Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey, USMC 2012.
ESCI's kit of the Osprey is available in several versions and has been re-issued
by Italeri.
It is based around the prototype aircraft, so requires quite a lot of modifications
to make it look like the current operational variant.
Link to build page
After a long and very painful development, the radical MV-22 Osprey is now in widespread
service with the USMC and USAF Special Ops Command. Still marred by controversy and
scandal over its unclear safety record (there have been several crashes this year
alone), alleged battle vulnerability, premature engine wear and fraudulent maintenance
and incident recording at USMC bases, the Osprey is a fascinating design, half helicopter,
half conventional plane, that is intended to allow the USMC to transit form amphibious
ships to operating areas ashore at very high speed.
Plans to arm the aircraft and use it in other roles seem to have been put on hold
for now, mainly due to budget constraints, but Bell Boeing continue to market it
aggressively to potential overseas buyers.
Two Ospreys attended the 2012 RIAT and Farnborough airshows, putting on an impressive
display of the aircraft's unique capabilities.
AV-8B+ - VMA231 "Ace of Spades" US Marine Corps 2001
Hasegawa OOB. Italeri Mavericks
The AV-8B is the US designation of the Harrier II. The most advanced version is this
AV-8B "plus", which has a substantial night and bad weather capability thanks to
its Infra Red night vision system and its radar. The main user is the US Marine Corps,
although the Italian and Spanish Navies also operate the AV-8B+ and are able to use
the AMRAAM Air to Air missile from their aircraft, giving it a potent fighter capability.
Friends & Allies - Part 2b - The USMC and USCG
AV-8A - VMA542 "Tigers" US Marine Corps 1976
ESCI OOB. Italeri LAU81c Rocket Launchers
The USMC was an early adopter of the first generation Harrier. Designated as the
AV-8A, the aircraft were built by British Aerospace in the UK and operated in the
close support role from the US Navy’s Assault ships. Link to build Page
Dassault Hu-25D Guardian - US Coast Guard, Miami CGAS, 2014 (Falcon 20G Fanjet)
Mach 2 with minor scratch changes
The US Coast Guard Hu-25 Guardian is based on the immensely successful Dassault Falcon
20G business jet that first flew in 1963 and continued to be produced until 1988.
41 aircraft entered service in 1982. During its service life, the Guardian underwent
a range of sensor and mission system upgrades to produce 5 distinct variants:
- Hu-25A – the original 41 aircraft fitted with APS-127 surface search radar.
- Hu-25B (Aireye) – Eight of the original aircraft were modified to carry sideways
looking radar in a large under fuselage pod, with additional sensor pods on wing
stations.
- Hu-25C (Nightstalker) – By fitting the APG-66 radar used by the F-16, the Guardian
gained impressive air intercept and ground tracking capabilities for the anti-narcotics
interdiction role. The new radar was matched with a trainable IR/Optical sensor
turret beneath the fuselage, satcoms capability and a more modern tactical workstation
suite within the cabin.
- Hu-25C+ - Starting in 2000, all of the Hu-25Cs were fitted with an upgraded APG-66(V)2
radar in an extended nose section.
- Hu-25D – Six Hu-25As were retrofitted with the X-band APS-143C(V)3 OceanEye inverse
synthetic aperture radar to give improved radar coverage out to 200nm.
Based at 5 air stations around the US coast, the aircraft were capable of cruising
at 350 knots down to sea level, with a maximum ceiling of 41,000 ft, an effective
operational range of 800nm and capable of nearly 6 hours endurance on patrol.
Hu-25s served the USCG faithfully for 32 years and proved to be very popular and
effective aircraft, finally being withdrawn in 2014 and replaced by ex-USAF surplus
C-27 Spartans.
A-4M Skyhawk - VMAT-102 “Skyhawks”, US Marine Corps 1983
Italeri, with Hasegaw decals
The USMC continued to use the Douglas Skyhawk for some time after it was withdrawn
from naval service. After years of successful service in Vietnam, the Marines decided
to retain the Skyhawk instead of adopting the USN’s replacement A-7 Corsair. In
part this was because the basic design remained sound for USMC purposes, with the
wide availability of surplus USN stocks making it a very low cost option, but also
allowing a period of grace during which the USMC was able to procure the preferred
AV-8A Harrier as a longer term replacement.
The Marines also initiated a new variant, the A-4M (marketed by Douglas as the Skyhawk
II), with modern avionics and bombing systems optimised for close air support as
well as a far more powerful engine, making it the fastest A-4 variant. At long last,
the A-4M overcame the tiny cockpit limitations of the original design, marrying the
wider trainer wind screen with a larger bubble canopy for better ergonomics and much
improved visibility. The final A-4M of 158 built was delivered in 1979 and they remained
in active service with the USMC until the mid 1980s.
VMAT-102 “Skyhawks” was the USMC Skyhawk training squadron, base at MCAS Yuma in
Arizona.
Link to build page
OA-4M Skyhawk - H&MS-12 “Outlaws”, US Marine Corps 2001
The USMC continued to use the Douglas Skyhawk for some time after it was withdrawn
from naval service. Twenty-three former two seat trainers were updated to the same
standards as the main A-4M variant and used as Forward Air Controllers until replaced
by AV-8B Harriers in the mid 1980s
Link to build page
Main Index
F-5E Tiger II - VMFT-401 “Snipers”, MCAS Yuma, 1996
In many ways, Northrop's F-5 was the US' answer to the MiG-21. Relatively low cost
to acquire and run, easy to maintain, aggressive looking and remarkably effective
in the air, in its original 1960s F-5A & twin seat F-5B Freedom Fighter guise it
was the ideal aircraft for US Client nations that might find themselves facing the
MiG.
Over 800 were built with most being exported. The upgraded F-5E and twin seat F-5F
Tiger were introduced in 1972 and brought more powerful engines, more fuel, radar
and aerodynamic improvements to keep it a credible combat aircraft, with 1,400 being
built mainly for US allies, in a production run that ended in 1987. It also formed
the basis of the USAF T-38 Talon trainer aircraft of which a further 1,200 were built
and a dedicated reconnaissance version, the RF-5 Tigereye, also saw service. An advanced
version, the F-20 Tigershark, was a competitor of the F-16 in the 1980s USAF Light
fighter competition, but was cancelled in 1986 when no orders materialised, although
some elements of the design were carried forward into the YF-17 and F/A-18 Hornet
aircraft for the US Navy.
The Iranian Armed Forces have also produced locally designed aircraft derived from
the basic F-5 design, although not in large numbers.
Link to build page
Because of its small size, maneouverability and similar flying characteristics to
the MiG-21, the USAF, US Navy and US Marines have all used F-5Es and ex Swiss F-5Ns
as aggressor aircraft for disimilar air to air combat training, with the aircraft
painted in a range of schemes and markings intended to simulate aircraft from likely
adversary nations.