Snuffwuzz (Ali)
1:48 Scale ASF Series: 1990 - "Bruisers"
Some aircraft are designed within the finest of margins, sacrificing serviceability, operability and adaptability for out-and-out performance. Other aircraft are built knowing that they may well be operating from a semi-serviceable runway with minimal logistical support. These two aircraft are certainly exemplars of the latter.
The MiG-23 was designed to replace the MiG-21 and first flew in 1967. The intent was to create an agile air superiority fighter, so the Soviet designers selected a single-engine design with variable geometry that could easily out-manoeuvre the aircraft's American adversaries in a dogfight.
The Saab Viggen also first flew - as a prototype strike fighter - in 1967 but the air superiority variant came a decade later. It was designed to be simple enough that a team of conscripts could maintain it.
1:48 Scale ASF Series: 1990 - "Bruisers"
Some aircraft are designed within the finest of margins, sacrificing serviceability, operability and adaptability for out-and-out performance. Other aircraft are built knowing that they may well be operating from a semi-serviceable runway with minimal logistical support. These two aircraft are certainly exemplars of the latter.
The MiG-23 was designed to replace the MiG-21 and first flew in 1967. The intent was to create an agile air superiority fighter, so the Soviet designers selected a single-engine design with variable geometry that could easily out-manoeuvre the aircraft's American adversaries in a dogfight.
The Saab Viggen also first flew - as a prototype strike fighter - in 1967 but the air superiority variant came a decade later. It was designed to be simple enough that a team of conscripts could maintain it.