Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

[SPINNERS]

Tupolev Tu-360 - Soviet Air Force

SOVIETTu-36004 by Spinners1961, on Flickr
SOVIETTu-36001 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SOVIETTu-36002 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SOVIETTu-36003 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The Combat Ace archives are stuffed full of oddball items and this is one. It's a bit 'beta' but does look good from certain angles. For this, I knocked up a very basic template and went for a standard Soviet scheme although if this MONSTER (it's truly massive) had gone into service it would have been well after the break up of the Soviet Union. Those with good memories will recall that I've done an RAF V-Bomber version in anti-flash white and pale national markings.

[SPINNERS]

Chengdu J-7FM 'Fishtail' - People's Liberation Army Air Force, 2004

PLAAFJ-7FMFISHTAIL01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PLAAFJ-7FMFISHTAIL02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PLAAFJ-7FMFISHTAIL03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This fictional 3D model is by German modder 'Gepard' who has cleverly given the MiG-21 a ventral intake. I've shown this before but this time I'm showing a new PLAAF splinter skin by me (but don't look too close as there are no panel lines).

[SPINNERS]

BAe/SAAB AF2000 Lodjur (Lynx) - F21, Flygvapnet, 1985

FLYGVAPNETAF2000BARRACUDA01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETAF2000BARRACUDA02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETAF2000BARRACUDA03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETAF2000BARRACUDA04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

My fellow South Walian 'russouk2004' created the all-British AF2000 Barracuda a completely fictional design out of his own head and, in game, it really does fly well and is certainly no 'wobbling goblin'! I've shown it as an Anglo-Swedish collaboration (known as the Wildcat in RAF service) and given it a standard Flygvapnet scheme.

[SPINNERS]

BAe/SAAB AF2000 Wildcat FRS.1 - 899 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, 1982

RNAF2000BARRACUDA01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF2000BARRACUDA02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF2000BARRACUDA03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF2000BARRACUDA04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

To avoid confusion with the Westland Lynx helicopter the RAF and Royal Navy thoughtfully adopted the name Wildcat for their version of the AF2000. You'll have to overlook a conflict between the paint scheme and the likely in service date of the 'Wildcat' but, there again, it is a 'what if' and you won't find this one on Wiki! The lovely sharkmouth is included on russouk2004's template and I couldn't resist giving it an airing on this 899NAS Wildcat.

[SPINNERS]

Panavia Firefly GR.4 - 767 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, 2003

After a difficult start, with some founding members of the consortium bailing out and the ever constant threat of cancellation in the high inflation 1970's, Panavia's Tornado programme had matured to produce an outstanding aircraft but by the mid-1980's the Panavia consortium could see the end of the production line looming and began to openly discuss a follow-on programme. Politically, they were steered away from anything that might interfere or compete with the recently launched Eurofighter project and with whispers that both the US and the Soviet Union were studying low-observable technologies the Panavia board decided to seek funding for a small tactical attack aircraft with stealth technology based on the 'in house' MBB (Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm) Lampyridae design for a medium range missile-armed interceptor.

Scaled around a non-afterburning version of the General Electric F101 (licence built by the Turbo-Union consortium) rated at 18,000lbs dry thrust the development of the Firefly initially proceeded quickly helped by data from MBB's previously secret scale models and wind tunnel testing but the fall of the Berlin Wall in late 1989 led to a sharp reduction in funding and with almost no possibility of a production order from Germany due to the expected costs of reunification. The programme was effectively reduced to a 'technology demonstrator' status with BAe Warton being selected for the manufacture of a single prototype with the UK government independently issuing BAe with a paid study contract to explore the possibility of equipping the aircraft for carrier operations in a seperate UK only programme confusingly known as Firefly NSF (Naval Strike Fighter).

However, the success of the F-117 Nighthawk in the Gulf War of 1991 led to the programme securing full development funding and an initial production order for 200 Lampyridae for Germany, Italy and the UK was authorised in June 1991 with an additional UK order for 40 Firefly NSF's. The first flight of Firefly P.01 took place from Warton on April 29th, 1993 almost a full year before the first flight of the Eurofighter prototype and this was almost immediately followed by an export order for 80 Firefly aircraft for Saudi Arabia (as an amendment to 'Al Yamamah II') leading to much heated debate in the UK on the export of stealth technology and a later scandal regarding alleged bribes to Saudi officials. The first production aircraft was the Firefly GR.1 for the RAF and the first examples entered service in 1997 with No.41 squadron. The first Firefly NSF's entered service with 767 Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy in 2001 as the Firefly GR.4 only remaining in service until 2010 when they were sold to India.

RNFIREFLYGR401 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNFIREFLYGR402 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNFIREFLYGR403 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNFIREFLYGR404 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNFIREFLYGR405 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

russouk2204's MBB Lampyridae as an 'in service' Firefly.

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas Eagle F.1 - No.5 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1985

RAFEAGLEF101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFEAGLEF102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A bit stuck for time tonight so just a couple of RAF Eagle shots.

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas Eagle F.1 - No.11 Squadron RAF Strike Command, 1984

RAFEAGLEF104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFEAGLEF105 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFEAGLEF106 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

If I do a No.5 Squadron machine then, by law, I have to follow it up with a No.11 Squadron machine.

[SPINNERS]

Grumman F-111B Dominator - VF-161 'Chargers' USN, 1976

USNF-111B01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USNF-111B02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USNF-111B03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USNF-111B04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The F-111B (given the name 'Dominator') was re-released today and comes complete with VF-84 and VF-161 skins. Some Royal Navy screenshots of the original F-111B release are on Page 6 (about halfway down).

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas Eagle F.1 - No.5 Sqd and No.229 OCU, RAF Strike Command, 1983

RAFEAGLEF107 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFEAGLEF108 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFEAGLEF109 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFEAGLEF110 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've copied the stylised '5' with Maple Leaf seen on No.5 squadrons Lightnings and given the Eagle OCU the Tornado F3 treatment.

[SPINNERS]

Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey - British Army, Syria 2018

ARMYOSPREY01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ARMYOSPREY02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ARMYOSPREY03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A request this one! I'd have liked to have made it look more like a British Army helicopter but, for the moment, I'm having to make do with the grey skin that it comes with (a good one). I really don't know what the British Osprey's in service designation would be!

[SPINNERS]

PZL-230F 'Skorpion' - Parani Air Force, 2006

Started in the mid-1980's the PZL-230 'Skorpion Projekt' was an ambitious attempt to provide the Polish Air Force with an affordable modern attack aircraft but in 1990 the Polish Air Force cranked in further requirements for speed, range and payload leading to a heavier and ultimately more expensive aircraft. By 1991 Poland was enduring a difficult transition from a communist to a capitalist economy and the project appeared to be heading for cancellation but the management team at PZL Okęcie were convinced that a sizeable market existed for the 'Skorpion Projekt' and actively sought a partner to develop their design eventually approaching several aerospace companies in Europe, the US and former USSR but to no avail. However, in January 1992 representatives from the state-owned Parani Aviation Company (PAC - who had developed the indigenous Piranha jet fighter in the late 1950's) contacted PZL to propose a collaboration to develop and produce the Skorpion for their respective air forces and for export.

At an early stage it was agreed to have two assembly lines with PZL to be responsible for all Polish orders and subsequent European exports and PAC to be responsible for all Parani orders and all exports outside of Europe. It is understood that Paran agreed to accept a higher split on development costs because of the wider export market open to them. With heavy financial backing from oil-rich Paran the design and development moved quickly and the prototype Skorpion took to the skies in October 1995 and was soon joined by the first of a pre-production batch of 8 Skorpions eventually forming a bi-service development squadron based in Paran and taking advantage of the clear skies over the Parani desert.

Paran claimed priority for deliveries and formed the first Skorpion squadron in 1998 with Poland deferring deliveries for their own air force until 2001 due to financial pressures but by this time the Skorpion had become a modest export success with PZL securing exports to many of the former Soviet Union client states but with PAC only exporting a few Skorpions to Syria.

PARANPZL-230FSKORPION01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARANPZL-230FSKORPION02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARANPZL-230FSKORPION03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I'm not too sure about the looks of this real world but unbuilt project but it's certainly one of the best air-to-ground aircraft in Planet Strike Fighters!

[SPINNERS]

PZL-230F 'Skorpion' - Moldovan Air Force, 2009

MOLDOVAPZL-230FSKORPION02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

MOLDOVAPZL-230FSKORPION03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

MOLDOVAPZL-230FSKORPION04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

MOLDOVAPZL-230FSKORPION05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

MOLDOVAPZL-230FSKORPION06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A nice, easy to use, template exists for the Skorpion so I decided to do one of the export customers for the Polish produced PZL-230F. This Moldovan 'Lizard Splinter' scheme uses a version of the Moldovan roundel without the white circle (for obvious reasons) and I've gone for a modified flag for the fin flash as I don't like to see roundels or stars repeated on fins.

[SPINNERS]

PZL-230F 'Skorpion' - Ukrainian Air Force, 2010

UKRAINEPZL-230FSKORPION01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

UKRAINEPZL-230FSKORPION02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

UKRAINEPZL-230FSKORPION03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

Grumman F-29A Polecat - 4th TFS, 388th TFW, USAF, 2004

USAFF-29APOLECAT01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFF-29APOLECAT02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFF-29APOLECAT03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Not much input from me on this as it comes with this USAF skin and decals but I'll put it into service with another nation over the next day or so. The very talented 'Dels' is the creator of the 'Polecat' (a slightly suspect name for a Grumman product) and he also has the F-23 to his credit.

[SPINNERS]

Grumman F-29C Polecat - 124th Fighter Squadron, 132nd Fighter Wing, Iowa ANG, 2006

USAFF-29APOLECAT04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFF-29APOLECAT05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFF-29APOLECAT06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFF-29APOLECAT07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr