Spinners

Grumman F-109A Wildcat - VC-7, United States Navy, 'Red Star' Fighter Weapons School, 1966 During the first USN Carrier Deployments to the Gulf of Tonkin during 1963 and 1964, the USN top brass were appalled by the results of its F-4 and F-8 fighter aircraft during their initial engagements with the Vietnam Peoples Air Force. Whilst the F-8 was a competent enough dog-fighter the handful of F-8 kills were scored with the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile mainly due to the 20mm Colt cannons jamming during high-G manoeuvers. USN F-4's were far less agile than the F-8's and were also handicapped by the official 'Rules of Engagement' requiring visual identification of enemy aircraft before firing the beyond visual range radar-guided AIM-7E Sparrow missiles. Whilst an urgent study into rectifying the situation was launched a senior Royal Navy pilot, Lt Commander Dick Lord, whilst on secondment to the USN's VF-126 squadron at Naval Air Station Miramar, California introduced the USN to methods and tactics he had learned as a graduate of the Royal Navy's intense Air Warfare Instructors School in Lossiemouth, Scotland. First and foremost was structured air-to-air combat manoeuvring training using, wherever possible, dissimilar aircraft and with 'red' aircrew purposefully flying the mission in the style of the enemy. With limited funding, the United States Navy 'Red Star' Fighter Tactics Instructor Program was launched to teach ACM tactics and techniques to selected Naval Aviators and Naval flight officers who would, in theory, return to their operating units as surrogate instructors. 'Red Star' initially used USN A-4 Skyhawks and borrowed USAF T-38 Talons to simulate the flying characteristics of the MiG-17 and MiG-21 and in early 1966 received eight Hindustan Ajeet aircraft directly from Hindustan's Bangalore production line. Entering service as the F-109A Wildcat, the Ajeet's were supported and maintained in USN service by the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. In service, the Wildcat's were flown by instructors pilots whose objective was to develop, refine and teach ACM tactics and techniques using the concept of dissimilar air combat training with the Wildcat pilot's replicating the performance of the Russian-built transonic MiG-17 'Fresco'. The eight F-109A's operated as part of VC-7 based at Naval Air Station Miramar from 1966 to 1980 and it's five surviving Wildcat's were scrapped when the squadron was disbanded on September 30th,1980.

Folland Gnat FGA.55 - 1st JaVa, Netherlands East Indies Army Air Division, 1963

View File SF1: Nanchang Q-5A 'Fantan' Mongolian AF (What If) Nanchang Q-5A 'Fantan' for Strike Fighters 1 This is a simple mod of the excellent Nanchang Q-5/A-5 Fantan brought to us by 101tfs, Erwin_Hans and friends back in 2008 to make a fictional export version for the Mongolian Air Force. This mod uses the famous 'ordway' MiG-19S pit and the original cockpit 'read me' is included in the aircraft folder - it's certainly worth a read. INSTRUCTIONS 1. From the Aircraft folder drag and drop the Q-5A into your Aircraft folder. That's it! I like to keep things simple so I use stock weapons and effects. CREDITS Thanks to TK for a great little game/sim. Big thanks to Erwin_Hans, 101tfs and friends. Big thanks also to Richard Pitts2A Ordway for the Mig-19 cockpit. And special thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community. Regards Spinners Version 1 - 01/06/18 Submitter Spinners Submitted 06/01/2018 Category Fictional Aircraft, Experimental and UAV's  

Nanchang Q-5A 'Fantan' - Mongolian Air Force, 1989

Mongolian Q-5A Fantan's

View File Avro Canada CF-103 Archer Avro Canada CF-103 Arrow for Strike Fighters 1 This is a simple mod of the excellent Shenyang F-8IIM 'FinBack-B' brought to us by Erwin_Hans back in 2008 to make a fictional Canadian cold-war interceptor with markings for the following RCAF squadrons; No.409 Squadron (Blue & Yellow Rudder Stripes) No.410 Squadron (Red & White Rudder Stripes) No.414 Squadron (Black & Red Rudder Stripes) No.416 Squadron (Black & Yellow Rudder Stripes) No.425 Squadron (Black & Silver Rudder Stripes) N.B. 1960's RCAF markings are a bit of a challenge as they changed so often so I've just gone for a mid-1960's snapshot! BACKSTORY Serving with no less that nine front-line RCAF squadrons at its peak in the mid-1950's, the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck provided all-weather defense against Soviet intruders and the four Canuck squadrons based in Europe from 1956 to1962 were, for some time, the only NATO fighters capable of operating in zero visibility and poor weather conditions. However, recognising the fact that the Soviet Union was working on newer jet-powered bombers the RCAF began looking for a missile-armed replacement for the CF-100 even before it had entered service and in January 1953 the RCAF's All-Weather Interceptor Requirements Team submitted a report to the Canadian Government outlining their requirements. In response, Avro Canada came up with three distinct proposals; 1. A subsonic CF-100 development with a thinner swept wing and tail surfaces and with external missile stores (CF-100S). 2. A single-seat supersonic delta-winged aircraft with twin engines and external missile stores (CF-103). 3. A large two-seat supersonic delta-winged aircraft with twin engines and an internal missile bay (CF-105). After a full year of reviewing Avro Canada's proposals the RCAF announced in February 1954 that they considered that the CF-103 represented the optimum balance between cost, efficacy and in-service date and requested that Avro Canada should be awarded a production contract for 200 CF-103's. To keep costs down the RCAF stipulated the use of two key 'off the shelf' items; the Hughes MA-1 fire control system (from the Convair F-102A) and the Rolls-Royce Avon afterburning turbojet (from the English Electric Lightning). Whilst both items were actually still under development themselves, they were considered to be a safer choice than any home-grown paper project and likely to reach maturity for the projected in-service date of 1960. The only area of risk was the decision to arm the CF-103 with the radical British ADEN 230 twin-barreled cannon in a streamlined semi-conformal installation carrying the cannon and with a 500 round ammunition drum stored immediately above and inside the fuselage. The CF-103 used the then fashionable delta-wing configuration but with slab tailplanes and, in order to house a large radar set, the CF-103 used a solid nose with variable geometry air intakes on the fuselage with intake ramps and splitter plates which proved to be a perfect match for the Avon RB.146 turbojet engines each rated at 12,500 lbs thrust dry and 16,500 lbs thrust with afterburner. The aircraft was intended to be built directly from the production line thus skipping the traditional hand-built prototype phase and luckily very little re-design was required as testing progressed. On October 4th 1957, the same day as the launch of Sputnik 1, the first CF-103A was rolled out at Avro Canada's facility at Malton, Ontario eventually making it's first flight on December 30th, 1957 with Chief Development Test Pilot Janusz Zurakowski at the controls. Flight testing quickly demonstrated excellent handling and overall performance, reaching Mach 2.1 in level flight. Development was slowed slightly due to problems with the Hughes MA-1 Fire Control System and the ADEN 230 twin-barreled cannon but the first two CF-103A's entered service with No.425 Squadron on August 15th, 1961 in a ceremony at RCAF Namao, Alberta becoming fully operational by the end of the year. INSTRUCTIONS 1. From the Aircraft folder drag and drop the CF-103A and CF-103B folders into your Aircraft folder. That's it! But why are there two aircraft? Firstly, I wanted to show this aircraft with AIM-4D Falcons so chose the CF-103A for that but to get Falcons to appear in 1963 I've had to use 'USAF' as the nation name in both the data.ini and textureset.ini which allows a 1963 in service date instead of the 1966 (the allowable export year of the AIM-4D). Secondly, I like the look of the black intakes used on the CF-103B which are an affectionate nod towards the mighty CF-105 Arrow. So all five CF-103B skins have black intakes whilst the CF-103A has grey intakes and the continuous 'cheat line' but you can swap things around to suit your own preferences. CREDITS Thanks to TK for a great little game/sim. Enormous thanks to Erwin_Hans, olo007 and 101tfs and the Inksy Group for bringing us the Shenyang F-8IIM. And special thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community. Regards Spinners Version 1 - 27/05/18 Submitter Spinners Submitted 05/27/2018 Category Fictional Aircraft, Experimental and UAV's  

Avro Canada CF-103 Archer - No.425 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, 1963 Serving with no less that nine front-line RCAF squadrons at its peak in the mid-1950's, the Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck provided all-weather defense against Soviet intruders and the four Canuck squadrons based in Europe from 1956 to1962 were, for some time, the only NATO fighters capable of operating in zero visibility and poor weather conditions. However, recognising the fact that the Soviet Union was working on newer jet-powered bombers the RCAF began looking for a missile-armed replacement for the CF-100 even before it had entered service and in January 1953 the RCAF's All-Weather Interceptor Requirements Team submitted a report to the Canadian Government outlining their requirements. In response, Avro Canada came up with three distinct proposals; 1. A subsonic CF-100 development with a thinner swept wing and tail surfaces and with external missile stores (CF-100S). 2. A single-seat supersonic delta-winged aircraft with twin engines and external missile stores (CF-103). 3. A large two-seat supersonic delta-winged aircraft with twin engines and an internal missile bay (CF-105). After a full year of reviewing Avro Canada's proposals the RCAF announced in February 1954 that they considered that the CF-103 represented the optimum balance between cost, efficacy and in-service date and requested that Avro Canada should be awarded a production contract for 200 CF-103's. To keep costs down the RCAF stipulated the use of two key 'off the shelf' items; the Hughes MA-1 fire control system (from the Convair F-102A) and the Rolls-Royce Avon afterburning turbojet (from the English Electric Lightning). Whilst both items were actually still under development themselves, they were considered to be a safer choice than any home-grown paper project and likely to reach maturity for the projected in-service date of 1960. The only area of risk was the decision to arm the CF-103 with the radical British ADEN 230 twin-barreled cannon in a streamlined semi-conformal installation carrying the cannon and with a 500 round ammunition drum stored immediately above and inside the fuselage. The CF-103 used the then fashionable delta-wing configuration but with slab tailplanes and, in order to house a large radar set, the CF-103 used a solid nose with variable geometry air intakes on the fuselage with intake ramps and splitter plates which proved to be a perfect match for the Avon RB.146 turbojet engines each rated at 12,500 lbs thrust dry and 16,500 lbs thrust with afterburner. The aircraft was intended to be built directly from the production line thus skipping the traditional hand-built prototype phase and luckily very little re-design was required as testing progressed. On October 4th 1957, the same day as the launch of Sputnik 1, the first CF-103A was rolled out at Avro Canada's facility at Malton, Ontario eventually making it's first flight on December 30th, 1957 with Chief Development Test Pilot Janusz Zurakowski at the controls. Flight testing quickly demonstrated excellent handling and overall performance, reaching Mach 2.1 in level flight. Development was slowed slightly due to problems with the Hughes MA-1 Fire Control System and the ADEN 230 twin-barreled cannon but the first two CF-103A's entered service with No.425 Squadron on August 15th, 1961 in a ceremony at RCAF Namao, Alberta becoming fully operational by the end of the year.

Thanks Guys. I'll make a few more serial numbers and look to release within the next few days.

Avro Canada CF-103B Archer - No.425 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, 1965

Into Stormy Daniels skies

Oh I see some Skyhawk in there too... or a camel!

SEPECAT Panther GR.1 - 899 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, 1990 Julhelm's Kestrel from 2007!!

Mongolian 'Finback-B'

View File Xian FBC-1M 'Flying Leopard' Xian FBC-1M for SF1 This is a simple mod of the excellent JH-7A/FBC-1 released by Insky many years ago to give a fictional export version in service with the Mongolian Air Force. This is released 'as is' and really needs a good Chinese weapons pack, something I don't have in my SF1 installs or simply download the JH-7A. BACKSTORY Under Soviet pressure at the end of World War Two, the Republic of China was obliged to formally accept Mongolian independence. However, following the Communists victory in the Chinese Civil War, the People's Republic of China warmly recognised Mongolia's independent status and established diplomatic relations with Mongolia during 1949. Although Mongolia aligned itself with the Soviet Union during the Cold War both nations patiently came to agreement on border disputes and by 1986 they had begun to establish trade agreements that paved the way for the 1988 treaty on border control and the 1994 treaty of friendship. By 2002, China had become Mongolia's biggest trade partner and their largest source of foreign investment with China allowing the use of its Tianjin port to give Mongolia access to trade within the Asia Pacific region and, in return, giving China access to Mongolia's natural resources. In a move designed to bolster regional security China exported 20 Xian FBC-1 Flying Leopard fighter-bombers (the export version of the JH-7A) which entered service with the Mongolian Air Force in 2008. INSTRUCTIONS 1. Drop the FBC-1M folder into your Aircraft folder. That's it! CREDITS Thanks to TK for a great little game/sim. Thanks to Erwin_Hans for bringing the JH-7A to us back in 2009. And special thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community. Regards Spinners Version 1 - 15/05/18 Submitter Spinners Submitted 05/15/2018 Category Fictional Aircraft, Experimental and UAV's  

Xian FBC-1 Flying Leopard - Mongolian Air Force, 2008 Under Soviet pressure at the end of World War Two, the Republic of China was obliged to formally accept Mongolian independence. However, following the Communists victory in the Chinese Civil War, the People's Republic of China warmly recognised Mongolia's independent status and established diplomatic relations with Mongolia during 1949. Although Mongolia aligned itself with the Soviet Union during the Cold War both nations patiently came to agreement on border disputes and by 1986 they had begun to establish trade agreements that paved the way for the 1988 treaty on border control and the 1994 treaty of friendship. By 2002, China had become Mongolia's biggest trade partner and their largest source of foreign investment with China allowing the use of its Tianjin port to give Mongolia access to trade within the Asia Pacific region and, in return, giving China access to Mongolia's natural resources. In a move designed to bolster regional security China exported 20 Xian FBC-1 Flying Leopard fighter-bombers (the export version of the JH-7A) which entered service with the Mongolian Air Force in 2008.

Fishbed CAP

Vought F-8E Crusader - 727 Eskadrille, Royal Danish Air Force, 1967 During 1955 the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) were looking to replace their F-84 Thunderjets from about 1958 and by early 1956 had settled on the North American F-100D Super Sabre. However, the RDAF became increasingly alarmed at the high attrition rate of the F-100 in USAF service and with the Hawker Hunter now reaching maturity they decided to buy more Hunters to replace the elderly F-84 Thunderjets and look for a more modern fighter with a slightly later service date of 1962. Competing against the BAC Lightning, Dassault Mirage III and the Lockheed Starfighter, Vought initially offered a version of the Crusader F8U-2N (F-8D) but by mid-1959 were able to offer a planned multi-role development of the Crusader with a more powerful Magnavox APQ-94 radar and air-to-ground capability. Initially known as the F-8U2NE this later became known as the F-8E and the Danish government became the first Crusader export customer when it signed up for 50 F-8E's in late 1959 for delivery in early 1962. The Crusader entered service with 727 Eskadrille and 730 Eskadrille based at Skrystrup and later followed by 725 Eskadrille based at Karup. From about 1964 the RDAF adopted an overall 'NATO Green' finish and the types popularity saw the Danish government place further orders for 48 of a more advanced version of the F-8E with further improvements in avionics including the Magnavox APQ-124 radar and the uprated J-57 P-20D engine plus 16 multi-sensor recconnaisance aircraft. Designated F-8E(D) and RF-8E(D) these advanced Crusaders were the last new-build Crusaders ever made and killed off any hopes of Sweden selling the SAAB Draken to Denmark. In the mid-1970's the remaining 41 F-8E's were refurbished by SABCA of Belgium and brought up to a standard almost equivalent to the F-8E(D) and the type served until the late-1980's when replaced by F-16C's.

Aero L.23 'Furball' - Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee, 1960 Skin Credit: Gepard (Super Mystere B2 Camo EC2/12 Savigny 1977)

Saab J-29F Tunnen - Irish Air Corps, 1966 In response to an appeal by the United Nations for military support to the UN peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Congo, the Swedish Air Force sent a mixed force of J29B's and S29C's to the region. Mainly used to attack ground targets with cannon and unguided rockets the aircraft served well and no aircraft were lost in action despite facing considerable small arms ground fire. When the UN peacekeeping mission was terminated in May 1964 the Swedish Air Force were considering destroying the aircraft in situ as they were simply no longer needed at home and the cost of retrieving them was high. However, the Irish Government expressed interest in purchasing the aircraft to supplement their Vampire jets and, via the Swedish Government, approached Saab for costs on repatriation and conversion of the Tunnen's to J29F standard. In June 1964 the Swedish Government granted the Air Board permission to sell eight J29B Tunnan's to Saab for refurbishment to J29F standard and resale to the Irish Air Corps. All eight Tunnan's were delivered to the Irish Air Corps during the Autumn of 1964 and remained in service until 1977 when they were replaced with ex-RAF Germany Lightning F.2A's.

North American Super Sabre FGA.4 - No.28 Squadron, RAF Far East Air Force, 1962

Dassault Super Mystère B2 - No.15 Squadron, Tunisian Air Force, 1967 Skin Credit: Gepard