Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

VPAFLa-1504 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This lovely little aircraft already comes with the green skin so I've just added VPAF markings. I like to add anything to my Vietnam install that gives me an enemy to fight in the pre-1964 era and, just like the MiG-15, it's a tough little opponent.

SPINNERS · August 28, 2009, 11:29:52 PM

Xian FBC-1 Flying Leopard (JH-7A 'Flounder')

With production well underway for both the People's Liberation Army Air Force and the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force the Xian company offered their robust FBC-1 design for export with the first export customer being the Vietnamese People's Air Force who are purchasing the JH-7V version to replace their Sukhoi Su-22's in the attack role with first deliveries being made to the Truong So airbase in 2006.

VPAFFBC-102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

VPAFFBC-101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Just like the VPAF 'Fantail' I was looking for something to populate my Vietnam install but in more recent times.

SPINNERS · August 29, 2009, 08:04:30 AM

Shiny Tornados!

RAFTornadoF3B01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTornadoF3B02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTornadoF3B03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTornadoF3B05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTornadoF3B04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTornadoF3B06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

What If^TM the brass hats decided to do away with camouflage, well at least for the home-based squadrons, and the RAF fly silver Tornados with colourful 'Lightning' type markings and three-colour roundels?

SPINNERS · August 29, 2009, 11:53:36 AM

Red Arrows Tornados

Smiles on chaps... GO!

RAFTornadoF3B07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTornadoF3B08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTornadoF3B09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTornadoF3B10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTornadoF3B11 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SPINNERS · August 30, 2009, 04:27:59 AM

Pakistan Air Force JH-7A's

PAFJH-7AFlounder01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PAFJH-7AFlounder02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PAFJH-7AFlounder03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Specially for you Greg!

SPINNERS · August 30, 2009, 02:40:15 PM

McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom - 106 Squadron, Israeli Air Force, 1971

Despite the stunning successes of the 1967 Six-Day war the Israeli government soon became increasingly anxious at the almost immediate build-up of Soviet supplied equipment to it's Arab neighbours.

In late 1968 the French arms embargo (that had already partially started before the six-day war) became total following the raid on Beirut Airport by Israeli Commandos that saw the destruction of thirteen Lebanese airliners (all partially owned by Air France). However, Israel had already turned to the USA for defence equipment and the US State Department had approved the sale of F-4E Phantoms under the 1968 'Peace Echo' deal and these were soon on their way to an eager Heyl Ha'Avir.

However, the constant losses sustained during the War of Attrition (and the dangerous attacks against SAM sites on the west bank of the Suez canal) left the Heyl Ha'Avir short of aircraft and whilst more new-build Phantoms were due to arrive a quicker solution was required. Unannounced at the time, and not officially admitted to until 1996, the US State Department approved the immediate temporary transfer of 18 F-4C Phantoms from USAF stocks and these were transferred to the newly reformed No.106 'Edge of the Spear' squadron in November 1970. No.106 squadron operated these aircraft until November 1973 when they were replaced by ex-USAF F-4E's as part of Operation Nickel Grass.

IDFF-4C01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-4C02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-4C03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-4C04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Historical Note - The real 106 squadron was officially formed on June 12, 1948 as a C-46 Commando transport squadron and, after running over 100 flights as part of Operation Balek to supply Israel from a base in Czechoslovakia, they were disbanded in June 1949 before reforming in June 1982 with F-15C's and F-15D's.

SPINNERS · September 03, 2009, 02:25:02 PM

General Dynamics Falcon FG.1A - No.56 and No.74 Squadrons, RAF Strike Command, 1981

Due to delays in the Tornado ADV programme the Falcon FG.1A was a quick conversion of the FG.1 with modified radar and Skyflash capability.

RAFFalconFG109 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFFalconFG108 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFFalconFG106 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SPINNERS · September 12, 2009, 09:02:01 AM

LTV Corsair GR.1's - 899NAS Royal Navy

In 1962, and with commendable foresight, the Royal Navy began to plan the air wing component of the forthcoming 'Elizabeth' class aircraft carriers of 60,000 tons displacement as soon as the order to construct four such carriers was given. With the Buccaneer S.2 fulfilling the strike/attack mission the CAP/Intercept mission looked like a two-horse race between McDonnell's superb Phantom and Hawker Siddeley's Buccaneer 'F' - essentially a grossly modified but very rakish version of the Buccaneer with afterburning Speys and a Westinghouse AN/AWG-10K radar similar to that proposed for the F-4J.

However, with the end of F-8E Crusader production on the horizon, Vought (later LTV) quickly proposed the F-8S - essentially a Spey enginned F-8E with multi-mission capability. With initial deliveries promised for 1966 the Royal Navy realised that the Crusader could initially replace the Sea Vixens and Scimitars aboard HMS Ark Royal and HMS Eagle before being transferred to the new carriers from 1969 onwards and, despite Lord Mountbatten's protestations, the F-8S Crusader was ordered for the Royal Navy in January 1963.

But the cancellation of the TSR.2 in April 1964 led to a drastic change in policy. With the Canberras of RAF Germany becoming increasingly obsolete, Buccaneer S.2 production was immediately diverted to the RAF and the Royal Navy were instructed to evaluate the US Navy's VAL programme (designed to produce a successor to the A-4 Skyhawk) and establish if the winner of that competition (the Vought A-7A Corsair II) could meet their requirements. By this time, Vought were becoming more familiar with the Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan and proposed a non-afterburning Spey-enginned version to the Royal Navy (and to the USN and USAF) and this was accepted. Entering service in 1970 the Corsair GR.1 was a tough and popular aircraft seeing service in several theatres before finally being retired in 1998.

RAFCorsairGR101-1 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFCorsairGR102-1 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFCorsairGR103-1 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFCorsairGR104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFCorsairGR105 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The A-7F has made me keen to look at the earlier Corsairs and I've chosen the stock A-7E to be the basis for a 'Senior Service' Corsair. Doing a template for this one just looks too hard and too time-consuming so this is the stock USN skin with some appropriate Royal Navy markings.

SPINNERS · September 13, 2009, 11:09:48 AM

LTV Corsair GR.4's - No.16 Squadron, RAF Middle East Command, 1991

Following the order for Corsair II's for the Royal Navy (in early 1963) the RAF were 'encouraged' to consider the Corsair II for their long-standing requirement for a Hunter replacement and to also replace the Super Sabres of RAF Middle East Command. In 1966 an initial order was placed with Vought (later LTV) for 100 Corsair GR.3's, 14 Corsair T.2 trainers and 36 Corsair GR.4's - the latter being essentially a more sophisticated two-seat strike aircraft for RAF Middle East Command.

The tumultuous 1967 UK Labour government decision to provide direct support to American forces in Vietnam led to increased orders for the Corsair and the GR.4 order was increased to 116, eventually allowing the complete replacement of four Super Sabre squadrons in Middle East Command and the deployment of a new three-squadron wing to South Vietnam. During the early 1970's more GR.4's were ordered for RAF Germany and the type had a long and successful service career culminating in their participation in Operation Telic in 2003.

RAFCorsairGR401 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFCorsairGR402 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFCorsairGR403 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFCorsairGR404 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SPINNERS · September 13, 2009, 12:25:33 PM

LTV Corsair GR.4's - No.17 Squadron RAF South East Asia Command (SEAC)

RAFCorsairGR405 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFCorsairGR406 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFCorsairGR407 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFCorsairGR408 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is the superb A-7K by 'The Mirage Factory' freely available as an add-on aircraft and it comes with a 'blank' SEA skin making it a perfect canvas for some RAF SEAC what ifs!

SPINNERS · September 16, 2009, 01:06:26 PM

Cessa A-37B Dragonfly - No.16 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, 1970

RAAFA-37B01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFA-37B02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFA-37B03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFA-37B04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFA-37B05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I can't think why I haven't downloaded this little gem before. Thankfully, the grey/green skin was also available so it was simply a case of adding some RAAF decals including a fictitious No.16 squadron 'Killer Koala' patch! I simply found a suitable image of a Koala and converted the branch he was clinging to into a rocket! Oh, and I added a new green tinted canopy.

SPINNERS · September 17, 2009, 01:16:50 PM

Cessna A-37B Dragonfly - Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1972

RNZAFA-37B01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFA-37B02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFA-37B03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFA-37B04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I like the idea of this in RNZAF service and had some No.14 and No.75 decals ready to go. Edit (2021): What was I thinking about with those Falcons?!!