Category: Modern Era (1945-Present)

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Coming Soon: An Illustrated History of American Airpower in the Vietnam War

Coming soon from Pen & Sword is U.S. Aviation and Naval Warfare in the Vietnam War, author David Doyle’s illustrated history highlighting the men and aircraft that comprised American airpower during the Vietnam War.

During the Vietnam war, the US Air Force, Navy, Marines and the Army flew a variety of fixed wing aircraft against innumerable targets in Vietnam, occasionally engaging North Vietnamese Migs, but more often facing the threat of Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) or antiaircraft fire. In over 5 million missions during the war, US forces lost over 2,000 aircraft. This photo essay looks at the men and aircraft that comprised American airpower during the war. Among the aircraft shown are the A-1 Skyraider, A-7 Corsair, B-52, C-130, C-141, F-105, F-4 Phantom, and OV-1 Mohawk. The US Navy controlled the waters off Vietnam, employing not only aircraft carriers to support the air war, but also surface vessels ranging from the battleship USS New Jersey down to destroyers, which supported ground forces with heavy naval gunfire.

The 272 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for May 31.

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1946 Ercoupe 415-C Project For Sale: “Complete Airframe”

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

A 1946 Ercoupe 415-C complete airframe project has been spotted for sale.

The airframe (about 3,321 hours total time) has a polished fuselage and tail, silver polyfiber wings, red accents, updated panel and interior, modern breakers, two-place intercom, rudder pedals installed, and complete logs back to the original 1946 airworthiness signoff. It is being sold without engine, prop, avionics, or EFIS. The machine has hard-landing damage including wrinkling around the main gear attach points and a slightly twisted and pushed-forward nose gear with some bent engine-mount tubes. The firewall, cowling, wing panels, ailerons, doors, and windows are reported undamaged. It remains in annual until September 2026 and includes airworthiness certificate, bill of sale, paperwork, keys, airbox and exhaust for your engine (with a suggested upgrade to an O-200).

The project is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is currently available for US $4,995, although bids are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes many additional photos and details.

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Lockheed Constellation: Its Development, Service and Legacy in Detail

Set for release later this year is author Colin Higgs’ examination of the iconic Lockheed Constellation, which has become a symbol of the golden age of air travel worldwide.

Lockheed Constellation tells the story of the aircraft that was used by more than 100 airlines and air forces in thirty-eight countries; an airliner that came to epitomize the grand and romantic age of flight in the post-war years before the jet engine ruled. It tells of the wartime development which made the USAAF buy the first few aircraft off the production line; the post-war development which would see nine variants built; of the great airlines around the globe that would make the Constellation their first choice flagships; of the amazing technological advances made during development; and of the enduring legacy of this unique aircraft.

The 176 page paperback publication is currently available for pre-order with release scheduled for June 30.

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Discover the Vital Role and Stunning Exploits of the F8U Crusader

Newly released from Naval Institute Press and author Ernest M. Snowden is F8U Crusader: Naval History Special Edition, a richly illustrated volume exploring the F8U Crusader’s storied role in Cold War and Vietnam-era naval aviation, from setting speed records to earning its reputation as the “Last of the Gunfighters.”

From its first flight in 1955, the F8U Crusader proved to be an extraordinary aircraft, establishing a renowned fighter legacy for naval aviation. Building on its success with the F4U Corsair, aviator pioneer Chance Vought brought the Navy into the supersonic age with the Crusader, the first carrier-based fighter to exceed 1,000 mph in level flight. The Crusader earned the Navy its first Thompson Trophy for military aircraft speed and won the Collier Trophy for its innovative carrier suitability features. In 1957 future astronaut John Glenn set a new intercontinental speed record in an F8U-1P, flying from California to New York in just 3 hours and 23 minutes. At a time when guns were being replaced by missiles, Vought designers retained an integrated aircraft cannon, solidifying the Crusader’s reputation as the “Last of the Gunfighters” and earning the loyalty of its pilots.

The contribution of the Crusader to U.S. Cold War operations was substantial. The F8U-1P photoreconnaissance variant, the longest-serving Crusader model, debuted operationally during the Cuban Missile Crisis, providing irrefutable low-level imagery of Soviet activity. During the Vietnam War, Crusader pilots achieved an enviable 6-to-1 kill ratio, outperforming both Air Force and Navy F-4 Phantom pilots―a testament to the aircraft’s maneuverability and the dogfighting ethos of the Crusader’s pilot community.

The Crusader retired from U.S. Navy service in 1987, but its legacy endured as it continued to serve with the Philippine Air Force and the French Navy until 1999, forty-four years after its first flight. Author Ernest Snowden, a former naval aviator, provides an in-depth look at the design and operational history of this iconic aircraft, making this book a must-read for air combat history enthusiasts.

The publication spans 114 pages and is available in Mook format – a hybrid publication format blending elements of a magazine and a book.

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1947 Piper Super Cruiser For Sale: “Beautifully Restored, Ready to Fly”

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

A 1947 Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

This beautifully restored 1947 Piper PA-12 features just 5 hours since major overhaul and 3,422 total time since new. Finished in Daytona white with blue trim, it includes new fabric, paint, windshield, wiring, and panel. O-320 engine and prop are both freshly overhauled. Equipped with floats, federal skis, vortex generators, PA-18 mods, and more. A rare vintage taildragger that’s ready to fly.

The aircraft is located in Pitt Meadows, BC Canada and offers are currently being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos.

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Moving a Lockheed Constellation is Not a Simple Process [Video]

Fantasy of Flight founder Kermit Weeks has posted a new video documenting the move of his Lockheed Constellation in preparation for construction of a new hangar.

This particular aircraft (N974R) is a Lockheed L-1649 Starliner, the final Constellation variant. During its long service history it flew with Lufthansa and served as a freighter with Lockheed Air Service. It was acquired by Fantasy of Flight in 2011.

The new video is the first in a two part series and can be seen after the break along with Kermit’s overview of N974R’s journey to Fantasy of Flight. As you’ll see, the move is more complicated and interesting than you might expect.

Continue reading Moving a Lockheed Constellation is Not a Simple Process [Video]

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E-Flite to Release Beechcraft D18/RC-45J 1.5m RC Model

E-Flite will soon release a new Beechcraft D18/RC-45J 1.5m RC model in PNP and PNF Basic versions.

Described as “the most convenient, capable, and easiest to fly scale model of one of general and military aviation’s most recognizable aircraft,” the offering is equipped with a twin brushless power system with specially tuned motors to deliver better-than-scale-like performance when using 3S 3200-5000mAh batteries. Even more speed and unlimited vertical performance is reportedly provided with a 4S battery – no modifications or upgrades required.

It’s also equipped with an exclusive Spektrum Avian Dual 40-amp Smart Lite ESC, which can provide a variety of real-time power system telemetry data with both Smart and non-Smart batteries via compatible receivers (including the AR631+ installed in the BNF Basic version) and Spektrum AirWare-equipped transmitters. The BNF Basic version is also the only Twin Beech model equipped with enhanced AS3X+ and optional-use SAFE Select technologies, making it the easiest to fly D18/RC-45J yet. Factory-finished in a highly visible and fully painted white with orange Navy trim scheme, the lightweight yet durable, composite-reinforced EPO airframe features an abundance of scale detail — molded-in panel lines and hatches, antennas, exhaust stacks, a pilot figure, and more. Included functional flaps, twin rudders, and LED navigation lights elevate your experience to the next level. Factory-installed electric retracts with durable metal components making it possible to take off from a wide variety of surfaces, including paved runways, packed dirt, and even grass. The unique 3-piece wing design makes storage and transport as convenient as possible, as the center section houses the main gear, and all sections feature innovative hands-free connections. Best of all, because no glue is required for final assembly, you can have the Beechcraft D18/RC-45J 1.5m ready to fly in less time than it takes to charge a battery!

The model is currently slated for release later this month. Click below to check out a promo video for the upcoming release.

Continue reading E-Flite to Release Beechcraft D18/RC-45J 1.5m RC Model

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1989 Maule M-6 For Sale: “Well Upgraded, Meticulously Maintained”

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

A 1989 Maule M6 has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

This 1989 Maule M-6 is a well-upgraded and meticulously maintained aircraft powered by a Lycoming IO-540 235-horsepower engine with approximately 76 hours since overhaul. It features a McCauley three-blade propeller with matching hours since overhaul, and the entire firewall-forward section was overhauled and repainted at the Maule factory in 2024. The paint and fabric were updated approximately one month ago, and the interior was refreshed this year using new factory Maule vinyl. The avionics suite has been modernized with a Garmin GMA 345 audio panel, Garmin GTX 345 transponder, Garmin GNC 215 radio, dual UV-30 stacks, dual USB-C chargers, and a G4 engine monitor. Additional features include a new prop cable and throttle, a fully functional autopilot, 29-inch Alaskan Bushwheels with roughly 50 hours, ABI-199-62 wheel and brake kit, vortex generators, gap seal kit, and patrol doors. This aircraft is exceptionally well equipped for both utility and backcountry operations.

The aircraft is located in Los Angeles, CA and offers are currently being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos.

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1966 Cessna 206 Project For Sale: “Disassembled For Painting”

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

A 1966 Cessna 206 project has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

This 1966 Cessna 206 is a classic single engine airplane originally manufactured in the United States. This particular aircraft has been disassembled for painting. Included with the airplane are its original log books for airframe, propeller, and engine aswell as (AWC). Tachometer time: 5641 hrs; Time since major overhaul: 1655.5 hrs; Propeller time: < 200 hrs; Engine: IO-520A. Missing: Two middle seats, break lines from fuselage to break caliper, battery

The aircraft is located in Bothell, Washington and is currently available for bidding. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos.

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DMBK Making Rapid Progress on New Supermarine Scimitar F.1 Kit

DBMK Models states that it is making “rapid progress” on their new Supermarine Scimitar F.1 in 1/48 scale.

The Scimitar F.1 was a British single-seat, twin‑engine, carrier-based multi‑role strike fighter developed for the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm in the 1950s and representing the final combat aircraft produced by Supermarine. Entering service in 1958, it was at the time the Fleet Air Arm’s largest, heaviest and most powerful aircraft, powered by two Rolls‑Royce Avon turbojets that gave it high subsonic speed and strong low‑level performance. Designed for both interception and strike, it carried four 30 mm ADEN cannon and a wide range of stores including rockets, bombs, AGM‑12 Bullpup air‑to‑ground missiles and AIM‑9 Sidewinder air‑to‑air missiles. Although advanced and potent, the Scimitar’s demanding handling and high accident rate, combined with the arrival of more capable types such as the Blackburn Buccaneer and de Havilland Sea Vixen, led to its relatively short frontline career through the early to mid‑1960s.

The upcoming kit (48001) will reportedly include high pressure IM plastic parts, PE, and 3DP parts such as one piece intake tunnels and exhausts. A good range of markings will also be included in the box as well as weapons, including some that have never been featured before in kits. A 1/72 version of the kit is also being planned. As of this writing a final release date has not yet been announced.

Click below to check out additional renderings.

Continue reading DMBK Making Rapid Progress on New Supermarine Scimitar F.1 Kit