McDonnell AF-88/RF-88 Gris-Gris (no pix yet)

[Daryl J.]

Based on the Lindberg XF-88 Voodoo kit:

CIA operations from decades past are slowly being released to the public by the Freedom of Information Act.   One such tidbit that has caught my eye was the records of a special unit flying a non-produced aircraft for clandestine operations by the US Central Intelligence Agency.   McDonnell manufactured, in addition to the publicly known prototypes known as the XF-88 Voodoo, several complete airframes off the record for the CIA.   Some were converted to reconnaissance duties, other to attack duties and were fully Navalized and carrier qualified.     As the type was never officially developed, there was no known existance of these aircraft until now.  When aboard a carrier, the ship became known as the Dark Ark; when based on land the air base at the moment was the Kiva and the specific hangar was called the Sipapu.   Aircraft were continuously cloaked in secrecy and were only vaguely rumored to exist amongst a few maintenance crews which had not been allowed to repair the aircraft as few maintenance crews had a hand in keeping the planes flying.

To be kitted is the AF-88 Gris-Gris, likely to have served with the Petro unit of the CIA alongside the F7U-E Electric Knife.    Supersonic requirements and high levels of maneuverability were not high priorities for the machine as it was designed to intercept and destroy fishing trawlers and the occasional tanker.   What was impressive, however, was the array of antishipping missiles it could carry.    (More backstory to follow right here later....gotta go)


Wings are rescribed, but this will be a limited rescribe as this particular model has the most thorough 'riveted panel' detail I've ever seen and it is fascinating.  Sanding overall likely will destroy that so will likely keep significant parts of the raised details. 
Pix to come possibly this weekend as my digicam is back at the house.  Sorry for the    in that regard. 


,
Daryl J.

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