As promised last week the focus of this week’s Flying Tigers Newsletter is RIAT 2015. I always look forward to attending this airshow as a collector ( and now also a seller) of “Fast Jet” models. RIAT is always a treat !
I know many of you attend the show over all of the days, including the arrivals and departures of all aircraft at the show. I have only ever attended the event either on Saturday or Sunday, but I think in the future I will also try and get there either side of the weekend airshow.
The feature shot in this week’s edition needs absolutely no introduction. What a wonderful spectacle it made as the Red Arrows formed up with the “Delta Lady” XH558 and made two flypasts for a very expectant crowd. It is sad to think that the opportunities are very numbered now to see this great aircraft in the air where she belongs. The Vulcan has made numerous flights around the country in an effort to let as many people as possible see her before entering retirement on the ground. As a matter of fact it flew over Sywell and my office/ shop on Monday after RIAT and I was able to get a few shots of her forming up over the airfield with our resident display team The Blades.( More on this in a future Newsletter). I have the 1/72 Corgi model of XH558 in my collection and I have only two left in the warehouse. I have marked these at a very competitive price so if you want one please be quick !
In last week’s Newletter I announced the release of Corgi’s New Eurofighter Typhoon model in the Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary scheme. This aircraft attended RIAT 2015 and there was a lot of interest at the end of the runway where people were avidly taking photographs for their collections. My effort is shown above. Thank you all for your Pre-orders for this aircraft… the way this is shaping up, it is looking like a Sell Out model for Corgi. If you haven’t placed your order with me yet I would urge you to do so as soon as possible. Please click on this link to go straight to the model.
The aircraft above is a Belgian Airforce F-16 and although this particular aircraft did not display at the show, its more colourful stablemate did. The Belgian F-16 display is always one to look forward to and this team have attended many RIAT shows over the years. I prefer the more traditional paint schemes for my own model aircraft collection, rather than the “jazzy” schemes of the display teams. I have just added a Hobbymaster F-16 in a standard Belgian scheme onto the website. It is at a special Sale price. I have sold many already and stock is limited. Please take a look if you want one by clicking the link here.
The aircraft above is Bell Boeing CV-22B Osprey 12-0062. It is currently based at RAF Mildenhall and is part of the Special Operations Command , 7th Special Operations Squadron , 352nd Special Operations Wing. I got up close to the aircraft and also went inside for a good look. The size of the propeller blades in relation to the size of the aircraft is dramatic, on the ground as well as in the air.
Now for one of my favourites… the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle. This aircraft, (86-1079 LN) is based with the United States Airforces Europe, 493rd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath. This is, and always will be a very cool aircraft ! I don’t have too many of the Hobbymaster F-15s in my collection but I aim to get them all. I have a few of these on the website at the moment. The first is an example from RAF Lakenheath and I don’t have too many left. Please click on the link here to take a look. It comes in a unique colour photo box and not the standard Hobbymaster one which makes it even more collectible. The second F-15 on the site is at a special low price with limited stocks. Please click here to go straight to this offer. The last of the F-15s on the site is a very smart Japanese Airforce example, please click here to take a look and only £39.99 !
The aircraft above is Northrop SF-5M AE.9-27/26-16 “Freedom Fighter” with the Spanish Airforce Ala23 , Talavera la Real Spain.This is a rather rare RIAT participant and I couldn’t resist taking this shot. Hobbymaster haven’t manufactured this aircraft yet as a model although there are many others to collect. Please visit the site and click here to see the F-5s on offer at the moment.I have quite a few on the site but the latest addition is at a special low price for a limited period only. Please click here to take a look.
The Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II needs no introduction. This looks and is a mean machine with its GE GUA-8/A Cannon which can fire 3,900 rounds per minute. I haven’t seen one of these in the air at an airshow for quite a time. Perhaps next year at the arrivals and departure days at RIAT 2016 ?
Always a crowd pleaser and a fantastic aircraft to see at an airshow. The Boeing Vertol CH-47F Chinook is a very agile performer and I always look forward to seeing it display and here that unique sound of its twin contra-rotating rotors.
NOW TO MODEL NEWS !
Hobbymaster have just announonced the NEW TOOLING of the F-14A Tomcat. The first model being produced is the F-14A Tomcat U.S. Navy USS Enterprise CVN-65 VF-211 “Fighting Checkmates” 2004. The model is illustrated above. Please click here to go straight to the model. The RRP has not been announced just yet and I will update you when I have more news. However it is available to Pre-order by either emailing me your order/interest in this model at sales@flying-tigers.co.uk OR through the Contact Us Form on the website. Alternatively please give me a call on 01604 499034 Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. or leave a message on our answer machine outside office hours. There is no commitment to buy this from Flying Tigers until I have confirmed the price to you and you are happy to continue with your order.
Remember we do not take deposits for ANY model on Pre-Orders and only take payment when we dispatch your model. If you pay by PayPal at the time of ordering then payment is taken as I have no control over that situation.
I have added a lot of Special Sale models on Jets and also Special Sale items on Props on the site during the last week, some of which I am sorry have sold out already ! However I have been able to secure more of some of these models which will be arriving early next week. Please take a look and see if you can pick up a bargain! Click on the links in red above to go straight to the Sale sections.I will issue a Part 2 to the RIAT show next week, so until then, thank you for taking time to read this week’s Newsletter.
Richard.
Flying Tigers.