Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and Hobbymaster model updates.

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The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multi-role fighters undergoing final development and testing by the United States. This fifth generation combat aircraft is designed to perform ground attack, aerial reconnaissance, and air defence missions. The F-35 has three main models: the F-35A conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) […]

The Bristol Beaufighter, & Latest Hobbymaster Offers !

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The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter was a multi-role aircraft developed during the Second World War by Bristol Aeroplane Company in the UK. It was originally conceived as a heavy fighter variant of the Bristol Beaufort bomber. The Beaufighter was a versatile aircraft used in service initially as a night fighter, and later mainly in the […]

North American A-5 Vigilante & Latest Model Arrivals

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In 1953, North American Aviation began a private study for a carrier-based, long-range, all-weather strike bomber, capable of delivering nuclear weapons at supersonic speeds. A contract was awarded on 29 August 1956 and its first flight occurred two years later on 31 August 1958 in Columbus, Ohio. The North American A-5 Vigilante was a carrier-based […]

The Flying Tiger Line & New Hobbymaster Announcements

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Flying Tiger Line Douglas C-54A Skymaster Manchester Airport England May 1955 Flying Tiger Line, also known as Flying Tigers, was the first scheduled cargo airline in the United States and a major military charter operator during the Cold War era for both cargo and personnel (the latter with leased aircraft). The airline was bought by […]

Vulcan Farewell at Sywell this week & New Tooling Announcement.

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Delta Lady XH558 at Sywell Tuesday 13th October 2015 It has been a busy few weeks at Sywell recently, but I had not been told, nor was I expecting, a final viewing of the Avro Vulcan XH558 on my very own doorstep ! After last weekend’s official last ever public display of the Vulcan , […]

Eric “Winkle” Brown ME163 Komet & Oxford Diecast Latest Model Announcements

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The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, was designed by Alexander Lippisch. This was a German rocket-powered fighter aircraft. It is the only rocket-powered fighter aircraft ever to have been operational. Its design was revolutionary, and the Me 163 was capable of performance which was unsurpassed at the time. German test pilot Heini Dittmar in early July 1944 reached a staggering 700 mph, which […]

Hawkeyes and Ospreys

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This week a look at two of the more unusual aircraft that have been made available to the diecast aviation enthusiast recently. Firstly a look at the E-2C Hawkeye. The Northrop E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather airborne early warning aircraft (AEW). The E-2 was a twin-turboprop developed in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s for the […]

Duxford 75th Anniversary Airshow & Pistons & Props Event at Sywell this weekend !

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I always consider the Autumn Airshow at Duxford as the beginning of the end of the airshow season each year.Obviously this year’s event was something very special as it commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Fortunately the weather was kind and as you will see from a few shots from the event […]

75th Anniversary Battle of Britain Flypast 15th September 2015

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The largest gathering of Battle of Britain aircraft since the second world war took to the skies of southern England to mark the aerial conflict’s 75th anniversary. Forty Spitfires & Hurricanes and a Bristol Blenheim bomber flew in various formations from Goodwood Aerodrome  last Tuesday afternoon, before dispersing across wartime airfields over the south of England. The […]

SBAC Farnborough 1953 & an update on Corgi Avro Vulcan XL321

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When I am out and about , I always keep my eyes open for anything interesting in aviation. I often browse antique markets and bric a brac stores and recently I went to the Antique Cellar in Brackley Northants. I picked up some early SBAC Farnborough Flying Display programme for just a few pounds and I have reproduced […]

Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird “Speed Record Setter”

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The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” was a long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by Lockheed and its Skunk Works division. Renowned American aerospace engineer Clarence “Kelly” Johnson was responsible for many of […]

Hobbymaster Latest Announcements,Corgi Vulcan and Aviation 72

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Firstly, Hobbymaster have announced the RRP on their new tooling of the F-14 Tomcat which is available for Pre-order. Many of you have either already expressed an interest in this model or have ordered it with Flying Tigers. The RRP is £106.00 and Flying Tigers are selling this at only £89.50. I will contact all […]

The Great War Display Team at Sywell

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Last weekend the The Great War  Display Team visited Sywell and put their aircraft through their paces. This is the second time I have had the privilege of watching their display routines here at Sywell since Flying Tigers re-located to Sywell Aerodrome. The crowd were treated to a wonderful dog fight display before a massed flypast to […]

“HALT” Who goes there at Sywell this week?

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Sywell entertained two new visitors this week. As many of you will recognize from the photograph above, the first of these visitors was none other than P51-D “Jumpin Jacques” operated by Hanger 11. I don’t know exactly what time she arrived, but when I made my morning trip to the Aviator Hotel reception (to collect […]

Shuttleworth Airshow and Product Additions.

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Dear Newsletter Readers thank you to all your kind comments on the Newsletters that I have recently written. It certainly is encouraging to me that they are read and enjoyed by so many of you. Each week I will try and vary the content between updated aviation model news and recent news from the airshows that […]

New Corgi 2015 2nd Half Catalogue Launch !

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Corgi has launched its 2015 second half catalogue ! As many of you have already noticed I have added the latest Corgi Aviation Archive models to the Flying Tigers Website . Thank you for all your orders ! You can access the latest models by clicking on the Future Corgi Models link highlighted here. All models […]

Blenheim and Lightning !

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IWM Duxford VE Day Anniversary Airshow Saturday 23rd May 2015  Well that was an enjoyable weekend! As reported in my Newsletter last week I planned to go to Duxford and Bruntingthorpe at the weekend, and I kept my fingers crossed that the weather would be kind. Well Duxford, whilst the weather was a little dull in the […]