Author Topic: Real alternate RAAF aircraft (as model fodder)  (Read 4362 times)

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Real alternate RAAF aircraft (as model fodder)
« on: November 12, 2015, 09:04:47 AM »
Hi all,
From a few years back, here's a thread talking about aircraft considered by the Royal Australian Air Force at various times: http://www.adf-messageboard.com.au/invboard/index.php?showtopic=1856

Some personal highlights (and potential subjects) for me are:
"Wanted 60-90 B-17Es in 1942, but not obtainable"
"Danced with ideas of P-47Ds in 1943"
"More later,...including F-104, F-100, Dracon etc etc to Viggen and Tornado to F-15A to mid 70's"
Unfortunately the poster never delivered on that last one, but there's still some interesting stuff there to consider.
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Real alternate RAAF aircraft (as model fodder)
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2015, 10:53:32 AM »
I always wanted to do a whif version of Stewart Wilson's "In Australian Service" books, mine would be "Hurricane (P.1121), Arrow, and Eagle" in Australian service.  I think they definitely would have been interested on the P.1121 if it had gone farther and, really, replacing its Gyron with the Arrow's Iroquois would have made a much better aircraft.  In addition to its interceptor role, the Arrow would've easily been suitable for reconnaissance (looking at adapting a RF-111 conversion to an Arrow kit) and Avro Canada was looking at other roles (the strike version proposed to the RAF, for example).  The Eagle (TSR.2) speaks for itself.

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Real alternate RAAF aircraft (as model fodder)
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2015, 02:57:01 AM »
I always wanted to do a whif version of Stewart Wilson's "In Australian Service" books, mine would be "Hurricane (P.1121), Arrow, and Eagle" in Australian service. 

Cool idea
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Real alternate RAAF aircraft (as model fodder)
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2015, 05:38:45 AM »
That would be brilliant. Sign me up for a copy?
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Real alternate RAAF aircraft (as model fodder)
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2015, 04:28:20 AM »
Some fuel - all based upon real/proposed contenders for various competitions over the decades:

For Mirage III Replacement (won by F/A-18A/B):

The list at one time included:
  • SAAB Viggen
  • McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
  • Northup P.530 Cobra
  • Kockheed CL-200 Lancer
  • Grumman F-14 Tomcat
  • Dassault Mirage F1, and
  • Panavia Tornado.
This was apparently the list during the early - mid '70s.

Later on the YF-17 was also looked at as well as the Sepecat Jaguar, A-10, Mirage 2000 were all mentioned.

The eventual list considered during the late '70s was:
  • McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
  • Northop F-18L
  • McDonnel Douglas F-18A
  • Dassault Mirage 2000, and
  • Panavia Tornado.

Others:

A-400M - was looked at (EADS even tried to interest Australia in a co-production role) under AIR8000.  Eventually lost out since the C-17 was available now!

AIR-87 - contenders included:
  • Tenix/Agusta A129 Scorpion - a derivative of the A129INT
  • Bell ARH-1Z
  • Boeing AH-64D
  • Rooivalk
I also believe that at various times some of the Kamov/Mil products were offered as was the AH-60L and a variant of the Super Seasprite.

F-35 alternatives - under the guise of AIR6000, just about every modern combat aircraft was a potential option, though the F-35 join in killed off the comp.  Possible contenders included:
  • Eurofighter Typhoon
  • Dassault Rafale
  • SAAB Gripen
  • Boeing F-15 (in updated form)
  • Lockheed F-16 (in updated form)
  • Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (surprise, surprise)
  • Sukhoi Flanker developments

AEW&C Aircraft:  E-2s and E-3s were both looked at numerous times from the late '70s onwards, as was a AEW&C variant of the P-3 and the C-130.  The final contenders for what eventually became Wedgetail also included a C-130 derivative and an A-300 (or 310) fitted with the Israeli Phalcon system.

Another often overlooked RAAF competition was for a Caribou replacement (under AIR5190).  Possible contenders included:
  • CASA C-295
  • CASA CN-235
  • IPTN CN-235 (Indonesian variant of above)
  • Lockheed C-27J (the apparent winner before the project was shelved - note, not cancelled)
  • Antonov AN-32 (yes this was proposed)
  • Re-engined Caribou with Turbo-props and possible fuselage extension.
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Real alternate RAAF aircraft (as model fodder)
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2015, 04:38:22 AM »
    Some fuel - all based upon real/proposed contenders for various competitions over the decades:

    For Mirage III Replacement (won by F/A-18A/B):
    • Dassault Mirage 2000

    Another often overlooked RAAF competition was for a Caribou replacement (under AIR5190).  Possible contenders included:
    • Re-engined Caribou with Turbo-props and possible fuselage extension.
    Both ideas I'd like to build. Imagine a TurBou, SAAF TurboDak-style. I don't like grey but that would look mean.
    Zac in NZ
    #avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
    https://linktr.ee/zacyates

    Offline GTX_Admin

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    Re: Real alternate RAAF aircraft (as model fodder)
    « Reply #6 on: November 19, 2015, 04:48:49 AM »
    One doesn't need to imagine:




    All hail the God of Frustration!!!

    You can't outrun Death forever.
    But you can make the Bastard work for it.

    Offline KiwiZac

    • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
    Re: Real alternate RAAF aircraft (as model fodder)
    « Reply #7 on: November 19, 2015, 05:02:47 AM »
    And I see High Planes makes a Bou in 1/144 - would that be a better basis than the Amodel kit? The Amodel's certainly cheaper.
    « Last Edit: November 19, 2015, 06:08:57 AM by KiwiZac »
    Zac in NZ
    #avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
    https://linktr.ee/zacyates