Lockheed P-3 Orion , Hobbymaster & Gemini Jets Updates and “Offers of the Week ” Sale.

 

The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner.The aircraft is easily distinguished from the Electra by its distinctive tail stinger or “MAD Boom”, used for the magnetic detection of submarines.

Over the years, the aircraft has seen numerous design developments, most notably in its electronics packages. Numerous navies and air forces around the world continue to use the P-3 Orion, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare. A total of 757 P-3s have been built, and in 2012, it joined the handful of military aircraft including the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Lockheed C-130 Hercules and the Lockheed U-2 that have seen over 50 years of continuous use by the United States military. The P-8A Poseidon will eventually replace the U.S. Navy’s remaining P-3C aircraft.

In August 1957, the U.S. Navy called for replacement proposals for the piston engined Lockheed P2V Neptune (later redesignated P-2) and Martin P5M Marlin (later redesignated P-5) with a more advanced aircraft to conduct maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare. Modifying an existing aircraft was expected to save on cost and allow rapid introduction into the fleet. Lockheed suggested a military version of their L-188 Electra, which was still in development and had yet to fly. In April 1958, Lockheed won the competition and was awarded an initial research and development contract in May.

 

The prototype YP3V-1/YP-3A, Bureau Number (BuNo) 148276 was modified from the third Electra airframe c/n 1003. The first flight of the aircraft’s aerodynamic prototype, originally designated YP3V-1, was on 19th August 1958. While based on the same design philosophy as the Lockheed L-188 Electra, the aircraft was structurally different. The aircraft had 7 feet (2.1 m) less fuselage forward of the wings with an opening bomb bay, and a more pointed nose radome, distinctive tail “stinger” for detection of submarines by magnetic anomaly detector, wing hardpoints, and other internal, external, and airframe production technique enhancements. The Orion has four Allison T56 turboprops which give it a top speed of 411 knots (761 km/h; 473 mph) comparable to the fastest propeller fighters, or even slow high-bypass turbofan jets such as the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II or the Lockheed S-3 Viking. Similar patrol aircraft include the Soviet Ilyushin Il-38, the French Breguet Atlantique and the British jet-powered Hawker Siddeley Nimrod based on the de Havilland Comet.

 

The first production version, designated P3V-1, was launched on 15th April 1961. Initial squadron deliveries to Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8) and Patrol Squadron Forty Four (VP-44) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland began in August 1962. On 18th September 1962, the U.S. military transitioned to a unified designation system for all services, with the aircraft being renamed the P-3 Orion. Paint schemes have changed from early 1960s gloss blue and white, to mid-1960s/1970s/1980s/early 1990s gloss white and gray, to mid-1990s flat finish low visibility gray with fewer and smaller markings. In the early 2000s, the scheme changed to its current overall gloss gray finish with the original full-size color markings. However, large size Bureau Numbers on the vertical stabilizer and squadron designations on the fuselage remained omitted.

In 1963, the U.S. Navy Bureau of Weapons (BuWeps) contracted Univac Defense Systems Division of Sperry-Rand to engineer, build and test a digital computer (then in its infancy) to interface with the many sensors and newly developing display units of the P-3 Orion. Project A-NEW was the engineering system which, after several early trials, produced the engineering prototype, the CP-823/U, Univac 1830, Serial A-1, A-NEW MOD3 Computing System. The CP-823/U was delivered to the Naval Air Development Center (NADC) at Johnsville, Pennsylvania in 1965, and directly led to the production computers later equipped on the P-3C Orion.

 

Three civilian Electras were lost in fatal accidents between February 1959 and March 1960. Following the third crash the FAA restricted the maximum speed of Electras until the cause could be determined. After an extensive investigation, two of the crashes (in September 1959 and March 1960) were found to be caused by insufficiently strong engine mounts, unable to damp a whirling motion that could affect the outboard engines. When the oscillation was transmitted to the wings, a severe vertical vibration escalated until the wings were torn from the aircraft. The company implemented an expensive modification program, labelled the Lockheed Electra Achievement Program or LEAP, in which the engine mounts and wing structures supporting the mounts were strengthened, and some wing skins replaced with thicker material. All the surviving Electras of the 145 built at that time were modified at Lockheed’s expense at the factory, the modifications taking 20 days for each aircraft. The changes were incorporated in subsequent aircraft as they were built.

Sales of airliners were limited as the technical fix did not completely erase the “jinxed” reputation, turboprop-powered aircraft were soon replaced by faster jets. In a military role where fuel efficiency was more valued than speed, the Orion has been in service over 50 years after its 1962 introduction. Although surpassed in production longevity by the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, 734 P-3s were produced through 1990. Lockheed Martin opened a new P-3 wing production line in 2008 as part of its Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP) for delivery in 2010. A complete ASLEP replaces the outer wings, center wing lower section and horizontal stabilizers with newly built parts.

In the 1990s, during a U.S. Navy attempt to identify a successor aircraft to the P-3, the improved P-7 was selected over a navalized variant of the twin turbofan-powered Boeing 757, but this program was subsequently cancelled. In a second program to procure a successor, the advanced Lockheed Martin Orion 21, another P-3 derived aircraft, lost out to the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, a Boeing 737 variant, which entered service in 2013.

 

The P-3 has an internal bomb bay under the front fuselage which can house conventional Mark 50 torpedoes or Mark 46 torpedoes and/or special (nuclear) weapons. Additional underwing stations, or pylons, can carry other armament configurations including the AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-84E SLAM, AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, the AGM-65 Maverick, 127 millimetres (5.0 in) Zuni rockets, and various other sea mines, missiles, and gravity bombs. The aircraft also had the capability to carry the AGM-12 Bullpup guided missile until that weapon was withdrawn from U.S./NATO/Allied service.

The P-3 is equipped with a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) in the extended tail. This instrument is able to detect the magnetic anomaly of a submarine in the Earth’s magnetic field. The limited range of this instrument requires the aircraft to be near the submarine at low altitude. Because of this, it is primarily used for pinpointing the location of a submarine immediately prior to a torpedo or depth bomb attack. Due to the sensitivity of the detector, electromagnetic noise can interfere with it, so the detector is placed in P-3’s fiberglass tail stinger (MAD boom), far from other electronics and ferrous metals on the aircraft.

 

The crew complement varies depending on the role being flown, the variant being operated, and the country that is operating the type. In U.S. Navy service, the normal crew complement was 12 until it was reduced to its current complement of 11 in the early 2000s when the in-flight ordnanceman (ORD) position was eliminated as a cost-savings measure and the ORD duties assumed by the in-flight technician (IFT). Data for U.S. Navy P-3C only.

Officers:-
Three Naval Aviators
Patrol Plane Commander (PPC)
Patrol Plane 2nd Pilot (PP2P)
Patrol Plane 3rd Pilot (PP3P)
Two Naval Flight Officers
Patrol Plane Tactical Coordinator (PPTC or TACCO)
Patrol Plane Navigator/Communicator (PPNC or NAVCOM)
NOTE: NAVCOM on P-3C only; USN P-3A and P-3B series had an NFO Navigator (TACNAV) and an enlisted Airborne Radio Operator (RO)

Enlisted Aircrew:-
Two enlisted Aircrew Flight Engineers (FE1 and FE2)
Three enlisted Sensor Operators

Radar/MAD/EWO (SS-3)
Two Acoustic (SS-1 and SS-2)
One enlisted In-Flight Technician (IFT)
One enlisted Aviation Ordnanceman (ORD position no longer used on USN crews; duties assumed by IFT.)
The senior of either the PPC or TACCO will be designated as the aircraft Mission Commander (MC).

 

Once on station, one engine is often shut down (usually the No. 1 engine – the left outer engine) to conserve fuel and extend the time aloft and/or range when at low level. It is the primary candidate for loiter shutdown because it has no generator. Eliminating the exhaust from engine 1 also improves visibility from the aft observer station on the port side of the aircraft.

On occasion, both outboard engines can be shut down, weight, weather, and fuel permitting. Long deep-water, coastal or border patrol missions can last over 10 hours and may include extra crew. The record time aloft for a P-3 is 21.5 hours, undertaken by the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No. 5 Squadron in 1972.

 

Developed during the Cold War, the P-3’s primary mission was to track Soviet Navy ballistic missile and fast attack submarines and to eliminate them in the event of full-scale war. At its height, the U.S. Navy’s P-3 community consisted of twenty-four active duty “Fleet” patrol squadrons home based at air stations in the states of Florida and Hawaii as well as bases which formerly had P-3 operations in Maryland, Maine, and California. There were also thirteen Naval Reserve patrol squadrons identical to their active duty “Fleet” counterparts, said Reserve “Fleet” squadrons being based in Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts (later relocated to Maine), Illinois, Tennessee, Louisiana, California and Washington. Two Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRS), also called “RAG” squadrons (from the historic “Replacement Air Group” nomenclature) were located in California and Florida. The since-deactivated VP-31 in California provided P-3 training for the Pacific Fleet, while VP-30 in Florida performed the task for the Atlantic Fleet. These squadrons were also augmented by a test and evaluation squadron in Maryland, two additional test and evaluation units that were part of an air development center in Pennsylvania and a test center in California, an oceanographic development squadron in Maryland, and two active duty “special projects” units in Maine and Hawaii, the latter being slightly smaller than a typical squadron.

 

Reconnaissance missions in international waters led to occasions where Soviet fighters would “bump” a P-3, either operated by the U.S. Navy or other operators such as the Royal Norwegian Air Force. On 1st April 2001, a midair collision between a United States Navy EP-3E ARIES II signals surveillance aircraft and a People’s Liberation Army Navy J-8II jet fighter-interceptor resulted in an international dispute between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

More than 40 combatant and noncombatant P-3 variants have demonstrated the rugged reliability displayed by the platform flying 12-hour plus missions 200 ft (61 m) over salt water while maintaining an excellent safety record. Versions have been developed for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for research and hurricane hunting/hurricane wall busting, for the U.S. Customs Service (now U.S. Customs and Border Protection) for drug interdiction and aerial surveillance mission with a rotodome adapted from the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye or an AN/APG-66 radar adapted from the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, and for NASA for research and development.

 

The U.S. Navy remains the largest P-3 operator, currently distributed between a single fleet replacement (i.e., “training”) patrol squadron in Florida (VP-30), 12 active duty patrol squadrons distributed between bases in Florida, Washington and Hawaii, two Navy Reserve patrol squadrons in Florida and Washington, one active duty special projects patrol squadron (VPU-2) in Hawaii, and two active duty test and evaluation squadrons. One additional active duty fleet reconnaissance squadron (VQ-1) operates the EP-3 Aries signals intelligence (SIGINT) variant at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

In January 2011, the U.S. Navy revealed that P-3s have been used to hunt down “third generation” narco subs. This is significant because as recently as July 2009, fully submersible submarines have been used in smuggling operations.

In October 1962, P-3A aircraft flew several blockade patrols in the vicinity of Cuba. Having just recently joined the operational Fleet earlier that year, this was the first employment of the P-3 in a real world “near conflict” situation.

 

Beginning in 1964, forward deployed P-3 aircraft began flying a variety of missions under Operation Market Time from bases in the Philippines and Vietnam. The primary focus of these coastal patrols was to stem the supply of materials to the Viet Cong by sea, although several of these missions also became overland “feet dry” sorties. During one such mission, a small caliber artillery shell passed through a P-3 without rendering it mission incapable. The only confirmed combat loss of a P-3 also occurred during Operation Market Time. In April 1968, a U.S. Navy P-3B of VP-26 was downed by anti-aircraft fire in the Gulf of Thailand with the loss of the entire crew. Two months earlier, in February 1968, another one of VP-26’s P-3B aircraft was operating in the same vicinity when it crashed with the loss of the entire crew. Originally attributed to an aircraft mishap at low altitude, later conjecture is that this aircraft may have also fallen victim to AAA fire from the same source as the April incident.

 

On 2nd August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait and was poised to strike Saudi Arabia. Within 48 hours of the initial invasion, U.S. Navy P-3C aircraft were among the first American forces to arrive in the area. One was a modified platform with a prototype system known as “Outlaw Hunter”. Undergoing trials in the Pacific after being developed by Tiburon Systems, Inc. for NAVAIR’s PMA-290 Program Office, “Outlaw Hunter” was testing a specialized over-the-horizon targeting (OTH-T) system package when it responded. Within hours of the start of the coalition air campaign, “Outlaw Hunter” detected a large number of Iraqi patrol boats and naval vessels attempting to move from Basra and Umm Qasr to Iranian waters. “Outlaw Hunter” vectored in strike elements which attacked the flotilla near Bubiyan Island destroying 11 vessels and damaging scores more. During Desert Shield, a P-3 using infrared imaging detected a ship with Iraqi markings beneath freshly-painted bogus Egyptian markings trying to avoid detection. Several days before the 7th January 1991 commencement of Operation Desert Storm, a P-3C equipped with an APS-137 Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) conducted coastal surveillance along Iraq and Kuwait to provide pre-strike reconnaissance on enemy military installations. A total of 55 of the 108 Iraqi vessels destroyed during the conflict were targeted by P-3C aircraft.

The P-3 Orion’s mission expanded in the late 1990s and early 2000s to include battlespace surveillance both at sea and over land. The long range and long loiter time of the P-3 Orion have proved to be an invaluable asset during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. It can instantaneously provide information about the battlespace it can see to ground troops, particularly the U.S. Marines.

 

Although the P-3 is a Maritime Patrol Aircraft, armament and sensor upgrades in the Anti-surface Warfare Improvement Program (AIP) have made it suitable for sustained combat air support over land. Since the start of the current war in Afghanistan, U.S. Navy P-3 aircraft have been operating from Kandahar in that role. Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orions operated out of Minhad Air Base in the UAE from 2003 until their withdrawal in November 2012. During the period 2008–2012, the AP-3C Orions conducted overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks in support of coalition troops throughout Afghanistan.

Recently, the United States Geological Survey used the Orion to survey parts of southern and eastern Afghanistan for lithium, copper, and other mineral deposits.

 

Several U.S. Navy P-3C Orions, and two Canadian CP-140 Auroras, a variant of the Orion, have participated in maritime surveillance missions over Libyan waters in the framework of enforcement of the 2011 no-fly zone over Libya.

A U.S. Navy P-3C Orion supporting Operation Odyssey Dawn engaged the Libyan coast guard vessel Vittoria on 28th March 2011 after the vessel and eight smaller craft fired on merchant ships in the port of Misrata, Libya. The Orion fired AGM-65 Maverick missiles on Vittoria, which was subsequently beached.

 

Lockheed produced the P-3F variant of the P-3 Orion, for Iran. Six examples were delivered to the former Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) in 1975 and 1976.

Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Orions continued in service, after the IIAF was renamed the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF). They were used in the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War and were operated by one of the most successful squadrons of the IRIAF during that conflict. A total of four P-3Fs remain in service.

 

Three P-3C Orions, delivered to the Pakistan Navy in 1996 and 1997 were operated extensively during the Kargil conflict. After the crash of one, the type was grounded due to the loss of an entire crew; nonetheless, the aircraft were maintained in an armed state and airworthy condition throughout the escalation period of 2001 and 2002. In 2007, they were used by the navy to conduct signals intelligence, airborne and bombing operations in a Swat offensive and Operation Rah-e-Nijat. Precision and strategic bombing missions were carried out by the Orions, and in 2007, intelligence management operations were conducted against Taliban and al-Qaeda operatives.

On 22nd May 2011, two out of the four Pakistani P-3Cs were destroyed in an attack on PNS Mehran, a Pakistani Naval station in Karachi. The Pakistani fleet had been readily used in overland, counter-insurgency operations. In June 2011, the U.S. agreed to replace the destroyed aircraft with two new ones, with delivery to follow later. In February 2012, the U.S. delivered two, additional P-3C Orion aircraft to the Pakistan Navy.

 

The Spanish Air Force deployed P-3s to assist the international effort against piracy in Somalia. On 29th October 2008, a Spanish P-3 aircraft patrolling the coast of Somalia reacted to a distress call from an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden. To deter the pirates, the aircraft flew over the pirates three times as they attempted to board the tanker, dropping a smoke bomb on each pass. After the third pass, the attacking pirate boats broke off their attack. Later, on 29th March 2009, the same P-3 pursued the assailants of the German navy tanker Spessart (A1442), resulting in the capture of the pirates.

In April 2011, the Portuguese Air Force also contributed to Operation Ocean Shield by sending a P-3C which had early success when on its fifth mission detected a pirate whaler with two attack skiffs.

Since 2009 the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has deployed P-3s to Djibouti for anti-piracy patrols, from 2011 from its own base. As well the German Navy is contributing assets against piracy with one P-3 from time to time.

 

Several P-3 aircraft have been N-registered and are operated by civilian agencies. The US Customs and Border Protection has a number of P-3A and P-3B aircraft that are used for aircraft intercept and maritime patrol. NOAA operates two WP-3D variants specially modified for hurricane research. One P-3B, N426NA, is used by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an Earth science research platform, primarily for the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Airborne Science Program. It is based at Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.

 

Aero Union, Inc. operated eight ex-USN P-3A aircraft configured as air tankers, which were leased to the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and other agencies for firefighting use. Several of these aircraft were involved in the U.S. Forest Service airtanker scandal but have not been involved in any catastrophic aircraft mishaps. Aero Union has since gone bankrupt, and their P-3s have been put up for auction.

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P-3 Orions available to order from Flying Tigers.

Flying Tigers has a great selection of P-3 Orion aircraft available from stock or available to pre-order. Please click on the image of your choice to go straight to the model page.

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New Model Arrivals from Corgi Aviation Archive at Flying Tigers !                    Check out the New Corgi Aviation Archive models just arrived at Flying Tigers !  Please click on the images /links below to go straight to the model page to order yours now. Standard UK delivery only £4.95 (click here for details) Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders in the UK to save on postage costs across all brands for only £7.00 (click here for details) Standard US delivery from only £22.00 (click here for details) European tracked delivery from only £16.00 (click here for details) Rest of World tracked delivery from only £25.00 (click here for details) Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !

AA27903 Corgi Aviation Archive 1/48th scale McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2, Falkland Islands, 1991 PRICE: £161.99 incl VAT (RRP £180.00, SAVING £18.01)

In the years following the end of the Falklands War, Britain attempted to calm ongoing tensions by reducing the number of Phantom interceptors based on the Islands to just four aircraft. This development reduced the squadron to ‘Flight’ status and would herald its adoption of the famous ‘1435 Flight’ name and its heritage from the Second World War. Now having just four Phantoms to defend the Islands against the potential might of a combined Argentinean air threat, pilots and crew of No.1435 Flight called upon the glorious WWII heritage of this famous unit and established a South Atlantic aviation story which continues to this day. The long association between the Falkland Islands and RAF No.1435 Flight began on 1st November 1988, when No.23(F) Squadron back in the UK started to re-equip with the new Tornado F.3 interceptor. With their Falklands based detachment now reduced to just four Phantoms, the flight drew on its association with the siege of Malta during the Second World War and the defiant defence mounted by a small number of obsolete Gloster Sea Gladiator fighters of the Hal Far Fighter Flight. During her time with No.1435 Flight on the Falkland Islands, Phantom FGR.2 XV466 earned a reputation as one of the most attractively presented RAF jets of the post war era, with her white tail and large Maltese Cross cutting quite the figure as she helped to deter further conflict in this volatile region.

AA35711 Corgi Aviation Archive 1/72nd scale Messerschmitt Me262A-1A, Germany, 1945 PRICE: £53.99 incl VAT (RRP £60.00, SAVING £6.01)

One of the most interesting engagements involving a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter during WWII occurred on 10th April 1945, when pilot Lt Walther Hagenah and his wingman were ordered to intercept a heavy raid of USAAF bombers attacking an area north of Berlin. Knowing they would be massively outnumbered by Allied aircraft, the pair intended to attack the formation at high speed, using cannon and their underwing mounted R4M unguided rocket projectiles to break up the formation and spread confusion. With the mighty bomber stream in sight, Hagenah noticed a flight of six American P-51D Mustangs above them, which immediately dropped their external fuel tanks as they dived in to attack. Hagenah’s experience told him that if he turned to face them, or made any violent evasive manoeuvre, the speed of the Mustangs would soon bring him into their gunsights, so instead, he pushed the throttles to full power and began a gentle dive towards the ground, but crucially, not changing heading. His wingman decided to take a different course of action, turning to face the Mustangs and immediately being enveloped in a hail of .50 calibre bullets. With his own jet now at full speed, Hagenah expertly positioned his Messerschmitt for an attack on the American fighters, opening up on them with everything he had, including ripple-firing his R4M rockets at the enemy fighter formation.

 

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Hobbymaster updated photo gallery.

Check out the latest HM photos below. Please click on the images or links to go straight to the model page to order your model now.

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Hobbymaster models due to arrive next week at Flying Tigers. ( Delayed from this week)

The following Hobbymaster models are arriving next week ( delayed from this week) and can be pre-ordered at Flying Tigers today.

Don’t forget NO DEPOSIT necessary with Flying Tigers and if you order with your debit or credit card your payment is not taken until your model is available to dispatch.

Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !

Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all.

 

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Gemini 1/200th & 1/400th scale New Model Announcements !                          Check out the latest Gemini 1/200th & 1/400th scale models that have just been announced and are available to pre-order at Flying Tigers today. If you want any of these models it is always safer to pre-order as quantities are limited. Don’t forget NO DEPOSIT necessary with Flying Tigers and if you order with your debit or credit card your payment is not taken until your model is available to dispatch. Standard UK delivery only £4.95 (click here for details) Flying Tigers will also consolidate your U.K. orders to save on postage costs across all brands for only £7.00 (click here for details) Standard US delivery from only £22.00 (click here for details) European tracked delivery from only £16.00 (click here for details) Rest of World tracked delivery from only £25.00 (click here for details) Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands ! Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE  to view all 1/200th scale Gemini models or CLICK HERE to see all 1/400 scale Gemini Jets models.

G2ADB1082 Gemini Jets 1/200th scale Antonov Airlines AN-124-100M Ruslan UR-82088 PRICE: £159.99 incl VAT (RRP £199.00, SAVING £39.01)

G2AFO1204 Gemini Jets 1/200th scale USAF Boeing VC-25A 82-8000 Air Force One New Antenna Array PRICE: £179.99 incl VAT (RRP £223.00, SAVING £43.01)

G2BAW1128 Gemini Jets 1/200th scale British Airways Airbus A321 NEO G-NEOR PRICE: £79.99 incl VAT (RRP £101.00, SAVING £21.01)

G2CFG1195 Gemini Jets 1/200th scale Condor Boeing B757-300W D-ABOI New Livery Sea/Blue Stripes PRICE: £89.99 incl VAT (RRP £110.00, SAVING £20.01)

G2DAL1108 Gemini Jets 1/200th scale  Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 N371NB PRICE: £79.99 incl VAT (RRP £101.00, SAVING £21.01)

G2QFA554 Gemini Jets 1/200th scale Qantas Airways Boeing B747-200B(M) VH-ECB City Of Swan Hill 1980s Livery PRICE: £159.99 incl VAT (RRP £191.00, SAVING £41.01)

G2TWA1159 Gemini Jets 1/200th scale Trans World Airlines (TWA) Boeing B747SP N58201 Boston Express PRICE: £149.99 incl VAT (RRP £183.00, SAVING £33.01)

G2TWA1159F Gemini Jets 1/200th scale Trans World Airlines (TWA) Boeing B747SP N58201 Boston Express flaps down PRICE: £159.99 incl VAT (RRP £192.00, SAVING £32.01)

G2UAE1250 Gemini Jets 1/200th scale Emirates Boeing B777-300ER A6-ENV New Livery PRICE: £119.99 incl VAT (RRP £153.00, SAVING £33.01)

G2UAE1250F Gemini Jets 1/200th scale Emirates Boeing B777-300ER A6-ENV New Livery flaps down PRICE: £129.99 incl VAT (RRP £162.00, SAVING £32.01)

G2WAL1031 Gemini Jets 1/200th scale Western Airlines Lockheed L-188A Electra N7139C 1959 Livery polished belly PRICE: £79.99 incl VAT (RRP £101.00, SAVING £21.01)

GJASA2213 Gemini Jets 1/400th scale Alaska Airlines Boeing B737-800S N559AS Xaat Kwaani/Salmon People PRICE: £39.99 incl VAT (RRP £51.00, SAVING £11.01)

GJCUB1970 Gemini Jets 1/400th scale Cubana De Aviacion Antonov AN-26 CU-T1229 new tooling PRICE: £35.99 incl VAT (RRP £46.00, SAVING £10.01)

GJDAL2037 Gemini Jets 1/400th scale Delta Connection/Skywest Airlines Embraer E175LR N274SY PRICE: £37.99 incl VAT (RRP £48.00, SAVING £10.01)

GJNKS2201 Gemini Jets 1/400th scale Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 NEO N971NK New Livery PRICE: £39.99 incl VAT (RRP £51.00, SAVING £11.01)

GJUAE2242 Gemini Jets 1/400th scale Emirates Airbus A380 A6-EOE Rugby World Cup 2023 PRICE: £54.99 incl VAT (RRP £71.00, SAVING £16.01)

GJUPS2243 Gemini Jets 1/400th scale UPS Boeing B767-300ERF N323UP PRICE: £41.99 incl VAT (RRP £57.00, SAVING £15.01)

GJWJA2212 Gemini Jets 1/400th scale Westjet Link/Pacific Coastal Airlines Saab 340B C-GOIA PRICE: £39.99 incl VAT (RRP £48.00, SAVING £8.01)

GMUSA129 Gemini Jets 1/400th scale USAF Boeing KC-135R 61-0266 Kansas ANG PRICE: £44.99 incl VAT (RRP £55.00, SAVING £10.01)

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Flying Tigers…The  “Only One Left”  Sale!                         Check out Flying Tigers “Only One Left” Sale!   All models are Brand New models Mint in Box.  When they are gone…they are gone! If you want any of these models be quick to get yours as stocks are limited to ones and twos of each. OFFER ENDS MONDAY 9TH OCTOBER AT 12.00 NOON. Standard UK delivery only £4.95 (click here for details) Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders in the UK to save on postage costs across all brands for only £7.00 (click here for details) Standard US delivery from only £22.00 (approx) (click here for details) European tracked delivery from only £16.00 (click here for details) Rest of World tracked delivery from only £25.00 (click here for details) Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands ! Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice or CLICK HERE to see all models in the Sale.

HA6804 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Su-57 Stealth Fighter Red 52, Russian Air Force, 2022 (with 4 x KH-59MK2 missiles) SALE PRICE: £79.99 incl VAT (RRP £146.00, SAVING £66.01) SORRY SOLD OUT !

HA19025 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale F-4E Phantom II 3-6643, Iranian Air Force, 2010 SALE PRICE: £69.99 incl VAT (RRP £91.00, SAVING £21.01)

HA3361 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Northrop F-5E Tiger II Patrouille Suisse, Season 2021 (with new pilot names decals) SALE PRICE: £49.99 incl VAT (RRP £76.00, SAVING £26.01)

HA3574 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale F/A-18A “RAAF 3 Sqn 100th Anniversary Scheme” A21-27, RAAF Base Williamtown , 2016 SALE PRICE: £69.99 incl VAT (RRP £109.00, SAVING £39.01) SORRY SOLD OUT !

HA3880 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Lockheed F-16C Block 40 88-0428, “South Dakota ANG 70th Anniversary”, 2016 SALE PRICE: £64.99 incl VAT (RRP £92.00, SAVING £27.01)

HA3027 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale General Dynamics RF-111C A8-143, 1 Squadron, RAAF Tindal, November 1999 SALE PRICE: £74.99 incl VAT (RRP £111.00, SAVING £36.01)  SORRY SOLD OUT !

HH1207 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian 31601, ROK Army WAS £89.99 SALE PRICE £64.99 incl VAT SAVE £20.00

HA8757 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 J-704, 7 Fliegerkompanie, Swiss Air Force, 1944 SALE PRICE: £59.99 incl VAT (RRP £92.00, SAVING £32.01)

HA3598 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet J-5011, Staffel 11, Swiss Air Force, 2021 SALE PRICE: £59.99 incl VAT (RRP £100.00, SAVING £40.01)

HA4424 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 6677, ROC Air Force (pseudo scheme) SALE PRICE: £59.99 incl VAT (RRP £100.00, SAVING £40.01)

HA8322 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale Spitfire Mk. IX MJ755 (restored), Hellenic Air Force, 2020 SALE PRICE: £69.99 incl VAT (RRP £90.00, SAVING £20.01)

HA1035 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Lockheed F-104G Starfighter 20+62, JG.32 “Bavaria”, Luftwaffe, July 1983 WAS £69.99 SALE PRICE: £54.99 incl VAT SAVE £15.00

HA6007 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Su-27SK Flanker B 6001, 370th Fighter Division of Vietnamese Air Force Phan Rang AB, Vietnam SALE PRICE: £69.99 incl VAT (RRP £118.00, SAVING £48.01)

HA8804 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale Japan A6M2 “Captured Zero” US Navy, September 1942 SALE PRICE: £49.99 incl VAT (RRP £74.00, SAVING £24.01)

HA5907 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale J-5 Jet Fighter Red 2671, China Air Force (PLAAF), 1960s SALE PRICE: £59.99 incl VAT (RRP £92.00, SAVING £32.01)

HA3226 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Douglas B-26K Counter Invader AF64-646, 609th SOS, 59th SOW, Thailand 1969  SALE PRICE: £79.99 incl VAT (RRP £128.00, SAVING £48.01) SORRY SOLD OUT !

HA8753 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale BF 109G-6 “Juutilainen” “White 0″/MT-451, 1/LeLv34, Finnish Air Force, June 1944 SALE PRICE: £54.99 incl VAT (RRP £86.00, SAVING £31.01)

HA1329 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale A-10C Thunderbolt II 80-0275 2019 A-10 Demo Team SALE PRICE: £69.99 incl VAT (RRP £108.00, SAVING £38.01)

HA1049 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale F-104G Starfighter 26+69, MFG 2, Marineflieger, 1985 SALE PRICE: £49.99 incl VAT (RRP £78.00, SAVING £28.01)  SORRY SOLD OUT !

HA3340 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Northrop F-5T Tiger II 853, 144th Squadron, RSAF, 2016  WAS £99.99 SALE PRICE: £69.99 incl VAT SAVE £30.00

HA3563 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale F/A-18A Hornet “NASA” N850NA/BuNo 161703, California 2005 SALE PRICE: £54.99 incl VAT (RRP £98.00, SAVING £33.01)

HA3872 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Lockheed F-16C “Red Flag AK Interim Scheme” 86-0295, 354th Wing, 18th Aggressor Sqn., Alaska, Dec 2017 SALE PRICE: £64.99 incl VAT (RRP £82.00, SAVING £17.01)

HA5250 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Grumman F-14B Tomcat 163225, VF-102 Diamondbacks , 2002 “OEF” SALE PRICE: £79.99 incl VAT (RRP £130.00, SAVING £50.01)

HA8756 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale Messerschmitt BF 109G-6 “Heinrich Bartels” Red 13, W.Nr. 27169, 11./JG 27, Greece, November 1943 SALE PRICE: £69.99 incl VAT (RRP £92.00, SAVING £22.01)

HA8324 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale Spitfire Mk. IX “Russian Spitfire” PT879, England, 2020 SALE PRICE: £59.99 incl VAT (RRP £94.00, SAVING £34.01)

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Flying Tigers….Offers of the Week!                          Check out Flying Tigers Offers of the Week!  All models are Brand New models Mint in Box. If you want any of these models be quick to get yours as stocks are limited to ones and twos of each. OFFER ENDS TUESDAY 10TH OCTOBER 12.00 NOON. Standard UK delivery only £4.95 (click here for details) Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders in the UK to save on postage costs across all brands for only £7.00 (click here for details) Standard US delivery from only £22.00 (approx) (click here for details) European tracked delivery from only £16.00 (click here for details) Rest of World tracked delivery from only £25.00 (click here for details) Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands ! Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice or CLICK HERE to see all models in the Sale.

HA38012 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale F-16D Fighting Falcon “MiG Killer” 90-0778, 310th FS, Luke AF Base, June 2022 SALE PRICE: £59.99 incl VAT (RRP £112.00, SAVING £52.01)  SORRY SOLD OUT !

HA19015 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II 157299, VF-103 “Sluggers’, USS Saratoga, 1971 SALE PRICE: £69.99 incl VAT (RRP £90.00, SAVING £20.01)  SORRY SOLD OUT !

HA7745 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale P-51K Mustang “Tall In the Saddle” 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, WWII  WAS £109.99  SALE PRICE: £74.99 incl VAT SAVE £35.00

HA3560 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale F/A-18D Hornet 165685, VMFA(AW)-242, US Marine Corps, Yokota AB, August 2020  WAS £99.99 SALE PRICE: £74.99 incl VAT SAVE £25.00

HA1065 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter 104733, 1 Canada Air Group, Canadian Armed Forces, West Germany, 1964 SALE PRICE: £44.99 incl VAT (RRP £90.00, SAVING £45.01)

HA6101 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Su-25 SM “Frogfoot” Red 24, Russian Air Force, Latakia Air Base, Syria, November 2015 SALE PRICE: £49.99 incl VAT (RRP £82.00, SAVING £32.01)

HA3893 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Lockheed F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-055, RNLAF “RIAT 2007” SALE PRICE: £54.99 incl VAT (RRP £96.00, SAVING £41.01)

HA6012 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Su-27SKM Blue 305, Airshow Paris, 2005 SALE PRICE: £69.99 incl VAT (RRP £120.00, SAVING £50.01)

HA8907 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat “Operation Torch” Lt. DCdr. John Raby, VF-9, USS Ranger, Nov 1942 SALE PRICE: £44.99 incl VAT (RRP £104.00, SAVING £59.01)

HA3889 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Lockheed F-16AM 301 Sq. “Jaguares”, Portuguese Air Force, “NATO Tiger Meet 2011” SALE PRICE: £44.99 incl VAT (RRP £90.00, SAVING £45.01)

HA1332 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale A-10C Thunderbolt II “Indiana ANG Centennial Scheme”, 2021 SALE PRICE: £69.99 incl VAT (RRP £98.00, SAVING £28.01)

HA8719 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale BF 109E-7 ‘Jabo’ 7./ZG1. Libya, 1942 SALE PRICE: £44.99 incl VAT (RRP £90.00, SAVING £45.01)

HA0152 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale MiG-21 PFM Red 50, Soviet Air Force SALE PRICE: £49.99 incl VAT (RRP £78.00, SAVING £28.01)

HA7853 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale Spitfire Mk. Vb BL973/RY- S, F/L Stanislav Fejfar No. 313 Sqn. May 1942 SALE PRICE: £44.99 incl VAT (RRP £86.00, SAVING £41.01)

HA3561 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale F/A-18A “75 Sqn. Commemorative Design 2021” A21-18, RAAF, 2021 SALE PRICE: £54.99 incl VAT (RRP £96.00, SAVING £41.01)  SORRY SOLD OUT !

HA4610 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Lockheed Martin F-35B ZM151 RAF 2019 WAS £94.99 SALE PRICE: £64.99 incl VAT SAVE £30.00

HA3809 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Lockheed F-16C Barak “Exercise Blue Wings 2020” No.536, 101 Squadron, IAF, West Germany, 17th August 2020 SALE PRICE: £59.99 incl VAT (RRP £88.00, SAVING £28.01)

HA7743B Hobbymaster 1/48th scale P-51D Mustang Capt. Abner M. Aust, Jr. 457th FS, 506th FG, 7th AF, Iwo Jima, 1945 Without pilot signature plate SALE PRICE: £54.99 incl VAT (RRP £84.00, SAVING £29.01)

HA19002 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale McDonnell Douglas RF-4E Phantom II 20267, IRIAF, Mehrabad AB, 2009 WAS £79.99 SALE PRICE: £59.99 incl VAT SAVE £20.00

HA4532 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale  McDonnell Douglas F-15C “Mod Eagle” 84-0025, 53rd FS, 52nd FW, USAF, Spangdahlem Air Base, mid 1990s SALE PRICE: £64.99 incl VAT (RRP £118.00, SAVING £53.01)

HA8514 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale P-51B Mustang “Berlin Express” 324823, Lt. Bill Overstreet, 363rd FS, 357th FG, 1944 SALE PRICE: £49.99 incl VAT (RRP £91.00, SAVING £41.01)

HA6512 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale MiG-29A Fulcrum No. 77, 1st Fighter Aviation Regiment, Polish Air Force, 1996 SALE PRICE: £44.99 incl VAT (RRP £100.00, SAVING £55.01)

HA2630 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale AV-8B Harrier II Plus BuNo 165581, VMA-311, USMC, Afghanistan 2013 SALE PRICE: £59.99 incl VAT (RRP £102.00, SAVING £42.01)

HA8326 Hobbymaster 1/48th scale Spitfire Mk.IXe ML407, flown by F/O Johnnie Houlton, 485 (NZ) Squadron, France, September 1944 SALE PRICE: £64.99 incl VAT (RRP £106.00, SAVING £41.01)

HA5407 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Northrop T-38C Talon 69-7079, 49th FTS “Black Knights”, Moody AFB, Georgia 2006 SALE PRICE: £49.99 incl VAT (RRP £94.00, SAVING £44.01)

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Thank you for reading this week’s Newsletter.

Richard.
Flying Tigers.