Coming soon from author Duncan Curtis is Famous American Aircraft: F-86 Sabre, a thorough history of America’s first swept-wing jet fighter.

This is a completely new monograph detailing the entire F-86 series from gestation and development, through the many variants that were produced, to its retirement from duty. Its operational career is also given detailed analysis. The book makes use of many primary-sources including documents held by the US Air Force Historical Records Agency, US National Archives, Boeing archives and the UK Public Record Office. Much of this data has only been available in the public domain in recent years and so was not accessible when previous books on the F-86 were compiled.

Lavishly illustrated throughout, there are around 500 colour and black and white photos in the book, many previously unpublished. The thoroughly researched text and extensive photographic coverage will make this a close to definitive work on this seminal aircraft. This book will appeal to all who are interested in Cold War aviation history and also to those engaged in modelling the aircraft of this era.

The 384 page hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release scheduled for February 19.

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MiniArt will soon release a new Thunderbolt Mk I Royal Air Force Basic Kit in 1/48 scale.

The offering (48033) represents P-47 aircraft in RAF service during WW2 and includes highly detailed plastic parts and marking options for two aircraft: “Desperate Dan” of 258 Squadron and “36” of 73 Operational Training Unit. The Basic Kit format offers a straightforward and enjoyable build while preserving accurate external features.

As of this writing, it appears a final release date has not yet been announced. Click below to check out additional images.

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A 2011 Air Tractor 802A has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

This 2011 Air Tractor 802A agricultural aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG engine with approximately 7,951 total time. It features 250-gallon fuel tanks, hydraulic wet/dry gate, Wingman system with auger, Satloc G4 guidance, spray and spreader equipment, air conditioning, and lighting systems. The aircraft is actively working and ready for continued agricultural operations.

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

The latest video build log from DX Modelworks focuses on Microaces’ new “Donner Wetter” (Thunderstorm) RC Sopwith Camel representing B7190 of 10 Squadron RNAS.

The new video concisely details the project from unboxing to maiden flight, and like the channel’s previous videos, its photo documentation and tips will likely be helpful to anyone who would like to build the model themselves.

Click below to check it out. If you’re pleased with what you see, please consider subscribing to the channel. Likes and shares are also greatly appreciated!

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Soon to get its U.S. release is the new book The Navigator’s Letter: The True Story of Two WWII Airmen, a Doomed Mission, and the Woman Who Bound Them Together from author Jan Cress Dondi. The book deals with the costliest US air raid of WW2, which occurred over Hitler’s oil fields at Ploesti, Romania on August 1, 1943. It brings to light one of the best untold and dangerous stories of the war, chronicling a moving and heroic story of patriotic duty, familial bonds, brotherhood, and love.

A true story, The Navigator’s Letter is a tale of uncanny coincidences: two friends from the same small Illinois town; both joined the Air Corps; both became navigators; both were assigned to B-24 Liberators; both flew missions over Europe; both of their planes were forced down over Ploesti; and both went missing-in-action.

Intertwined with events of WWII, the story follows the two B-24 navigators coursing through wartime, both with ties to the same woman. Their lives unfurl with the Air Force’s darkest day, Operation Tidal Wave. It was the first-ever zero-altitude air raid, which lead to Operation Reunion, the largest evacuation by air in history repatriating 1,162 POWs from Romania back to American air bases in Italy.

The 400 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release scheduled for February 10.

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DBMK has released the first test build photos for their de Havilland DH.103 Hornet F.1/3 & PR.2 model in 1/32 scale. The company states:

The blitz build is done. We did this to test the construction of the kit. Got to love the Hornet – looks imposing in 1/32 it has to be said. No filler has been used and minimal clean up. The kit is low pressure/limited run so some clean up is required due to the technology. The canopy is high pressure though this was an early test shot prior to finalisation and polishing. Some issue have been identified in the order of construction so it should be easier next time (an example is the ram air intake closure flaps that should be fitted before the wings are joined together). We are sure that you will enjoy building this as much as we have!

As of this writing it appears that a final release date has not yet been announced. Click below to check out additional images.

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A Teratorn Tierra 2 has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

Aircraft in very good condition. Never crashed. Never damaged. Stored in enclosed trailer. No damage or deterioration to fabric. No repairs to fabric. Overall aircraft in great flying condition. Aircraft is a teratorn tierra II. Two place aircraft. With an upgraded 503 air Cooled rotax. With gearbox.The motor and gearbox only has 12 to 15 hours on it. The overall aircraft has 350 hours of flight time. Again without any problems. Some minor upgrades. Such as electric fuel pump used for takeoff as a precaution only. Extra fuel tank hookup for longer flight time. Ballistic parachute. For blade changeable pitch prop and many other accessories to maintain aircraft. Enclosed trailer included.

The aircraft is located in Hemet, California and is currently available for US $5,500 although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos.

A 2005 Zenith CH 601 HDS airframe project has been spotted for sale.

According to the listing, the aircraft has just 396 total time since 2005 airworthiness certification. It was damaged in a windstorm that flipped it while tied down. Primary damage is limited to canopy glass/frame (factory replacements available), wrinkled wingtips/tailcone/vertical fin/rudder, minor fiberglass cowl scuffs, and seatback upholstery; crucially, the visibly undamaged center wing section/main landing gear, firewall/nosegear, engine mount (set for 120hp Jabiru), belly, and horizontal stab/elevators make it a roll-around repair project equivalent to a super quickbuild kit. Includes intact dash with airspeed/altimeter/engine instruments/switchgear (no avionics or engine), logbooks, FAA paperwork, full assembly manual with part numbers, receipts, and extras—located in Foley, AL storage with 30 days free rent.

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

Coming soon from Crecy Publishing Ltd and author Tony Buttler is American Secret Projects 5: Fighters and Interceptors 1950 to 1980. The new release is a revised and expanded edition of a book published some years ago which looks at American fighter projects that were proposed during the period.

This was an exciting era in terms of fighter development. It was during these years that the jet finally eclipsed the propeller, wings took on entirely new shapes, the ‘sound barrier’ was breached and maximum speeds were multiplied. It was an era in which aeronautical engineering became much more complex but before the computer would come to the designer’s assistance. This meant much more of a ‘try it and see’ attitude to new ideas. Therefore, when an air arm required a new fighter, several design teams could prepare proposals that could be very different from one another.

The topics discussed in detail in the book’s seven chapters include the quest for a long-range interceptor, vertical takeoff aircraft, naval developments and lightweight fighters. Appendices provide listings of all projects that were developed and their specifications. A new separate appendix looks at the Canadian Avro CF-105 Arrow which in many ways matched the work undertaken in the US on long-range interceptors and thus makes an interesting comparison.

The timeframe is fluid as some early projects included originated in the late 1940s. At the other end of the scale, although the design competitions which led to the F-16, YF-17 and F-18 are the final subjects covered in depth, a few projects that followed these fighters are included which again makes the 1980 closing date only approximate. No coverage is given to projects from that point onwards because much of the background is still secret and will probably remain so for a long time.

The 392 page hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with a February 19 release.

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