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An F-35 Lightning II flying with P-51 Mustang Val-Halla during the USAF Heritage Flyover at the 2023 Abbotsford Airshow.
Hornet J-5011 of fighter squadron 11, "Tigers" of the Swiss Air Force.
This model in scale 1:32 is based on the excellent Canadian CF-18 by Ryan Harris, whose building instructions I bought to create my Swiss version of a Hornet.
Like the Canadian CF-18s, the Swiss F/A-18s feature a search light on the left side of the fuselage in front of the cockpit. All the working features of Ryan's model can be found on my Hornet as well:
- Opening canopy
- Movable flaps, ailerons and elevators
- Deployable airbrake
- Lowering arrestor hook
- Stowable landing gear with working doors
After I built an initial version following the building instructions, I made quite some changes to Ryan's design to incorporate some more features and better represent the Swiss version of the F/A-18C. Changes I made include:
- All grey color scheme
- Complete redesign of the wings to incorporate folding wing tips
- Section in front of the cockpit features IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) antennae and a deployable refuelling probe
- Radar warning antennas behind the cockpit
- More detailed engine nozzles
- Extended starter rails and different armament
- Smaller details all around
My model represents the plane of the squadron leader of "Fliegerstaffel 11" or fighter squadron 11 with the immatriculation J-5011. The latter one is shortened to 011 on the forward fuselage.
Squadron 11 call themselves "Tigers" and so it is quite obvious that they regularly participate in the NATO Tiger Meet. The livery on the model shows the design of the 2011 edition of the Tiger Meet. The decals are from a supplier of waterslide decals for plastic models and are perfect to scale in 1:32.
The Hornet is shown in a typical configuration for air police service. The armament consists of a 20 mm M61A1 gatling gun, 2 AIM-9X Sidewinders on the wing tips and 2 AIM-120B AMRAAMs on the fuselage hardpoints. Furthermore a centerline fuel tank is carried which shows the standby frequency of 121.50 MHz.
The display base represents a section of taxi way, leading to runway 28 of the Meiringen air base, which is homebase to squadron 11.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s. It was one of the first true modern fighters of the era, including such features as all-metal monocoque construction, closed canopy, and retractable landing gear.
The BF-109 was powered by liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 engines, first by a Jumo 210 of 700 HP, then by DB 601 of 1,100 HP, then DB 605A-1 of 1,475, and up to 2,000 HP. Top speed was 640 km/h and more.
The 109 first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the dawn of the jet age at the end of World War II (1945). From the end of 1941 the Bf 109 was supplemented, but never completely replaced in service, by the radial engined Focke-Wulf Fw 190.
Originally conceived as an interceptor, later models were developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter bomber, day-, night- all-weather fighter, bomber destroyer, ground-attack aircraft, and as reconnaissance aircraft. The Bf 109 was the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced up to April 1945.
It was also supplied to several of Germany's allies, including Finland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovakia.
According to some sources, the Bf 109 achieved more aerial kills than any other aircraft. One hundred and five (possibly 109) Bf 109 pilots were credited with the destruction of 100 or more enemy aircraft. Thirteen of these men scored more than 200 kills, while two scored more than 300. Altogether this group shot down nearly 15,000 enemy planes. Official ace status was granted to any pilot who scored five or more kills. Applying this, Luftwaffe records reveal that "Ace" status belonged to more than 2,500 German pilots. Against Soviets, the Finnish-flown Bf 109Gs claimed a victory ratio of 25:1 in favor of the Finns.
Spitfire stunt flying over East Preston
It arrived "out of the blue" and I thought it would only be over the village for a few seconds. How wrong I was. Anyway I grabbed the camera and poked it out the window to grab a couple of shots only to find he stayed around for several minutes. Time enough in fact to dash down the road to the beach and get some decent clear shots.
At the speed and altitude he was flying he only appeared in the gap between the roofs for a couple of seconds at the most on each pass.
IMG_6105
Old & New Fighter Planes ✈️ -
Practicing for 2019 Airshow
Practice Flights On Sunday
Tucson’s Davis-Monthan AFB
Seen from my backyard.
Central Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tags:
"United States Air Force" "Old And New" "Fighter Planes" Practicing "Flying Together" "Precision Flying" "Pattern Flying" Flight "Davis-Monthan AFB" "My Backyard" "Central Tucson" Tucson Arizona USA "Southwestern USA" "American Southwest" "North America" "Western Hemisphere" "My Backyard" Exciting Thrilling Dramatic "Partial Overcast" Sky Clouds "Aircraft Spotting"
The Royal Canadian heritage flyover during the 2023 Abbotsford Airshow with a CF-18 Hornet flying alongside a restored RCAF P-40 Kitty Hawk.
The prototype fuselage of a McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II, nicknamed the Flying Dorito. It was a Navy stealth fighter bomber program that was cancelled in 1991. Only the non-flyable prototype was ever built, and it remains on the outer grounds of Meacham Airport awaiting restoration as a museum exhibit.
Spitfire stunt flying over East Preston
It arrived "out of the blue" and I thought it would only be over the village for a few seconds. How wrong I was. Anyway I grabbed the camera and poked it out the window to grab a couple of shots only to find he stayed around for several minutes. Time enough in fact to dash down the road to the beach and get some decent clear shots.
At the speed and altitude he was flying he only appeared in the gap between the roofs for a couple of seconds at the most on each pass.
IMG_6102
Explored 2011 08 19 #483
A sneak peek of this weekends air show at the Waterloo Regional International Airport. Despite my years in the air force, I still get thrill at the sight of military aircraft, no matter what the era.
Pictured: An RAF Top Gun pilot crash landing his Harrier Fighter Plane on the runway of Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan. The pilot ejected to safety via his rocket fired ejector seat, once he had steered his Harrier passed a civilian passenger aircraft also on the runway. May 2009.
A USAF F35 Lightning II performing during the Lightning demo at the 2025 Abbotsford International Airshow. It was an awesome demo, it was cut short however due to technical problems. A warning light came on and the pilot had to land. That said she put on a good show, didn't hold back, and she nearly broke the sound barrier.
Went to the Waddington Airshow this past weekend, came back with some okay shots, but I was having to shoot into the sun for most of the day.. Got some interesting shots though. Heres the first shot from the Waddington Air Show 2011
D300
Nikkor 200-400 VR
MK356 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk LF IXe and LF363 - Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC - Royal Air Force - RAF Fairford
Aircraftmen fit a 250lb bomb to a Hawker Hurricane ~ it had just been announced that the fighter was being used as a single seater bomber in certain circumstances.
A USAF F-35 Lightning II flying in the 2023 Abbotsford Airshow. This was the plane that I most excited to see. The pilot put on an incredible demo too, she didn't hold back, showed off all the F-35 can do, and came close to breaking the sound barrier.