Scale Models

The Sword of the Sky, the B-2 Spirit

2008-08-10T05:22:00.000-07:00

by Anne Rivera

The striking silhouette of the B-2 Spirit in flight is a sight to stir even the hardest of hearts. Pictures of B-2 spirit planes are a great way to fully appreciate its unique design. With its marriage of deadly function and superior stealth, the B-2 Spirit is a symbol of military achievement that deserves a singular place of honor.

A Top Secret Uncovered

Born in the depths of the US Department of Defense’s black projects, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber was a quantum leap in stealth design. The brainchild of Jim Northrop, the project would cost billions of dollars and take ten years of undercover development. With such a huge undertaking, Northrop-Grumman would eventually require the cooperation of Boeing, General Electric, and Hughes in order to let the first B-2 fly in July 17, 1989. It is shrouded in such secrecy that the full details of its design are still not declassified.

It would take 10 more years before the Spirit would see combat in Kosovo. Originally intended as a key tactical component of the United States Cold War strategy, the collapse of the Soviet Union threatened to render the B-2 non-essential. From the originally planned 132 aircraft, only 21 bombers have been built.

Singular B-2 Spirit Stealth

Designed as a multi-role low altitude bomber with both nuclear and conventional capabilities, the key feature of the Northrop-Grumman B-2 Spirit is its stealth. It is one of the first planes to be designed almost completely on a computer. This allowed developers to optimize its various anti-radar features.

The distinctive shape of the B-2 is the result of striving to decrease its radar, visual, and electromagnetic visibility. The ‘Flying Wing’ is aerodynamically designed to maximize lift while minimizing silhouette. Four General Electric engines, two bomb bays, even the B-2 spirit stealth bomber landing gears all fold seamlessly into its body. Its special radar absorbent paint requires reapplication after every mission.

An Expensive Investment Pays Off

With a price tag of 2.2 billion dollars each, the B-2 is one of the most expensive bombers in history. Its performance, however, has shown it to be well worth the expense. Its ability to go beyond enemy defenses and hit crucial targets has been proven time and again in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Operators have also indicated their assent. The bomber requires only a crew of two and has ample room for a third. The advanced avionics and guidance suite allows one B-2 spirit pilot to monitor the plane while the other can rest or do maintenance. In fact, the B-2 holds the record for the longest combat sortie to date, logging a total mission time of 44 hours from Missouri to Afghanistan and back.

The B-2 Spirit has been so successful that the initial test plane, which was never intended for military use, has been upgraded to combat status. The ‘Spirit of America’ is a fitting name for the pride that this aircraft instills in its people. You don’t need to be American to appreciate this fantastic plane, whose splendor faithfully captured in fantastic B-2 Spirit pictures.

The B-29 Enola Gay: Ending a War with Bombs

2008-08-08T05:21:00.000-07:00

by Anne Rivera

The Flying Fortress B-17 of Boeing was used by the US Army in the 1930s as bomber planes to literally bring the US artillery up in the air, but it was not until the Superfortress B-29 Enola Gay was launched that the monsters of the air force began to creep out. Its speed, bomb capacity, firepower, strength, range and altitude capacity made the B-17 look like a toy. The B-29 Enola Gay was essentially every war enthusiast's dream -- that is, until it caused worldwide destruction.

An Aircraft that's the First of its Kind

The weapons engineers were so confident in what they were doing that they already established manufacturing facilities even before the prototype was made. The massive technology that went into the creation of the B-29 bomber Enola Gay was the first of its kind, and it went on to be used in more advanced technology in the following years such as the NASA space shuttle configurations. The Enola Gay B-29 was fashioned with heavy artillery, pressurized crew compartments, and a central electronic control for all its bombs and guns.

Bombing Japan with a Power that Shook the World

At that time, the B-29 Enola Gay was the nightmare of the enemy. It could carry 20,000 lbs of bombs and it could fly 5,830 miles at 40,000 feet at 365 mi/hr. It had 4 2,200 horsepower Wright Cyclone 18 turbocharged radial piston engine, making the aircraft weigh 70,140 lbs when empty and 124,000 during takeoff. For this reason, it was this aircraft that was used to bomb Japan in World War II, beginning the B-29 Enola Gay controversy that shook the world.

The B-29 was the first bomber aircraft to handle atomic bombs for the first and last time during the World War. They were first dropped on Hiroshima by Col. Paul Tibbetts, who named the aircraft after his mother, Enola Gay. The second one was dropped in Nagasaki by Major General Charles Sweeny. After the atomic bomb destruction, the B-29 is easily considered as the only plane to have successfully ended a war.

The B-29 Goes Down in History

The B-29 didn't retire after the World War. In fact, it was still used in the Korean War. The US dropped 200,000 tons of bombs on the lands of North Korea, after which they decided to retire the aircrafts. The B-29's were never used in any war thereafter, and out of the 3,970 aircrafts built, there is only one left that's still flying. Not to worry, however, because it's not being used for any form of warcraft. The Commemorative Air Force lets it fly once in a while as a part of its Ghost Squadron to remind them of the World War.

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington exhibited some parts of the B-29 Enola Gay in 1995, but was changed after some time due to the script that accompanied it. It was again restored in 2003 as a part of an exhibit at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center to go down in time as the only aircraft that ended a war.

Refueling in Flight with the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

2008-08-06T05:20:00.000-07:00

by Anne Rivera

Since 1957, the KC-135 Stratotanker engineered by the long-standing Boeing airplane company has been operating to assist US Air Force airplanes in flight with refueling. At the time, the US Air Force used their jets often and would go for long hours in the air on their operations. The aircrafts weren't capable of carrying an extra load of gasoline, which was why they developed the KC-135 Stratotanker to fly up and use a transferring method to help them refuel.

Developing the Stratotanker Model

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker possesses a basic resemblance to the famously known Boeing 707 or 720. It has 4 underwing mounted pods for the engine, the usual swept wings and a tail, a horizontal and vertical stabilizer to keep the aircraft balanced while in flight, and a high frequency radio antenna for communication with the aircraft that needs stratotanker refueling.

Utilizing the KC-135's Refueling Purposes

From the year 1957 until 1991, refueling remained to be an important part of in-flight operations. During this time, the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard of the United States used these aircrafts as employed by the Strategic Air Command. After some time, the aircrafts were then reassigned to the AMC (Air Mobility Command) and the United States Air Force in Europe and the Pacific Air Forces thereafter.

How the Refueling Stratotanker Works

Boeing's refueling aircraft can carry up to 322,500 lbs in flight because of the collective functioning capacity of its 4 turbojet engines and 35-degree swept wings. There is also a cargo deck that can hold a load of cargo or people aside from the weight of the fuel being transferred.

The tanker uses a fuel transferring method wherein almost all the internal fuel that it carries is pumped through the flying boom towards the gas tank of the receiving aircraft. For aircrafts that handle refueling via probes that are fitted to the gas tanks, there are shuttlecock-shaped contrapments called drogues that are attached to the tanker to help with this. There is also a boom operator at the back end of the tanker which regulates and controls the boom while transferring fuel from the tanker to the gas tank of the aircraft.

Other Uses of the Stratotanker

The KC-135 is primarily used to refuel aircrafts while they are in flight and when they can't carry an extra load of fuel. However, the same KC-135 Stratotanker has helped with other projects as well. In the years 1979 and 1980, the tankers were used by NASA at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at the Edwards Air Force Base in California. The tankers were used as test subjects for "winglets" that were developed by Richard Whitcomb of the Langley Research Center. The winglets are small vertical fins attached to the wings to adjust the drag force of the aircraft. Fortunately, the project brought forth positive results in that the drag force was reduced by 7%. Now, winglets are being used by almost all commercial airplanes.

FA-18 Hornet: the Favored Son

2008-08-04T05:14:00.000-07:00

by Anne Rivera

Designed specifically to maximize the combat and range capabilities of carrier-based fighter craft, the F/A-18 Hornet is set to become the backbone of American sea squadrons in the coming years. Its balanced design allows for a surprising range of applications, from interdiction to enemy defense suppression to reconnaissance. Recently, the F/A-18 Hornet’s features have been supercharged to create the Super Hornet.

Suited to the Sea

Development on the F-18 family of fighter craft began in the 1970s as the need for an improved carrier-based jet surfaced. With some initial assistance from Northrop, McDonnell Douglas would produce a superbly versatile multi-mission tactical plane for the Navy Air Combat Fighter program of the United States. Maximum use was made of technology developed for the Air Force’s successful Light Weight Fighter program.

The firstborn F/A-18A would fly on April 12 1980. Its superior close combat capabilities and maneuverability would be proven beyond doubt by the F-18 hornet pilots in their initial missions. It became abundantly clear that the aircraft’s major limitation was it small combat radius, which necessitated modifications in the original design.

Forced Evolution

The rapidly escalating arms technology race would result in rapid development in F-18s. New weapons and avionics modifications increased aircraft operational reliability, however, the problem of combat radius would require a radical rethink.

In order to remake the early F-18s, its wing, aft fuselage, tail surfaces and power systems were redesigned to create the F-18 Super Hornet. Capitalizing on its forebear’s naval optimization, the Super Hornet would add substantially to its fuel capacity, mission range and endurance. Improved stealth systems, advanced electronic combat abilities and a beefed-up weapons profile would complete the transformation.

Advanced F-18 Super Hornet Design

The changing military landscape required a primary focus on survivability for fighter craft. Modern air combat tends to focus on accurate identification on hostiles beyond visual range and the use of highly effective heat seeking missiles. The radar signature of the Super Hornet is significantly smaller when compared to contemporary fighters. Reduced ballistic ability and standoff weapons further enhance crew safety.

The F-18 super hornet cockpit is a marvel of modern avionics. Touch sensitive screens display controls for swift access. Liquid crystal multipurpose color date provide up to the minute data on combat situations. State of the art fly-by-wire systems optimize computer enhanced maneuvers with compensation programs that automatically correct for battle damage.

The Success Story Begins

Since entering active service in 1999, the Super Hornet has more than lived up to its hype. It has been used to great effect in the American military efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Foreign governments have taken notice, with the Royal Australian Air Force set to acquire a squadron of F-18 fighters. Finland and Brazil have also signified interest in the Super Hornet.

Its brothers have not lagged far behind. F/A-18 Hornets are the stars in the US Navy Blue Angels aerobatics team, displaying its superior agility in air shows worldwide. The outstanding features of this superbly designed line of fighter craft can be fully appreciated in high-quality F-18 hornet pics available for enthusiastic enjoyment.

The F-22 Raptor: Aimed at Conquest

2008-06-30T21:55:00.001-07:00

by Anne Rivera

In 1981, United States Air Force defense strategists projected a need for a new air superiority fighter to counter emerging worldwide threats. The F-22 Raptor, incorporating top-of-the-line stealth and combat capabilities, is designed to dominate the skies. Display this rising star of military achievement in your home or office with a streamlined mahogany scale model.

The Price of Predatory Perfection.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Boeing Integrated Defense partnered to create a stealth capable multirole fighter, with specialized features that elevate the F-22 from other aircraft. The goal would cost over 60 billion US dollars and require two decades of intensive research and development. At an estimated unit cost of US 138 million dollars, it is one of the most expensive planes ever produced.

Most of this cost comes from incorporating advanced technology; including specialized alloys and composites, state of the art computer flight control systems, high power engines, and innovations in stealth.
The result is an outstanding fighter jet with unique tactical capabilities, coveted by Japan, Israel and Australia. Although these countries have indicated interest in acquiring the F-22 Raptor, its sale to foreign powers remains prohibited by federal law.

A Product of Combat Evolution.

Though many of its specific features are still classified, available information shows that the F-22 is unmatched by present and projected future fighters. Its dual turbofan engines can hit speeds of Mach 1.7 without use of afterburners. In addition to this supercruise feature, the Raptor has a vector thrust faculty. This lets the pilot angle engine thrust for maneuvering, allowing blinding turns at both supersonic and subsonic speeds.

This fifth generation fighter also has a suite of advanced avionics to augment its combat capabilities. On-board radar allows long-range and multiple target acquisition. This allows effective attacks on enemy craft beyond visual range in various weather conditions. Armaments include air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface bombs, electronic focused emission attacks, and a 20 mm rotary cannon.

An Invisible Aggressive Force.

Using fourth generation stealth technology, the F-22 Raptor integrates several anti-radar strategies. Its use of radar absorbent materials and beam scattering design reduce visibility both electronically and visually. Both infrared sensors and heat-seeking missiles are foiled by its decreased infrared emissions. Electronic equipment in the cockpit, pilot’s helmet, and radar ports have been screened to minimize interception.

The lethal potential of this stealth fighter was amply proven by its staggering performance in a Red Flag combat exercise in 2007. Against superior numbers, F-22s quickly and efficiently established air dominance. Only one Raptor was shot down, compared to the complete annihilation of opposing forces. In another exercise it posted 241 kills against two losses in air-to-air combat.

The Raptors’ Homecoming.

Since its entry into active service in December of 2005, the F-22 has played a critical role in the US strategic defense force. Raptors are deployed to Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, Langley in Virginia, Holloman in New Mexico, Eglin in Florida, Elmendorf in Alaska, Hickam in Hawaii as well as to the Virginia Air National Guard.

A true marvel of advanced military technology, the F-22 Raptor has earned the praise of fighter pilots nationwide. There is no better way to share the thrill of victory than by displaying this desktop model where everyone can fully appreciate it. This accurate scale model will be drawing admiration and compliments from your friends and colleagues for a long time.

Top Dog of the Skies: the F-16 Fighting Falcon

2008-06-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

by Anne Rivera

When it comes to aerial combat, few dog-fighter jets can match the F-16 in maneuverability and offensive capability. Combining cutting edge technology with classic design, the Fighting Falcon is expertly captured in a sleek desktop scale model ready for display.

The falcon ascending

American fighter jets of the 1970s were clearly inadequate for the changing martial landscape. Experience in Vietnam clearly illustrated how ungainly, expensive, and ill-equipped they were for combat. There was a need for a better multirole jet fighter aircraft, one that could reclaim the skies.

Ace pilot John Boyd and the ‘Lightweight Fighter Mafia’ design group would rise to the challenge. They would create the most agile combat aircraft ever built, sacrificing weight for speed. The manufacturer was General Dynamics and in August 1978, a production standard F-16 took flight for the first time.

Design devised for dueling

The F-16 Fighting Falcon incorporated several innovations in its compact frame. A supersonic multirole fighter, it was the first plane to use ‘fly-by-wire’ technology, or computer assisted flight. In order to make the plane more maneuverable, the F-16 was designed to be aerodynamically unstable. This means the plane was always on the verge of going out of control.

It sounds completely crazy, but this inherent instability allowed the Fighting Falcon to make faster turns and quicker speed shifts. The ‘fly-by-wire’ computer needed to constantly adjust the control surfaces to keep the plane on an even keel. The result was superior maneuverability. These innovations were so successful that they are used in many modern aircraft.

Fully loaded for the fight

These weren’t the only modifications designed to increase the F-16 Fighting Falcon’s combat capability. Its cropped delta wings were designed to blend imperceptibly with the fuselage, resulting in a smaller plane with higher thrust-to-weight ratios. This meant it could use its single turbofan engine to perform maneuvers of up to 9Gs, at a time when the acknowledged limit was only 7Gs. A clear dome cockpit allowed 360 degree views, so that no one could sneak up on the pilot.

The F-16’s weapons systems included a 20 mm cannon, and up to six heat-seeking missiles. It used a revolutionary integrated radar system, with the data projected onto a Heads-Up-Display. The pilot would always be looking exactly at the enemy’s approach path. It’s no wonder that it became the most popular dog-fighter in its class.

A plane beyond price

To date, over 25 countries maintain the F-16 in their fleets. With all its features, it remains the most cost-effective multirole fighter available, priced at nearly a quarter of the cost of its predecessors. The F-16 has the added feature of being completely upgradeable, with modular units for a multitude of different combat and tactical situations, including precision air strikes and reconnaissance missions.

The admiration many pilots feel for the F-16 Fighting Falcon is well deserved. It is truly amazing how its compact functional design and lethal versatility is faithfully rendered in a scale model, perfect for any home or office. This durable mahogany scale model will undoubtedly incite awe and respect from your friends every time they see it.

The Mystery and Majesty of the SR-71 Blackbird

2008-06-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

by Anne Rivera

In the 1960s, military aviation reached a pinnacle of creation embodied by the Lockheed SR-71 spyplane. Though given many nicknames, including “Habu” (Japanese viper) and “Lady in Black”, undoubtedly the best known of its designations is “Blackbird”. This much loved strategic reconnaissance (SR) craft is fully realized in a hand-made mahogany model perfect for display.

The evolution of a covert legend

The SR-71 Blackbird was developed as a long-distance spyplane capable of entering and exiting enemy territory undetected. Designed by Lockheed Skunk Works under a shroud of secrecy, the first test flight occurred in December of 1964 to resounding success. Production began with each aircraft costing upwards of 30 million dollars; only 32 of the aircraft were ever built. In 1968, the specialized tools required to manufacture it were destroyed by the Department of Defense.

The forefather of stealth craft

Never intended for combat, one of the most important aspects of design was to minimize its radar signature. The aircraft’s unusual shape and angled surfaces deflect radar. Special radar absorbing materials were incorporated into its construction. A cesium-type jet fuel was used reduce exhaust visibility. Though these features significantly decreased its radar imprint, it was never a true stealth success. However, it was the first aircraft designed primarily to anti-radar specifications, paving the way for improved technology in later years.

The spyplane contained optical and infrared imagery systems, radar and electronic intelligence gathering systems. Its cameras could cover 100,000 square miles of terrain hourly. They could get clear pictures of a matchbox on the beach from 80,000 feet away.

An angel of acceleration

In its 30 years of active military service and despite more than 4000 attempts, the Blackbird has never been shot down. How is this extraordinary achievement even possible? The SR-71 Blackbird never fully met its stealth specifications, air traffic control could see from hundreds of miles away. What made it so successful as a spyplane? Its secret weapon was its unmatched speed.

The Blackbird could fly at velocities of up to Mach 3.2 at an altitude of 85,000 feet. It holds the enviable title of being the fastest manned aircraft in aviation history. Pilots describe the feel of the SR-71’s takeoff as a freight train rolling downhill, reaching a peak of 230 knots. It still holds the records both for highest sustained flight (85,068.997 feet) and absolute top speed (2,242 mph) for manned aircraft. If someone launched a missile at it, all they needed to do was outrun it.

An elite class of admirers

The SR-71 Blackbird attracts only a select class. Less than 500 people in the world have ever flown this plane, more people have been in space shuttles. Imagine the pride of having the intricate details of this classic aircraft duplicated in stunning accuracy in a scale model. Its sleek functionality is made even more special by the fact that this is a completely human designed machine; no computers were used in the development of the SR-71.

This lasting piece of aviation history is perfect to display anywhere in your home or office. The majestic SR-71 Blackbird, immortalized in a long lasting mahogany desktop scale model, will have you collecting compliments and envious looks for years to come.

The Lockheed Martin F-35b

2008-06-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

by Anne Rivera

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a stealth fighter designed as a multi-role military aircraft. It presumes roles of close air support, tactical bombing, and air superiority. It has been designed to have three variants - conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL), and a carrier variant. As a product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, its development is mostly funded by the US and the UK, while other allied governments provide additional funds. It is being designed by Lockheed Martin and had its first flight in late 2006. It is set to be formally introduced by 2011.

One of its variants, the F-35b, has generated significant buzz as it is being compared to the famed Harrier. The F-35b is designed to have the same capability as that of the Harrier, which is the short takeoff and vertical landing. Just like the Harrier, guns will be installed in a ventral pod. As it is the riskiest by far, vertical flight has always been a concept that has drawn attention to such aircrafts.

The Harrier Jump Jet was famous for being the first to achieve vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL), which was an innovation at the time. This meant that long runways were unnecessary to fly it properly. Its different variations have proven to be valuable in combat and have served in the Falklands War and Afghanistan, amongst others. It is used by several different countries, including America, the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, India, Italy, and many others.

The F-35b is intended to replace the later versions of the Harrier, which is currently used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom as their primary ground attack fighter. The F-35b is said to be more efficient in both design and application. With international support, it is said to be one of the most significant developments of military aircraft technology in recent years.

The Harrier was a revolution in the history of flight, but it did have its repercussions. It was quite difficult to fly, as pilots trained to fly Harriers have said that it is the most difficult plane to fly and control. Its hover time can never compare to that of helicopters as it is limited and can be weakened when put under certain conditions. This has led to numerous pilot deaths more due to mechanical failures than getting shot down in combat. Also, maintenance was also quite expensive due to its complicated system. The F-35b is being developed to perform the same tasks that the Harrier better without all the hassles and difficulties presented by the jump jet.

With internation support and financial backing, a lot of countries are expecting to utilize the results of the JSF program for their own air forces. While the United States is the primary benefactor and customer, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Turkey, Australia, Norway and Denmark have contributed US$4.375 billion for development costs. While most of these countries are looking to acquire the fighter planes, the UK specifically has particular interest in acquiring Lockheed Martin F-35b's to replace their Harrier Jump Jets, which are still in service up to this day.

Space Flight and the KYNASAO2T Space Shuttle Orbiter Model

2008-05-29T18:45:00.001-07:00

by Anne Rivera

There's nothing quite like first opening a boxed model set, inspecting all the parts and pieces and creating that perfect picture in your head of your model already constructed. Those first moments could only be eclipsed after many hours of hard and dedicated work when you've finally pieced the model together and carefully placed on their designed spots the last couple of stickers. For space buffs, the KYNASAO2T Space Shuttle Orbiter allows you to imagine that beautiful ship on its flights to and from the space orbital stations. You could just picture that ship standing tall in the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, strapped to one main rocket and two boosters and with the speakers blaring out that familiar countdown. After that comes the fiery blast as it lifts up towards the skies. You could also picture that shuttle docking to the Mir Space Station, its baydoors opening as the astronauts in their spacesuits slowly float out of the vehicle as they do their spacewalks. Man's destiny, perhaps, is in the stars; the model of the space shuttle you hold in your hands a manifestation of so many men's dreams.

What a history the space shuttle orbiter has. The first completed Space Shuttle Orbiter, Enterprise, was created just for tests to see how the design would hold up in the atmosphere. It wasn't initially supposed to be called Enterprise. The plan was to call the Space Shuttle Orbiter, Constitution. However, people began writing to NASA to call it Enterprise, coming from the USS Enterprise from the TV show Star Trek. NASA agreed to this; it wouldn't be a stretch to suppose that there were also some Star Trek fans in NASA's ranks. The Enterprise made its flights starting in 1976 and the success of these tests proved that the design for the shuttles worked well.

KYNASAO2T however, is the Discovery, which is one of NASA's three working space shuttles. The Discovery has had 34 flights so far with the 35th one coming the last day of May, 2008. This 2010, the Discovery is set to be de-comissioned with that Space Shuttle Orbiter being replaced by the newer Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. The model spacecraft, of course, would presumably be available long after 2010, but collectors are getting them now to add to their collections. The Discovery, along with its sister shuttles have been a part of history, and have in many times caught the public's eye. One only has to remember the Columbia and Challenger disasters that have made people remember not to take for granted these space missions and earned a greater respect for these astronauts.

After the model is finished and everything has been set to dry, why not show a child the Space Shuttle Orbiter? Perhaps the experience of being able to touch well-made models of these spacecrafts could awaken in the child a greater interest in science and learning. He doesn't really have to become interested in being an astronaut, exactly, but he could be interested in being an engineer, or an inventor, perhaps. And perhaps he'd have an idea of just what is truly possible when we as people work together to create the means to reach our dreams.