F-82I Ayit

[dwomby]

We all thought the first modified/reverse-engineered aircraft in the Israeli Air Force's inventory was the Mirage/Nesher/Kfir but not so.   In the 1950s, Israel created the F-82I Ayit.



After the Korean War, Israel acquired 15 surplus USAF F-82G nightfighters. The F-82s served Israel well through the Fifties but accidental damage to one two days after delivery in 1953 prompted an interesting experiment.  Israel had been trying to buy a high altitude reconnaissance aircraft with little success but an engineering analysis suggested the damaged aircraft could be used to create a prototype of their own.   

The Israeli engineers used the undamaged port fuselage and wing from the crashed F-82G and a spare starboard wing but added a section to increase the wing span.   The result looked similar to the P-51H but was much larger.  To get the required performance, they managed to acquire and fit a RR Griffon engine in an extended nose.  A vertical and an oblique camera were fitted in the rear fuselage.

Early flight tests of the prototype showed poor pitch characteristics, so enlarged tailplanes were added to improve control.   The F-82I Ayit was born and 2 more were built by dismantling another of the F-82Gs. By the mid 1950s, it was clear that Israel would be moving quickly into an all-jet combat force and no further examples were built but the 3 F-82I Ayits provided high altitude photo-reconnaissance until 1960.  This one is the second built just after delivery in 1955.









I think I prefer it without the drop tanks so they are just a press-fit at the moment.





and just to compare to a normal P-51D (the original Airfix mould!!!)



It's a Monogram/Revell F-82 with resin Merlin engine attached 2 scale feet further forward than it should be and a Griffon Spitfire prop from the old Hawk F22 kit.  The wing root extensions were made by halving the center wing of the G-82 and the tailplanes were done the same way with the single F-82 tailplane.

I hope you like it as much I enjoyed building it.

David

[NARSES2]

That looks really good. Nice one 

[Dizzyfugu]

Sleek, I like that!
Looks like the USAF's alternative to the A-1!?
With that size, a turboprop engine from a C-130 would have been an option, too?

[Old Wombat]

Neat concept & build!

[PR19_Kit]

Outstanding! 


You're talking my kind of language here. 

.........but added a section to increase the wing span.   

[JayBee]

With that size, a turboprop engine from a C-130 would have been an option, too?

Ah, that would be the Ayit II. 

[Captain Canada]

What a neat looking machine ! Looks pretty 'normal' from the side but the top view it's completely different ! Thanks for the comparison pic she's huge !

[kitnut617]

Yeah! now I like that, clever use of the F-82 center wing section    Been thinking about something similar, but extending the wing tips and using a Firefly engine cowling. It would involve shortening the rear fuselage a bit though.

[Rick Lowe]

That works well - the F-82 gets a bit of Bv-155 inspiration... 

[sandiego89]

Great idea and execution!  Drop tanks look fine to me! 

[DogfighterZen]

Looks very good, love the camo!

[kerick]

Well done!!

[zenrat]

That'll keep people guessing.

Good job.

[darthspud2]

 

[darthspud2]

 
great job there, very nice build