Spinners

BAC Skylark FG.3 - No.41 Squadron, RAF South East Asia Command, 1976

Cold Sunset

Hi-Ho Silver Lining...

Spiral of Death...

Only just noticed... skin specific hangar screens in the skin folders!

After a long selection process the Vought F-8EJ was finally selected by the JASDF in 1962 as its standard interceptor-fighter. With it's impressive unrefuelled range, reliable Pratt & Whitney J-57-P-20J engine and powerful Magnavox APQ-94J radar the F-8EJ served with a total of eight JASDF squadrons with initial deliveries commencing in late 1964. Compared to the superb multi-role F-8E, and because of Japan's own 'self-defense' status and imposed peace treaty terms, the F-8EJ was stripped of much of it's surface-attack capability but gained a modified APQ-94 radar, wing-mounted AIM-7E Sparrow missiles and also had a very useful anti-ship capability (deemed acceptable as being an 'anti-invasion' capability) and all eight 'Hikotai' had maritime attack and reconnaissance as a secondary role. The F-8EJ's served until the mid-1980's with the 302nd Hikotai being the last to surrender this very popular aircraft in JASDF service in 1985.

Well done Volker. I don't have the power but I'd like to make you an honorary MBE.

You've got a bit of a track record in this respect Kevin. So what's next?!!

To everyone involved in this project WELL DONE. You've done the senior service proud!

Wunderbar!

Republic F-91G Thunderceptor - JG 74 Mölders, 1956

Republic F-91G 'Thunderceptor' - JG 74 Mölders, German Air Force, 1955 The first flight of the Republic XF-91 on May 9th, 1949 did not attract that much interest in the non-aviation world where the main news item was the previous day's approval of the West German Constitution but the detonation of the Soviet Union's first atomic weapon in August 1949 made the development and deployment of a fast, high altitude, point-defence interceptor an urgent priority. By October the XF-91 'Thunderceptor' had been fitted with four Reaction Motors XLR11 rocket engines giving the aircraft an outstanding rate of climb and high-altitude performance albeit at the expense of range. The Korean War starting in June 1950 then added to the urgency of the programme and soon production F-91A's started pouring off the Farmingdale production line for an eager USAF and NATO air forces. When West Germany joined NATO in 1955 the F-84F Thunderstreak became it's principal tactical fighter with the F-91G Thunderceptor becoming it's standard interceptor-fighter entering service with JG74 'Mölders' serving until 1962 when they were gradually replaced by the Saunders-Roe SR.177 (another mixed-power interceptor) . West German Thunderceptors were unique in being armed with the large indigenous 'Speer' infra-red homing missile which was the largest heat-seeking missile until the Soviet 'Anab' entered service in 1961.

Dassault Mirage 5Y's - "The Lions", 123 Fighter Aviation Squadron, Yugoslav Air Force, 1977

Oooh. Only another 12 hours before I get home from work and give this a jolly good thrashing... Long live 'The Tigers'.

Dassault Mirage 5Y - Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force, 1971

Dassault Mirage FG.2 - No.79 Squadron, RAF Germany 1967

Dassault Mirage FG.2 - No.79 Squadron, RAF Germany, 1967

Dassault Mirage FG.2 - No.34 Squadron, RAF Middle East Command, 1972

Dassault Mirage FG.2 - No.34 Squadron, RAF Middle East Command, 1972 Stock Libyan Camo from the Mirage 5D adapted to fit the Mirage 3C - really loving the Mirage!!

ShrikeHawk's

Dassault Mirage FG.2 - No.20 Squadron RAF Middle East Command, 1967

Dassault Mirage FG.2 - No.20 Squadron, RAF Middle East Command, 1967

Dassault Mirage F.1A - RAF Fighter Command, 1963 The first flight of the Fairey FD.2 research aircraft in October 1954 intrigued Marcel Dassault who had already built a much smaller delta-winged prototype in an attempt to meet an earlier Armeé de l’air specification for a target-defence interceptor. Dassault was impressed with the size and layout of the FD.2 and proposed a technical collaboration programme between Fairey and Dassault. This saw the FD.2 flight programme move to Cazaux on the Bay of Biscay and make such good progress that on March 18th, 1956 Peter Twiss reclaimed the world speed record with a speed of 1,132mph a massive 300mph increase over the previous record held by the F-100 Super Sabre. Dassault immediately became convinced that the delta was the way ahead and planned a scaled-up version of his previous delta to be powered by an afterburning version of the fast-improving Atar turbojet. Despite being a company-funded programme Dassault wasted no time in developing his new delta and Roland Glavany flew prototype MirageIII-001 from Melun-Villaroche on November 17th, 1956. Development moved swiftly and at the 1957 Paris Air Show the Dassault trade pavilion attracted the attention of senior RAF officials who, in the aftermath of the infamous 1957 Defence White Paper, wanted an inexpensive Hunter replacement and some sort of back-up for the Lightning whose future was as uncertain as it’s development was slow. An ever-alert Rolls-Royce then became interested in the French delta and via the British Ministry of Supply asked Dassault for the opportunity to supply the Avon turbojet to anyone who was interested. Dassault could see that this was potentially the key to unlocking lucrative sales to Britain and suggested to Fairey a revival of their earlier collaboration to licence-build any Mirage orders to Britain and, facing extinction, Fairey readily agreed. A successful first flight of the Mirage IIIA in May 1958 saw the RAF confirm their interest in the French delta and the production order for 95 Mirage IIIC aircraft for the Armeé de l’air at the end of 1958 gave the British Ministry of Supply the confidence to place an order for 50 Mirage F.1 interceptors and 100 Mirage FGA.2 fighter-bombers in February 1959. In announcing the purchase of a ‘foreign’ aircraft the British Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan, could immediately add that the aircraft would be built in Britain and have a high British content due to the Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.210 engines, Martin-Baker ejection seat, ADEN cannon and Ferranti A.25 Airpass radar and this helped make the decision to buy the Mirage a little bit more palatable. Entering service with No.74 Squadron in August 1961the Mirage F.1 was quickly replaced on the production line by the Mirage F.1A with the earlier aircraft being brought up to the same standard to eventually equipped three squadrons of RAF Fighter Command with upgraded aircraft serving until 1980 when they were replaced by the Mirage F.6 a design based on the Mirage 2000.

View File [Fictional] Dassault Mirage F.1A (RAF) Dassault Mirage F.1A for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2 This is a very simple mod of the stock Mirage 3C to give a fictional export version for the Royal Air Force with markings for No.56, No.74 and No.111 squadrons of Fighter Command (all famous users of the contemporary and equally gorgeous Lightning). N.B. This mod has been tested in a fully merged install and, in particular, uses the Lightning gunsight from Expansion Pack 2. INSTRUCTIONS 1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the MirageF1A folder into your Aircraft folder. 2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the MirageF1A folder into your Decals folder. That's it! CREDITS As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim. And thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community. Regards Spinners Version 2 - 06/05/2020 Version 1 - 25/09/2011 Submitter Spinners Submitted 09/25/2011 Category What If Hangar