Recent Posts

1

Aero-space / Re: Random Floatplanes

« Last post by GTX_Admin on Today at 03:09:01 AM »

Any idea of the date of those photos? Obviously predates the Me-109 version by quite a bit. Could give the diehard Luft ‘46 crowd a fit.

The Blackburn TB?

The first Blackburn TB (1509) was completed in August 1915 and it was joined by another pair (1510) and a Clerget-powered aircraft (1517) for trials at RNAS Isle of Grain during 1916.  All were eventually broken up by mid 1917.  More details can be found here.

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Aero-space / Re: Douglas A-20 Havoc, DB7, Boston, BD1, and BD-2

« Last post by kitnut617 on Today at 03:07:36 AM »

Quite possibly - pity there doesn't appear to be a 1/48 XC-47C conversion available.

I suppose I could use a 1/48 Model Design Construction Junkers Ju 52-3m Floatplane Conversion to get something of appropriate size and look:

I think those would work very well Greg.  Some time ago I got this from somewhere, possibly the owner of Khee-Kha Art Products. It can be up or down scaled.

3

Ideas & Inspiration / Re: WHIF's found on internet

« Last post by GTX_Admin on Today at 03:05:17 AM »

More details here

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New Model Kit News/Reviews / Re: Kinetic Model Kits

« Last post by GTX_Admin on Today at 03:02:42 AM »

1/48 Nesher (single or double seat) - release in July 2020:

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Aero-space / Re: Bell 429

« Last post by GTX_Admin on Today at 03:00:33 AM »

Funny you should post that since I might be having discussions ...   

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Aero-space / Bell 429

« Last post by apophenia on Today at 02:58:56 AM »

AFAIK, there is no dedicated B429 thread and this doesn't really fit under the Bell 206, 407, TH-57, OH-58, TH-67, CH-139 Kiowa Family topic so ...

JDW: 28-May-2020

Babcock to offer Bell 429 for Australian SOF helo requirement

[caption] Seen in Australian Defence Force colours, the Bell 429 Global Ranger is being offered by Babcock for the country’s Land 2097 Phase 4 requirement for up to 16 air-transportable light helicopters for special forces work. (Babcock)

The bid, which is being launched in conjunction with the aircraft manufacturer, follows an assessment of the available options that might suit Australia’s Land 2097 Phase 4 requirement for up to 16 air-transportable light helicopters.

“As one of the world’s largest and most experienced helicopter operators, and the largest commercial operator in Australia, Babcock completed a comprehensive assessment of the platforms available in order to provide the most capable, low-risk solution,” the company said.

According to Babcock CEO Graeme Nayler the Bell 429 was selected primarily on its flexibility and its high levels of safety based on it being a comparatively new design. As noted by Bell, more than 330 Global Rangers have been sold globally to date, with in excess of 330,000 hours flown.

The announcement of the type selection came seven months after Babcock Australasia said that it would bid to support Australia’s special forces helicopter requirement, with a comprehensive services package announced by the company on 25 October 2019.

Australia’s Land 2097 Phase 4 requirement is to airlift up to four special operations helicopters aboard a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft for rapid forward deployment. The requirement came to light in Australia’s Defence Integrated Investment Program (DIIP), which was published in 2016. As noted in the DIIP, the new fleet of deployable light reconnaissance and attack helicopters to provide air mobility support for SOF missions is scheduled to be fielded beginning in about 2025. As previously reported by Janes , the helicopters will be able to be deployed rapidly from a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17 as a small force element of three to four aircraft and personnel.

Confirmed platform bidders comprise Airbus Helicopters with its H145M; Babcock with the Bell 429; Bell with its 407; Boeing with its AH-6i; Leonardo with its AW109; MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) with both the MD 530G and MD 902/969; and NorthStar Aviation with its 407 Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH).

Once in service, the selected airframe will augment the larger NHIndustries NH90 (MRH90 in national service), which is currently transitioning over to the SOF role in place of the Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk. The first two MRH90s were delivered to the special forces regiment on 1 February, at which time two Black Hawks were withdrawn. The process of replacing the 20 Black Hawks should be complete by the end of November 2021 when the platform will have been phased out of Australian Defence Force service.

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Aero-space / Re: Avro CF-100 Variants

« Last post by GTX_Admin on Today at 02:58:11 AM »

I think I prefer the look of the earlier Mk.2 ones:




A swept wing version would look good too but not in the style of the real world CF-103:




I wonder how one would go bashing the wings from a F-86 Sabre or even F-100 Super Sabre onto a CF-100?

8

Aero-space / Re: Random Floatplanes

« Last post by apophenia on Today at 02:56:09 AM »

You advance power on the lower engines first.  I could see advancing power on the upper engines digging the float tips into the water.

Yup. Shades of the Tarrant Tabor 

9

Aero-space / Re: Avro CF-100 Variants

« Last post by GTX_Admin on Today at 02:52:37 AM »

Well, let's see what I can find:

10

Aero-space / Re: Random Floatplanes

« Last post by kerick on Today at 02:47:47 AM »

Any idea of the date of those photos? Obviously predates the Me-109 version by quite a bit. Could give the diehard Luft ‘46 crowd a fit.