Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell F-101C Voodoo - No.433 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, 1960

RCAFVoodooF-101C01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFVoodooF-101C02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFVoodooF-101C02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFVoodooF-101C04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

Convair F-106A Delta Dart - Royal Canadian Air Force, 1963

RCAFF-106ADeltaDart01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFF-106ADeltaDart02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFF-106ADeltaDart03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFF-106ADeltaDart04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The F-106A is a superb add-on aircraft for the game/sim although it's a slightly tricky beast to fly. The wasp waist of the F-106A doesn't like decals!

[SPINNERS]

North American F-86K Sabre Dog - No.414 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, 1961

RCAFF-86KSabreDog01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFF-86KSabreDog02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFF-86KSabreDog03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFF-86KSabreDog04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

Republic F-105D Thunderchief - No.423 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, 1966

Breaking ranks with the other NATO countries (excepting the USA of course) Canada opted for the F-105 Thunderchief over the F-104 Starfighter. Thunderchiefs served with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Europe with No.423 squadron being the first to re-equip followed by No.433 squadron. Both squadrons were based at Grostenquin in France until 1967 when they moved to Zweibrücken before returning to Canada in 1970.

RCAFF-105DThunderchief01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFF-105DThunderchief02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFF-105DThunderchief04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAFF-105DThunderchief03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

Republic F-105D Thunderchief - No.76 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, 1968

RAAFF-105DThunderchief03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFF-105DThunderchief04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFF-105DThuinderchief01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFF-105DThunderchief02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The game/sim has Aussie roundels but they are a bit too dark for me so I've made some new ones and a matching fin flash and set them at 90% opacity which just makes them look a bit more painted on. I've used older serials (using A99 - a one-off Jet Provost in reality) indicating that Australia purchased the F-105 quite early on, perhaps having a few B's and C's before progressing to the early model D shown here. The fin badge for No.76 squadron is totally spurious althought there is a Black Panther on the real squadron badge.

[SPINNERS]

The Gloster Glory Prototype Jet Fighter - 1948

RAFGloryF101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFGloryF102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFGloryF103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFGloryF104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Inspired by Tornado's "Gloster Fagot" profiles, especially the prototype ones, I've used the La-15 'Fantail' to be a stunt double for the Gloster Glory jet fighter.

[SPINNERS]

Gloster Glory - 44th Aggressor Fighter Squadron, United States Air Force, 1951

USAFGloryF101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFGloryF102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFGloryF103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFGloryF104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

Lockheed F-104G Starfighter - No.14 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1970

RNZAFF-104G01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFF-104G04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFF-104G03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFF-104G02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The New Zealand 'All Blacks' came to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff yesterday and it was a tale of two halves with Wales edging the first half but with New Zealand giving us a bit of a lesson in the second half. Anyway, I'm using these Autumn internationals to give me a theme and the Kiwi roundels will get a well deserved airing. I think I've got the orientation of the Kiwis right but let me know if I haven't.

[SPINNERS]

Hawker Hunter F.Mk.54 - No.75 squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1965

RNZAFHunterFGA901 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFHunterFGA902 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFHunterFGA903 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFHunterFGA904 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The Hunter is a real favourite of mine in this game/sim as it flies real nice, just a bit underpowered, and the stock RAF camo skin is a beaut! BTW I can't believe the Hunter didn't serve in the RNZAF!?

[SPINNERS]

Vought A-7B Corsair - No.14 & No.75 Squadrons, Royal New Zealand air Force, 1970

As part of the joint ANZUKUS force committed to Vietnam the RNZAF deployed two squadrons of Vought A-7B Corsairs to the conflict in 1970. These refurbished ex-US Navy machines served until well into the 1990's before being replaced by ex-USAF F-16C's.

RNZAFA-7BCorsair01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFA-7BCorsair02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFA-7BCorsair03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFA-7BCorsair04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

One of my favourite skins this. It's a Portugese Camo done by 'Mike1' and it's perfect for SEAC operations.

[SPINNERS]

Dassault Aviation Mirage IIIO - No.14 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1971

When Australia purchased the Mirage IIIO Dassault wasted no time in offering New Zealand the same aircraft as a Hunter replacement.

RNZAFMirageIIIO01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFMirageIIIO02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFMirageIIIO03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAFMirageIIIO04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

SEPECAT Jaguar GR.51 - No.79 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, 1979

RAAFJaguar02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFJaguar04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFJaguar01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFJaguar03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've been using the Welsh Autumn Rugby internationals as inspiration and it was Australia's turn to visit the Millennium stadium in Cardiff yesterday. Wales narrowly won by 21-18 but taking a Southern Hemisphere scalp is always a cause for celebration! Anyway, today will see a few more Australian 'what-ifs' and next up will be Aussie Hunters.

[SPINNERS]

Hawker Hunter F.Mk.54 - No.79 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, 1962

Prior to the Jaguar No.79 squadron operated the Hawker Hunter and deployed to Ubon in Thailand as a response to a threat to Thailand from across the Laotian border during the 1962 Laos emergency. During their deployment to Ubon No.79 squadron's Hunters adopted colourful red and gold fuselage markings.

RAAFHunter01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFHunter02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFHunter03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFHunter04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

De Havilland Sprite F.1 - No.222 Squadron, RAF Fighter Command, 1956

By late 1952 it was obvious that the Supermarine Swift was in deep trouble and the RAF were anxious not to rely solely on the Hawker Hunter which, itself, was experiencing some difficult teething troubles. Whilst the earlier Sabre purchase was greeted with much enthusiasm by the ailing RAF the UK Government were keen to reduce the already crippling debt to the US Government and sought another 'off the shelf' stop-gap to supplement the Sabres and Hunters.

The Dassault Mystere IV was briefly considered but France would only accept payment in US dollars so in 1953 the UK Government signed a deal with the Swedish Government for the supply of 200 Saab J29 Tunnans to be licence-built by de Havilland who had been an integral part of the J29 programme since October 1945 when the first de Havilland Goblin turbojet was delivered and de Havilland continued to assist by helping Saab with the later Ghost turbojet plus the pressurised cockpit, bubble canopy, gun installation and fuel system.

The timing allowed the RAF to benefit from two improvements in the already mature J29 programme - an afterburner plus the improved 'dogtooth' wing of the J29E. Svenska Flygmotor had already realised that the Ghost turbojet was already outclassed as a modern fighter engine and that the only way to improve it was by adding a lightweight afterburner and, with assistance from the Royal Swedish Air Board, the RM2B engine was quickly developed to give an impressive 6,200lbs of thrust from an engine lighter than the Sabre's J47. Saab had already flown the improved 'dogtooth' wing on the J29E and this wing also benefited from an extended and drooped outboard section plus the deletion of slats.

Broadly comparable to the J29F, the de Havilland Sprite F.1 entered service with No.222 squadron in February 1955 and equipped home defence and Auxillary squadrons before being retired in 1960. The improved FGA.2 version was produced as a Venom replacement for overseas use and had a much longer service life with examples still in service in RAF Middle-East Command and RAF South-East Asia Command well into the mid-1960's.

RAFSpriteF103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSpriteF101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSpriteF102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSpriteF104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

Saab J29F - 44th Aggressor Fighter Squadron, United States Air Force, 1965

With increasing USAF involvement in Vietnam the 44th AFS (Aggressor Fighter Squadron) was reactivated during 1964 and re-equipped with ex-Swedish Air Force Saab J29F's to simulate the MiG-17.


Carrying Falcon training rounds this 44th AFS J29F climbs away from Ash Fork AFB.