51B model kit in 1/48 scale.
The new “Weekend Edition” kit (84214) represents aircraft with the “Malcolm Hood” – a modified canopy fitted to some early P-51B/C Mustangs to improve the pilot’s rearward visibility. It replaced the original framed “razorback” canopy with a bulged, frameless sliding hood, giving a much better view to the sides and back.
It includes Eduard plastic parts and decals with marking options for four aircraft.
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