Category: Modern Era (1945-Present)

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World’s Only “Big Tail” SR-71 Undergoes Repaint

The Air Force Armament Museum located at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida is in the process of repainting their SR-71 Blackbird.

The aircraft, SR-71A S/N 61-7959, was completed in 1965 and, in 1975, was modified with a nine-foot boom on its aft end carrying Electronic Countermeasures and an Optical Bar Camera. The result earned the machine the moniker “Big Tail” and it would remain the only example of the type to be fitted with the modification, as tests revealed that the equipment provided no marked advantage. The aircraft performed its last flight in 1976, being placed in outdoor storage before being moved to its current home in 1991.

The repainting process is reportedly being carried out with brush and rollers and, as of this writing, prep work has been completed and primer application is in progress. When complete, the machine will reportedly retain its signature black finish.

Click below to check out photos of the progress.

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Mystery Photo Stokes Excitement About Possible New Avro Vulcan Model Kit

Trumpeter/Hobby Boss whet the appetites of Avro Vulcan fans earlier today with the above photo, which has stoked excitement that a new kit representing the iconic Cold War delta wing bomber may be on the horizon.

Unfortunately, no information was included, so scale, kit contents, pricing and availability details are unknown at the moment.

Here’s hoping some light is shed on the mystery in the near future.

(via Trumpeter & Hobby Boss)

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Nuclear Museum Launches Effort to Restore B-47 Stratojet [Video]

The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque is planning to restore New Mexico’s only Boeing B-47E Stratojet, which is currently part of their nine-acre outdoor exhibit area.

The machine (S/N 53-2280) was constructed by Boeing in 1955 and went on to serve mainly as a test bed for “fly-by-wire” technology. Following removal from the USAF inventory in 1969, it was transferred from the USAF Heritage Museum program, and in 2013 arrived at its current home at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.

One of only 23 examples of the type remaining, the museum’s B-47 has become part of “Operation Preservation,” a multi-year campaign to refurbish the collection’s iconic aircraft residing on outdoor display. The effort will reportedly begin this month under the supervision of Brigadier General (Ret.) Jay Bledsoe, Restoration Project Manager, and include bodywork and a new coat of primer and paint. Continue reading Nuclear Museum Launches Effort to Restore B-47 Stratojet [Video]

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B-52 “Midnight Express” Begins Journey to Seattle, Reassembly for New Memorial to Follow [Video]

Last week The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington received the first truckload of parts for their B-52G Stratofortress “Midnight Express” following an exterior restoration.

As previously reported, the bomber (S/N 59-2584) has been parked outdoors at the museum’s Paine Field facility in Everett for the past 26 years. A $2.2 million effort was launched to restore the machine for use as the centerpiece of a new Vietnam Air War Memorial Park, which will pay tribute to the aircraft of the Vietnam War and honor the service members who flew and supported them.

Now repainted, the aircraft has been partially disassembled and is now in the process of being moved to the memorial park site on west side of the Museum’s Aviation Pavilion. The museum reports that the “small parts” will be stored until final assembly takes place later this spring.

Click below to check out a video of the first parts following their arrival.

Continue reading B-52 “Midnight Express” Begins Journey to Seattle, Reassembly for New Memorial to Follow [Video]

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First Look: Test Build of Special Hobby’s New Tool Super Mystere SMB.2

Special Hobby has released the first test build images showing their upcoming new tool representation of the Super Mystere SMB.2 French cold war-era fighter bomber in 1/72 scale.

The process first detailed a successful test fit of the moldings and a partial build illustrating the internal components of the fuselage. This was followed by a test build of the full airframe, which depicts an Israeli-modified Sa’ar version incorporating “a US ex-Skyhawk engine with much more rearward protruding jet engine nozzle.”

Given the fact that these testshots are of the first batch, the outcome is not that bad and the model is now being used in the time consuming process of correction report writing for the purpose of debugging the steel moulding tools.

As of this writing, a final release date has not yet been announced, although the company states that “it could be possible for the first examples to reach the market later this year.”

Click below to check out additional images.

Continue reading First Look: Test Build of Special Hobby’s New Tool Super Mystere SMB.2

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Corsair Restoration Nearing Completion in France [Video]

The restoration of F4U-5N Corsair F-AZEG is reportedly nearing completion in France.

The aircraft (B/N 124724) was originally constructed in 1951 and delivered to the US Navy in September of that year. In 1952, the machine was assigned to VC-3 and went on to operate from USS Valley Forge and USS Boxer before returning to the US in 1953.

In 1956 the Corsair was delivered to Honduras and saw action in the “Soccer War” with El Salvador, operating with Fuerza Area Hondurena as FAH 600. After retirement from active service, the aircraft passed through the hands of a number of owners before being acquired by Jean Salis’ Les Casques de Cuir collection based in La Ferté-Alais, France in 1986.

Restoration began in 2008, and the aircraft is expected to return to the air sometime this year.

Click below to check out video of an engine test performed over the weekend.

Continue reading Corsair Restoration Nearing Completion in France [Video]

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World’s Oldest Original Flying Jet Heads to New Home in US, Oshkosh Demonstration Planned

The oldest original airworthy jet in the world has performed its final flight in the UK before moving on to a new owner in the US.

Glostor Meteor T7 “Queenie” (WA591/G-BWMF) was delivered to the RAF in 1949 and served as a training machine at a number of bases before becoming a gate guard at RAF Woodvale. In 1995 Meteor Flight began restoring the aircraft and it returned to the air at Kemble in 2011. In recent years it operated with Classic Air Force at Coventry, which closed down in 2016 following the retirement of its founder.

Last year, the Meteor was acquired by Detroit, Michigan-based World Heritage Air Museum (WHAM) and last week the machine performed its final flight in the UK, traveling from Coventry to Liverpool for shipment overseas.

WHAM states that they are on target to demonstrate the Meteor at Oshkosh this year. Additional details on this exciting development will reportedly be forthcoming.

Click below to check out a video of Queenie’s final UK flight.

Continue reading World’s Oldest Original Flying Jet Heads to New Home in US, Oshkosh Demonstration Planned

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MikroMir Releases Renderings of Upcoming New Tool Canberra T.Mk 17 Model

Model manufacturer MikroMir has released new renderings of a new tool Canberra T.Mk 17 model kit that is currently in development. The company is also in the process of developing a T.Mk 11, and both kits will reportedly be offered in 1/72 scale.

The English Electric Canberra was a jet-powered medium bomber that was introduced in the early 1950s and continued in service until 2006. The T.11 variant held a crew of four and served as a trainer for pilots and navigators of all-weather interceptors while the T.17 operated as an electronic warfare training variant.

Little has been reported about the upcoming kits, although the T.Mk 11 will reportedly be released “soon”.

Click below to check out additional images of the upcoming kits.

Continue reading MikroMir Releases Renderings of Upcoming New Tool Canberra T.Mk 17 Model

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Brickmania Releases Limited Edition X-15 LEGO Model Kit

The latest release from Brickmania is this 1/35 model kit of the famous X-15, an experimental hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft developed in the 1950s which flew to the edge of space and reached a speed of Mach 6.72, the fastest speed ever recorded in a manned, powered aircraft.

The new, limited edition kit reportedly consists of 467 genuine new-condition LEGO & BrickArms elements and includes deployable airbrakes, retractable landing gear, opening canopy, towing equipment, printed elements and a high-quality sticker sheet.

Click below to check out additional images.

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World’s Only Privately Owned F-4 Phantom Capable of Flight Offered For Sale

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 1959 McDonnell F4H-1F Phantom II touted as the world’s only privately owned F-4 capable of flight has hit the market.

The machine S/N 150310 (N815WF) was delivered to the Navy in 1959 as the 11th pre-production example of the type. In 1961 it demonstrated its capabilities by carrying 22 Mk83 500lb bombs which were dropped at a range at Fort Bragg, North Carolina – a feat that is said to have been the deciding factor in the USAF’s decision to order the aircraft. In 1961 it became one of three F-4’s to commemorate the 50th anniversary of U.S. Naval Aviation. It was retired in 1964 after 461 hrs of service.

150310 has been under restoration for the past decade by Aircraft Restoration Services, LLC located at the French Valley Airport in California and the process is said to be 80-85% complete. The airframe has reportedly undergone a complete IRAN per U.S. Navy standards and has also been completely rewired. Additional work has included overhauling components to 0 time condition, rebuilding the fuel system with new fuel cells, rebuilding all hydraulics with stainless steel lines, installing new wheels and brakes and overhauling all three hydraulic systems as well as two pneumatic systems.

The4 Phantom is being offered “as is” and “where is” for $3,950,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Photo: Wingtipvortex via Wikimedia Commons)