Wonwings Diary-a blog with a difference. - Page 79

**wonwinglo** · 14-10-2006

The Small Air Force

The RE8 World War One aircraft-A real classic fondly remembered

Who Was Harry Tate?
Real name Ronald Hutchison, Harry Tate was an established music hall performer over five decades.
His catchphrases passed into the language with the best known,
"Goodbye-ee", inspiring one of the war's most popular songs. And the expressions "How's your father?"
and "....I don't think!" have faint echos even eightyfive years later. Aged 69 and still touring the music halls Harry Tate was killed by a German bomb in 1940.

Contrary to the widely held view that the RFC was tardy in replacing the much maligned BE-2 proposals to do so were in place as early as the autumn of 1915, a bare two months after Max Immelman's first victory with the Fokker EI. The proposals retained all the qualities then thought desirable in an observation machine and gave full consideration to the provision of the effective defensive armament so manifestly lacking in the BE-2.
The replacement which emerged in the summer of 1916 was the Royal Aircraft Factory RE-8. So often said to offer little improvement the RE-8 was, despite undeniable faults, superior in every respect to it's predecessor. Respectable by 1916 standards overall performance was broadly comparable to contemporary German "C" types and the 103mph top speed the equal of some opposing scouts. But the operational necessity of flying a lazy eight at a constant altitude above a fixed point in hostile airspace, and all whilst facing an enemy capable to the last of enforcing local air superiority almost at will, renders any such comparison meaningless. Dubbed "Harry Tate" by it's intimates the RE-8 became Britain's most widely used two seater still equipping fifteen RAF squadrons at the armistice. Conceived even before the full height of the Fokker scourge it may be said that it laboured too long. But for that no blame can attach to an aeroplane perhaps undeserving of it's poor reputation.

Now on its 5th rebuild here is my original Airfix RE8,she has long since lost the famous 'Paddy Bird From Ceylon' decals supplied with this early kit,to small hands the struts could present a real challenge to get just right with very little if any locating marks or indents.
First released in 1957 the RE8 was one of the very earliest Airfix kits and one third of a trio depicting aircraft displayed at the Imperial War Museum South Lambeth. Along with it's companions, the Sopwith Camel and Bristol F2Bl Fighter, the RE8 has been a staple of the Airfix catalogue ever since. Reissued many times with different packaging and alternative decals the plastic remains unchanged and was for a long time even the same colour. Crude by today's standards a real jewel can be made from this venerable kit .

**Bunkerbarge** · 15-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunkerbarge

I remember making an Airfix Heinkel. I can't remember the specific mark but it was a twin engines job and had two flying bombs under the wings. The camoflage was mottled along the fuselage and this was when I was still in early teens so all I had was my brush and paint.

I remember sitting in my grandma's front room with the sun beating in while she dozed in her rocking chair half watching the cricket while I stippled the olive green patches. It took me over an hour each side but I was so chuffed with the result I couldn't stop smiling at it.

Memories such as that moment are what makes us and Barry's photo's generate such powerfull reminders of them in all of us.

Wonderfull stuff!

I have since found out that it was a Heinkel 177 (There's one on Fleabay!)

Nigel.D · 15-10-2006

Richad there is a brand new 1/48 HE177 out now it looks superb

**Bunkerbarge** · 15-10-2006

That must be huge. Who makes it?

Nigel.D · 15-10-2006

A company called MPM I have seen one and its really rally good

**wonwinglo** · 15-10-2006

The Small Air Force

The Northrop F-89 Scorpion
The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was designed as an all weather interceptor and first flew in 1948. It served as part of the North American Air Defense Command. The F-89 was radar equipped and able to locate and intercept enemy aircraft in all weather conditions. Unique wingtip tanks on the F-89D carried folding-fin aerial rockets in the front portion and fuel in the rear portion. The tanks on the F-89J carry only fuel.

The F-89 was the first fighter interceptor equipped to carry air to air nuclear missiles. These missiles, designated MB-1 Genies, were first test fired on July 19, 1957. A total of 1,050 F-89's were built, of which 350 were modified to this role and were designated F-89J's.

The aircraft on display at Castle Air Museum started life as an F-89D which served with the Alaskan Air Command. In 1957, it was modified to a "J" version and served with the Air Defense Command. In 1960, it was transferred to the Air National Guard, serving in Wisconsin and finally Iowa. On its wings, you will see two Genie air to air nuclear missiles that were carried by the "J" version Scorpion. The F-89 was retired from active Air Force service in 1959 and from Air National Guard service in 1969.

The sleek lines of the Scorpion are captured her in this re-enaction

Built from a 1960's kit I believe it was Lindbergh ?

Note the Air Force 'Buzz Number' common in the sixties on all U.S.A.F aircraft,Buzz referring to intercom.

One of the most heavily armed fighter aircraft, the F-89 was the backbone of the North American Air Defense Command for more than 17 years.
The F-89 was the first multi-seat, all-weather jet interceptor. It was the first aircraft designed to carry an all-rocket armament and the first to carry the Hughes Falcon air-to-air guided missile.
Northrop was awarded a contract May 3, 1946, to build two prototypes designated XP-89. The XP-89 rolled out of its California plant in the summer of 1948.
After a number of taxiing and brake tests were performed, the XP-89 was moved to the high desert north of Los Angeles known as Muroc Dry Lake (later Edwards Air Force Base). It was at this time it was re-designated as F-89, classifying it as a fighter.
The air and ground crews at Muroc remarked that it looked like a scorpion ready to strike. The name stuck and was later officially recognized by the Air Force.
The F-89 made its maiden flight Aug. 16, 1948, with the first production model being accepted Sept. 28, 1950. At the time of its production, the F-89 had an advanced radar system enabling the crew to track and engage hostile bombers in any weather.
The F-89 helped the Air Defense Command to protect our skies during the period when Soviet intercontinental bombers first became a threat. The Scorpion never fired a shot in anger, but it was a major deterrent against attack during the Cold War in the 1950s. The aircraft on display is a F-89H, but for the purist the wing tanks are incorrect and are from a F-89J.
This F-89H was delivered to the Air Force April 6, 1956, and flew its entire service life with the 3320th Technical Training Wing, Amarillo AFB, Texas, until its retirement in August 1959.

**wonwinglo** · 16-10-2006

The Small Air Force

The Curtiss Shrike
The Curtiss Shrike was developed in 1930, due to the desire of the United States Army Air Force for a new attack aircraft. The A-8 version consisted of 13 aircraft in which three different engines were tested, none of which was adequate to ensure high performance. A later version, the A12, using a more powerful radial engine, performed better. The Shrike was something of a hybrid, incorporating new developments such as automatic leading edge slats, trailing edge flaps, metal skin for most surfaces, a three blade propeller and an internal bomb bay, while at the same time retaining flying wires, fixed landing gear, and an open cockpit and crew area . Of the 13 A-8 versions built, 11 saw active service in the mid 1930's, and then later were relegated to second echelon duty. Although never utilized in a combat role with the USAAF, 10 A-12 aircraft were shipped to China in 1936, and reassembled at Hangchow. The Chinese were so impressed with the possibilities of the aircraft that they ordered 10 more. All of these 20 aircraft were designated for the attack mission, and saw action when the Japanese attacked China in 1937. Few if any survived the opening year of the war.

Rareplanes early Vac-Form of the Curtiss Shrike airplane

**wonwinglo** · 17-10-2006

The Small Air Force

The Fieseler FI.156 Storch
Officially, the Fi-156 Fieseler Storch began in 1935 as Gerhard Fieseler's answer to an air ministry specification for a general purpose airplane that could take off and land in an extremely short distance. Fieseler's chief designer, Reinhold Mewes, decided for ease of maintenance that the airplane should be completely conventional in its construction, and so utilized a steel tubing and fabric fuselage with wooden wings. The engine was the then-common Argus As 10C inverted V-8 aircooled 240-hp model. Aerodynamically Mewes decided to go to the other extreme and use the most advanced techniques available to produce the ultimate in slow speed performance. Accordingly, the big 46-foot wing a had full-length fixed slats (projected movable slats never materialized), Fowler-type flaps that increased wing area by 18 percent, and ailerons that drooped with the flaps when they were extended past 20 degrees.
To keep up with the tremendous demand for the Storch, production was boosted by retooling the Morane-Saulnier plant in occupied France for the Storch. The Morane-built airplanes were modified and the wings were redesigned to use aluminum. After the war, the airplane was so popular for towing gliders that Morane produced a post-war model with a radial engine and strengthened fuselage.
The Fieseler Fi156 Storch was a remarkable STOL plane first flown in 1936 and extensively used by German forces in World War II. It was used for reconnaissance, liaison, communication, ambulance and as VIP transport for high ranking officers.
The Storch was equiped with full length fixed wing slats and large flaps. In addition to the flaps the ailerons could be droped, too, to maximize lift. This made the Storch a true slow flyer. The full-flaps minimum speed was 51 km/h (32 mph) only while maximum speed was limited to 175 km/h (109 mph). The normal range at a cruising speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) was about 385 km (240 miles).
For hard landings there was a spindly but strong undercarriage. With a take-off distance of 65 m (213 ft) and a landing distance of only 20 m (61 ft) the Stoch could land and take-off nearly everywhere.
The Storch was widely used even after WWII but finally became obsolete with the development of helicopters.
A total of more than 2.500 aircrafts of all variants has been produced.
Because of the large number and production in different factories in Germany, France, Czechoclovakia and Romania there were some different versions of the Storch.

The STOL capabilities of the Storch know no equal,any road is a runway,and any clearing an airfield.

The long spindly undercarriage oleo struts absorb all of the shock.

Only three lengths of the aircraft are needed to land a Storch,in a wind component once the tail is high she is flying and away in a few feet.

Model is the Airfix Fieseler Storch,they take some looking after being very frail and easily get damaged,if you build one then make a special box to put her in safely.

**Bunkerbarge** · 17-10-2006

I made that Scorpion model many years ago. It was a bit off the beaten track of my normal Airfix stuff as I think it was a Christmas present from some Aunt or Uncle.

It was a bit different to the camoflage stuff I was used to and I quite enjoyed it. I can't remember the manufacturer but I am certain it was American so you may be right with Lindberg.

**wonwinglo** · 19-10-2006

Bad weather has grounded the Small Air Force,so here are a few ground shots,see how many that you can identify ?

Miniature air force.

Aerial view-left to right are top row,Mig 29,F-101 Voodoo,Supermarine Scimitar,Hawker Siddeley Harrier,Shackleton MR.3,Rear row-left to right,Flying Bedstead,Short SC.1 Prototype conventional take off version,Boulton Paul BP.III,Short SC.1 Vertical lift prototype,Comet C.2,with Rutan Voyager behind.