Spinners

McDonnell Douglas Phantom F-4M_89 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2 This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire Phantom FGR.2 (F-4M_75) to give a fictional 'Kiwi' Phantom with markings for No.2 squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force as they might have appeared during the 1990's. It goes without saying that you will need to have the F-4M_75 from SF2:Europe. BACKSTORY During the build up to Operation Corporate (the UK's military operation to retake the Falkland Islands) the UK Government were overwhelmed at the support given by the countries of the Commonwealth and, in particular, the response of the Australian and New Zealand Governments who provided ships to maintain the UK's NATO commitments and thus allow the Royal Navy to maximise the number of ships it could send to the South Atlantic. In the following years there were many reciprocal deals made and favours given to the Commonwealth nations (and even Chile!) and one such 'favour' was the transfer of 18 ex-RAF Phantom FGR.2's in 1988. The 18 FGR.2's, only recently withdrawn from RAF service, were ferried out to New Zealand (most still in their dirty grey camo scheme) during Operation Saddleback before arriving at Ohakea for refurbishment by a joint McDonnell Douglas/RNZAF team that saw the aircraft eventually emerge in a new 'Forest' style camo scheme and with digital INAS, upgraded RWR and new outer wing panels. Entering service with No.2 squadron in early 1989 (supposedly as the Karearea but they were always simply called Phantoms) the aircraft gave good service to the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the 1990's until finally being retired in December 2001 when, indeed, all 'Air Combat Force' aircraft were sadly withdrawn from service. INSTRUCTIONS 1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-4M_89 folder into your Aircraft folder. 2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-4M_89 folder into your Decals folder. 3. From the WEAPONS folder drag and drop the SUU-23G folder into your Weapons folder. That's it! CREDITS As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim. And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community. Regards Spinners Version 2 - February 18th, 2024.

Republic F-84J Thunderstreak for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2:EUROPE This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire F-84F to give a fictional F-84J Thunderstreak of the Finnish Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force) with markings for Fighter Squadron 11 and Fighter Squadron 31. BACKSTORY With Finland being ever anxious to maintain it's neutrality it was surprising that in June 1954 the Finnish government elected to purchase the Republic Thunderstreak F-84J. However, in typically Finnish fashion the purchase of 40 F-84J's was organised via the Swedish government and the aircraft chosen could hardly be called 'state of the art' being essentially a warmed-up F-84F Thunderstreak with the General Electric J73-GE5EX engine (non-afterburning and rated at 9,000lbs thrust) shoehorned in. No munitions were supplied and SAAB were chosen to prepare the aircraft for Ilmavoimat service with four British Hispano V 20mm cannon replacing the six 0.5 calibre machine guns of the standard F-84F and giving the F-84J a strong 'neutral' flavour throughout, even to the extent of carrying mainly British, Swedish or Soviet weapons. Entering service with HavLLv31 in 1956 the aircraft equipped two squadrons and at least gave the Ilmavoimat a taste of a 'modern' swept-wing fighter although the F-84J was certainly no F-86 Sabre and, presumably, that was the whole point! INSTRUCTIONS 1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-84J folder into your Aircraft folder. 2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-84J folder into your main Decals folder. That's it!! CREDITS As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim. Special thanks to ludo.m54 for the superb F-84F templates. And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community. Regards Spinners Version 3 - November 26th, 2023.