Wonwings Diary-a blog with a difference.
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Wonwings diary-War stricken Douglas Dakota's and a bonus De Havilland Rapide.
Douglas Dakota
In September 1939 just when the whole world was to be covered by an inter-connecting air transport system,the nations divided themselves again in hostilities.By 1941 every great trading and commercial country was involved in active military operations,or was under the complete domination of the Axis Powers. The few neutral nations such as Sweden and Switzerland lived an uneasy life between the beligerents.Swissair retained two DC-3's in flying condition for occasional flights undertaken on behalf of the International Red Cross,and put the rest of its leet in storage.
All the European services of K.L.M were stopped on 23rd August 1939 except those to Scandinavia,Belgium and London.The Scandinavian service closed down on 9th April 1940,the Belgium on 18th April and finally on 10th May 1940 all European services were terminated and the Germans occupied the Netherlands.On that fatal day four K.L.M DC-3's painted in bright overall colours by German bombing at Schipol airport.A further four were captured by the Luftwaffe intact at Schipol when the invading forces reached there on 16th May,these were repainted with German crosses and swastika's and used by the Luftwaffe.Nothing daunted K.L.M joined the Allied cause and with four remaining DC-3'S fled their stricken country to set up a base at Whitchurch airport,Bristol UK,here they were allocated British registrations and opened a service between Bristol and Lisbon in August 1940.A German air attack on Whitchurch on 24th November 1940 destroyed one of the Dakota's.
The pictures show one of these aircraft in bold wartime identification markings making no mistake as to the country of origin.
This is a fully rebuilt original Airfix Dakota,the model can be identified by the inaccurate nose shape and the models lack of sufficent dihedral.In order to complete the historic Airfix model this required stripping down another original Airfix Dakota which had seen better days.I have plenty of more accurate Dakota models and decided to keep this one as a record of how the first Airfix offering looked and paint it in an interesting historical colourscheme described above.
Paint is Tamiya Acrylic hand brushed over a Holts white universal primer,all lettering is hand painted.
De Havilland DH.89A Rapide
This is the original Frog 1=76th scale Dragon Rapide painted in Cambrian Air Services colours.
Douglas Dakota
In September 1939 just when the whole world was to be covered by an inter-connecting air transport system,the nations divided themselves again in hostilities.By 1941 every great trading and commercial country was involved in active military operations,or was under the complete domination of the Axis Powers. The few neutral nations such as Sweden and Switzerland lived an uneasy life between the beligerents.Swissair retained two DC-3's in flying condition for occasional flights undertaken on behalf of the International Red Cross,and put the rest of its leet in storage.
All the European services of K.L.M were stopped on 23rd August 1939 except those to Scandinavia,Belgium and London.The Scandinavian service closed down on 9th April 1940,the Belgium on 18th April and finally on 10th May 1940 all European services were terminated and the Germans occupied the Netherlands.On that fatal day four K.L.M DC-3's painted in bright overall colours by German bombing at Schipol airport.A further four were captured by the Luftwaffe intact at Schipol when the invading forces reached there on 16th May,these were repainted with German crosses and swastika's and used by the Luftwaffe.Nothing daunted K.L.M joined the Allied cause and with four remaining DC-3'S fled their stricken country to set up a base at Whitchurch airport,Bristol UK,here they were allocated British registrations and opened a service between Bristol and Lisbon in August 1940.A German air attack on Whitchurch on 24th November 1940 destroyed one of the Dakota's.
The pictures show one of these aircraft in bold wartime identification markings making no mistake as to the country of origin.
This is a fully rebuilt original Airfix Dakota,the model can be identified by the inaccurate nose shape and the models lack of sufficent dihedral.In order to complete the historic Airfix model this required stripping down another original Airfix Dakota which had seen better days.I have plenty of more accurate Dakota models and decided to keep this one as a record of how the first Airfix offering looked and paint it in an interesting historical colourscheme described above.
Paint is Tamiya Acrylic hand brushed over a Holts white universal primer,all lettering is hand painted.
De Havilland DH.89A Rapide
This is the original Frog 1=76th scale Dragon Rapide painted in Cambrian Air Services colours.
Wonwings diary-The Boeing B-47 Stratojet.
Boeing B-47 Stratojet.
This is the Hasegawa Boeing B-47 Stratojet,the model is now on its third restoration and I think looks better than when it was new,the problem with this type of model being so large is they can get damaged being moved around,and unless a proper storage box is made for them they suffer,I think this time a foamboard box is the answer with the fuselage resting onto balsa blocks to keep the undercarriage away from any stresses and strain.
The model is finished in Woolworths household silver paint,which makes a really realistic metal finish and has been used by model builders for years,the paint has too much aluminium carrier varnish so allow the tin to stand overnight and drain some off the top the next day.
The scene could easily be a Stratojet climbing away after take off from U.S.A.F Bruntingthorpe where they were once based.It was real fun doing this shoot and selecting some suitable scenery to add realism.
Boeing B-47 Stratojet.
This is the Hasegawa Boeing B-47 Stratojet,the model is now on its third restoration and I think looks better than when it was new,the problem with this type of model being so large is they can get damaged being moved around,and unless a proper storage box is made for them they suffer,I think this time a foamboard box is the answer with the fuselage resting onto balsa blocks to keep the undercarriage away from any stresses and strain.
The model is finished in Woolworths household silver paint,which makes a really realistic metal finish and has been used by model builders for years,the paint has too much aluminium carrier varnish so allow the tin to stand overnight and drain some off the top the next day.
The scene could easily be a Stratojet climbing away after take off from U.S.A.F Bruntingthorpe where they were once based.It was real fun doing this shoot and selecting some suitable scenery to add realism.
G
Visions of Jimmy Stewart in the cockpit !!!!!!!!!
Wonwings diary-Very special Avro Lancaster's
Avro Lancaster.
These white and black aircraft went on a tour of America just after World War 2,many American people had never seen a Lanc before so the aircraft toured all over the U.S.A on a goodwill mission.
Sadly the trip was marred at the very end ,when whilst on approach one of the machines came very low over the threshold and the Lancaster's large wheel struck an observer at the end of the runway.
The starboard inner engine has failed and been feathered ! the aircraft has been trimmed out.
As she climbs away the distinctive all white upper surfaces glint.
This model of the first Airfix Avro Lancaster was almost consigned to the model breakers yard,found crushed in the bottom of a box of bits with no undercarriage,no tail and devoid of props,it had been covered in several layers of household paint,first job was to prise what was left of it apart with a large kitchen knife,thankfully it had not been glued together very well,the cockpits and turrets were cleaned up with Brasso and toothpaste then dunked into Johnsons to restore them,the major bits were soaked overnight in brake fluid which lifted the yukky paint,then the whole lot was cleaned up with white spirit to degrease the parts and re-assembly could begin in earnest,somebody donated a new tail assembly and a jig was made to solder together the brass tube undercarriage legs.
The whole model was given two coats of Halfords universal soft white primer,the gloss black undersides were done Tamiya paint,suitable decals came from the spares box and the serials and codes hand painted.
So another rare early kit was saved with a bit of a different colourscheme from the norm.
Avro Lancaster.
These white and black aircraft went on a tour of America just after World War 2,many American people had never seen a Lanc before so the aircraft toured all over the U.S.A on a goodwill mission.
Sadly the trip was marred at the very end ,when whilst on approach one of the machines came very low over the threshold and the Lancaster's large wheel struck an observer at the end of the runway.
The starboard inner engine has failed and been feathered ! the aircraft has been trimmed out.
As she climbs away the distinctive all white upper surfaces glint.
This model of the first Airfix Avro Lancaster was almost consigned to the model breakers yard,found crushed in the bottom of a box of bits with no undercarriage,no tail and devoid of props,it had been covered in several layers of household paint,first job was to prise what was left of it apart with a large kitchen knife,thankfully it had not been glued together very well,the cockpits and turrets were cleaned up with Brasso and toothpaste then dunked into Johnsons to restore them,the major bits were soaked overnight in brake fluid which lifted the yukky paint,then the whole lot was cleaned up with white spirit to degrease the parts and re-assembly could begin in earnest,somebody donated a new tail assembly and a jig was made to solder together the brass tube undercarriage legs.
The whole model was given two coats of Halfords universal soft white primer,the gloss black undersides were done Tamiya paint,suitable decals came from the spares box and the serials and codes hand painted.
So another rare early kit was saved with a bit of a different colourscheme from the norm.
G
very nice there Barry. Am i right in saying there are only 3 running lancasters left in the world? 2 of which are owned privatly?
G
Howdy guys, check out this site: http://www.lancasterfm212.freeservers.com/ it is the site of Windsor, Ontarios restoration project of a Lancaster which served as a park monument for decades.
And here is another link the same project: http://www.ch2a.ca/ which states
a. we own and operate out of a WW2 hangar built at the Windsor airport in 1941 to house #7 Elementary Flying Training School‚ part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
b. we own a 1941 Boeing Stearman and two DeHavilland Chipmunks which we actively fly and maintain,plus a T33 jet for static display;
c. we have agreements to fly and demonstrate a 1936 Fleet Fawn and a J-3 Cub which are privately owned;
d. we are building a WW2 DeHavilland Mosquito Bomber literally from scratch, and hope to start putting the pieces together in 2003;
e. We maintain the City of Windsors Lancaster,to be restored and placed in a Museum.
f. we have demonstrated and flown our aircraft in a number of air displays, parades and open house days over the past two years.
So, the folks north of me are working on several projects at once, including the Lancaster and a mossie. The Lanc they hope to have in a condition where atleast the engines will run, a flight has not been considered due to stresses on the airframe while static.
One bit of trivia:
Q: from what two countries can you look due north and see the United States?
A: Mexico of course and Canada (Windsor, Ontario is due south of Detroit, Michigan, you actually can look north from there and see the US).
Have a good day,
Greg
And here is another link the same project: http://www.ch2a.ca/ which states
a. we own and operate out of a WW2 hangar built at the Windsor airport in 1941 to house #7 Elementary Flying Training School‚ part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
b. we own a 1941 Boeing Stearman and two DeHavilland Chipmunks which we actively fly and maintain,plus a T33 jet for static display;
c. we have agreements to fly and demonstrate a 1936 Fleet Fawn and a J-3 Cub which are privately owned;
d. we are building a WW2 DeHavilland Mosquito Bomber literally from scratch, and hope to start putting the pieces together in 2003;
e. We maintain the City of Windsors Lancaster,to be restored and placed in a Museum.
f. we have demonstrated and flown our aircraft in a number of air displays, parades and open house days over the past two years.
So, the folks north of me are working on several projects at once, including the Lancaster and a mossie. The Lanc they hope to have in a condition where atleast the engines will run, a flight has not been considered due to stresses on the airframe while static.
One bit of trivia:
Q: from what two countries can you look due north and see the United States?
A: Mexico of course and Canada (Windsor, Ontario is due south of Detroit, Michigan, you actually can look north from there and see the US).
Have a good day,
Greg
G
well as they say greg....you live and learn!
The CWH have a very creditable restoration programme,and a dedicated team of people behind it all,the importance of the training of crews during wartime in Canada must never be overlooked.
My father did a very intense course out there to prepare him for what was ahead in those turbulent days
But when you think about it not much has changed in that respect has it ?
My father did a very intense course out there to prepare him for what was ahead in those turbulent days
But when you think about it not much has changed in that respect has it ?
Wonwings diary-Bring on the bombers-The Handley Page Halifax.
Handley Page Halifax.
The old Airfix kit of the Handley Page Halifax is shown here,once again saved from the trash bin and in poor shape,mashed in fact,a complete strip down and soak in brake fluid just like the Lancaster but the undercarriage was intact this time.Note the very prominant H2S scanner under the fuselage nicely modelled by Airfix.
The colour scheme is only temporary as she will be re-painted as G-AGXA the machine which G.N.Wikner flew 15 members of his family from the UK to Australia in 1946,there he set up the 'Halifax Holiday camp' which is still there to this day,Wikner was in the ATA ( Air Transport Auxiliary ) and also a famous aircraft designer besides being an extraordinary pilot.
The RDM2 Black,is spray on rattle can blackboard paint from the local hardware shop which looks just like the anti glare black finish used on WW2 bomber aircraft,the camouflage is Tamiya Matt,the whole lot was given a coat of Johnsons to pull everything together.
As you can see my pilots are used to flying with disabled engines ! the celluloid discs solve the broken propeller situation and are ideal for the photography.
The few lumps and bumps were just like the real aircraft,whilst the aircraft were kept serviceable they sometimes looked a little battle worn and tired,I have done my best to save her and she has been added to the collection now the pictures have been taken.
Like all of the others I very much enjoyed rebuilding her.
Handley Page Halifax.
The old Airfix kit of the Handley Page Halifax is shown here,once again saved from the trash bin and in poor shape,mashed in fact,a complete strip down and soak in brake fluid just like the Lancaster but the undercarriage was intact this time.Note the very prominant H2S scanner under the fuselage nicely modelled by Airfix.
The colour scheme is only temporary as she will be re-painted as G-AGXA the machine which G.N.Wikner flew 15 members of his family from the UK to Australia in 1946,there he set up the 'Halifax Holiday camp' which is still there to this day,Wikner was in the ATA ( Air Transport Auxiliary ) and also a famous aircraft designer besides being an extraordinary pilot.
The RDM2 Black,is spray on rattle can blackboard paint from the local hardware shop which looks just like the anti glare black finish used on WW2 bomber aircraft,the camouflage is Tamiya Matt,the whole lot was given a coat of Johnsons to pull everything together.
As you can see my pilots are used to flying with disabled engines ! the celluloid discs solve the broken propeller situation and are ideal for the photography.
The few lumps and bumps were just like the real aircraft,whilst the aircraft were kept serviceable they sometimes looked a little battle worn and tired,I have done my best to save her and she has been added to the collection now the pictures have been taken.
Like all of the others I very much enjoyed rebuilding her.
G
I am particularly fond of the Halifax, for obvious reasons, and I always liked the Airfix kit. I can't remember the last time I made a 1/72nd bomber but I always enjoyed them. I can certainly remember doing the Airfix Halifax, Short Stirling, Lancaster, Flying Fortress etc but funnily enough I never got around to doing the Short Sunderland and always fancied it.
There are just too many things I want to do but not enough time to do them. I have a couple of shots of the Halifax at the Yorkshire Air Museum, I'll root them out for you.
There are just too many things I want to do but not enough time to do them. I have a couple of shots of the Halifax at the Yorkshire Air Museum, I'll root them out for you.
Yes please do Richard,did you know that the YAM Halifax is a mongrel ? the wings are from a Handley Page Hastings,the engines and nacelles from a Nord Noratlas,only the fuselage is authentic,I think that was used as a telecomunications rig at Radlett and that is why it survived,but having said that at least it represents a living example of a famous bomber,there is a splendid restoration taking shape in Canada as well.
Have never been to the Yorkshire Air Museum,is it good ?
Time is our worst enemy,if only we could conquer it ?
Have never been to the Yorkshire Air Museum,is it good ?
Time is our worst enemy,if only we could conquer it ?
G
Barry,
Just a couple of shots of the Halifax and a couple of a Mossy that is being built privately over many many years by a guy from pieces he has collected.
Apparently he started the project at home then moved to the museum when it got too big for the garage! There are photo's of the build in it's early stages in the 70's.
A lifetime project and I don't know if it is intended that it will eventually fly but I would be very surprised if a project such as this would ever be classified as airworthy by the CAA. Very interesting though and a couple of close shots of a Merlin for anyone modelling one.
As for worth it, they don't have a vast number of resources or aircraft but they obviously try very hard to make the most of what they have. I went when it was very quiet and had the place to myself and thoroughly enjoyed it. The best part was the Barnes Wallace room which was fascinating. A lot of the exhibits have seen better days and the ones outside are looking a bit tired and the plastic spitfire was a bit dissapointing but, all in all, I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in aircraft.
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Just a couple of shots of the Halifax and a couple of a Mossy that is being built privately over many many years by a guy from pieces he has collected.
Apparently he started the project at home then moved to the museum when it got too big for the garage! There are photo's of the build in it's early stages in the 70's.
A lifetime project and I don't know if it is intended that it will eventually fly but I would be very surprised if a project such as this would ever be classified as airworthy by the CAA. Very interesting though and a couple of close shots of a Merlin for anyone modelling one.
As for worth it, they don't have a vast number of resources or aircraft but they obviously try very hard to make the most of what they have. I went when it was very quiet and had the place to myself and thoroughly enjoyed it. The best part was the Barnes Wallace room which was fascinating. A lot of the exhibits have seen better days and the ones outside are looking a bit tired and the plastic spitfire was a bit dissapointing but, all in all, I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in aircraft.
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Thanks Richard,this is the first time that I have seen any pictures of the interior of the hangar at Elvington,the Mossie and Halifax are ambitious projects and certainly take up a lot of space,but this is really the only way to keep exhibits inside and not outside to the destructive elements.
A great pity that such places are not really suitable for photography and very cramped to get a decent angle,but your pictures show me the general layout.
Yes the Mosquito was made from bits salvaged from around the world,some came from various digs and collectors of Mossie memorabilia.
A great pity that such places are not really suitable for photography and very cramped to get a decent angle,but your pictures show me the general layout.
Yes the Mosquito was made from bits salvaged from around the world,some came from various digs and collectors of Mossie memorabilia.
Wonwings diary-On silver wings-The Bristol Bulldog.
Bristol Bulldog.
The title was inspired by the 'Aeroplane Monthly' articles ( later made into a book ) of pre-war R.A.F units that operated Gloster Gladiator's,Hawker Hart's,Hawker Fury's and the delightful Bristol Bulldog,called 'On Silver Wings' it showed the numerous wing and fuselage squadron markings carried by these biplanes,the period will probably be remembered as the most romantic period in R.A.F history,the squadrons were more like elite flying clubs ! and looking at the selection of aircraft that were flown it is understandable.
The Bulldog will probably be remembered by many as the aircraft which Douglas Bader lost his legs,whilst doing low flying he rolled one into the ground showing off to some civilian flying club pilots who just happened to pass a comment about these flash R.A.F brylcream boys !
The reality was that war was just around the corner and soon the little silver biplanes would all be obsolete and totally useless for the purposes of war,the Gladiator was in fact the very last of the biplane fighters of this same period,a throwback from World War one technology but with the claustrophobic hood that the pilots hated after graduating from the Gloster Gauntlet.
Those of you who have seen the film 'Reach for the Sky' which tells the life story of Douglas Bader will remember the scene where the Bulldog appears,this was in fact the aircraft owned by the Shuttleworth Trust,and rebuilt by the Bristol Aeroplane company in the fifties,sadly this was badly damaged later on after fiming took place and lay at Old Warden for many years until brought to life again as a static machine for display at Hendon, with the magic of Skysport Engineering from down the road at Rotary farm,Hatch,Bedford.
The model was built from the Merit 1=48th scale kit,this was later re-introduced by Impact products and was available for many years in its new form,it is probably still available ?
Rigging wires are nylon monofilament,silver dope is represented with good old Woolworths silver paint.
Just visualise it chasing a pre-war sports car down that road ! there was still the element of fun attached to flying in the thirties,that was if you could get away with it ! that was exactly what happened to Bader,his luck ran out.
Bristol Bulldog.
The title was inspired by the 'Aeroplane Monthly' articles ( later made into a book ) of pre-war R.A.F units that operated Gloster Gladiator's,Hawker Hart's,Hawker Fury's and the delightful Bristol Bulldog,called 'On Silver Wings' it showed the numerous wing and fuselage squadron markings carried by these biplanes,the period will probably be remembered as the most romantic period in R.A.F history,the squadrons were more like elite flying clubs ! and looking at the selection of aircraft that were flown it is understandable.
The Bulldog will probably be remembered by many as the aircraft which Douglas Bader lost his legs,whilst doing low flying he rolled one into the ground showing off to some civilian flying club pilots who just happened to pass a comment about these flash R.A.F brylcream boys !
The reality was that war was just around the corner and soon the little silver biplanes would all be obsolete and totally useless for the purposes of war,the Gladiator was in fact the very last of the biplane fighters of this same period,a throwback from World War one technology but with the claustrophobic hood that the pilots hated after graduating from the Gloster Gauntlet.
Those of you who have seen the film 'Reach for the Sky' which tells the life story of Douglas Bader will remember the scene where the Bulldog appears,this was in fact the aircraft owned by the Shuttleworth Trust,and rebuilt by the Bristol Aeroplane company in the fifties,sadly this was badly damaged later on after fiming took place and lay at Old Warden for many years until brought to life again as a static machine for display at Hendon, with the magic of Skysport Engineering from down the road at Rotary farm,Hatch,Bedford.
The model was built from the Merit 1=48th scale kit,this was later re-introduced by Impact products and was available for many years in its new form,it is probably still available ?
Rigging wires are nylon monofilament,silver dope is represented with good old Woolworths silver paint.
Just visualise it chasing a pre-war sports car down that road ! there was still the element of fun attached to flying in the thirties,that was if you could get away with it ! that was exactly what happened to Bader,his luck ran out.
Wonwings diary-Chesterton Windmill damaged.
CHESTERTON WINDMILL.
A unique sight as you travel from London to the Midlands, from the M40 motorway is the lovely windmill in the distance at Chesterton,built in the 1300's the shape of this mill is quite unique and the wood internal cogs are of exceptional construction and beefy design.
Sadly this week disaster struck as one of the sails broke at the hub and came crashing down to the ground,at the moment the exact cause is not known why the timber broke in the way it did,and investigations are underway ? my own theory is that a few years ago a freak storm wreakled havoc through that area and caused a lot of damage,it could possibly have weakened the structure of the sails ?
As a modelling subject windmills are just fascinating and so full of history,each one varies in some small way to make them individual,but for some reason they are under-modelled.
This one is just asking to be built as a model one day.
CHESTERTON WINDMILL.
A unique sight as you travel from London to the Midlands, from the M40 motorway is the lovely windmill in the distance at Chesterton,built in the 1300's the shape of this mill is quite unique and the wood internal cogs are of exceptional construction and beefy design.
Sadly this week disaster struck as one of the sails broke at the hub and came crashing down to the ground,at the moment the exact cause is not known why the timber broke in the way it did,and investigations are underway ? my own theory is that a few years ago a freak storm wreakled havoc through that area and caused a lot of damage,it could possibly have weakened the structure of the sails ?
As a modelling subject windmills are just fascinating and so full of history,each one varies in some small way to make them individual,but for some reason they are under-modelled.
This one is just asking to be built as a model one day.
Wonwings diary-The Ford Trimotor or 'Tin Goose'
Ford Trimotor.
Nicknamed the 'Tin Goose' because of its corrugated alloy construction this is one of those famous machines that helped pave the way in air travel,this particular aeroplane was the only one of its kind operated by the R.A.F starting life as NC440K a factory model 5AT-170,after coming to the UK as G-ACAE on the outbreak of war she was impressed into the Royal Air Force taking up the serial X5000 in April 1940,one may ask what on earth they wanted with such a machine even back then ? well my research has shown that she was used in the Scottish Highlands on communications duties,as no colour scheme has ever come to light or phoographs of her in service colours,I had to make an educated guess at her markings,this is what I think she would have looked like way back in 1940,I do not think the scheme would have been far out ?
The model was built from the Airfix kit ,which in my opinion was one of the best mouldings for this type,Monogram did one much earlier than Airfix with skies and Arctic survey colours,she makes for a very interesting period subject and there is plenty of scope for markings,including one operated by the Olivetti typewriter company ! this one toured around as a flying typewriter showroom,so you got the clatter of typists and the clatter of those wonderful radial engines to contend with.
Ford Trimotor.
Nicknamed the 'Tin Goose' because of its corrugated alloy construction this is one of those famous machines that helped pave the way in air travel,this particular aeroplane was the only one of its kind operated by the R.A.F starting life as NC440K a factory model 5AT-170,after coming to the UK as G-ACAE on the outbreak of war she was impressed into the Royal Air Force taking up the serial X5000 in April 1940,one may ask what on earth they wanted with such a machine even back then ? well my research has shown that she was used in the Scottish Highlands on communications duties,as no colour scheme has ever come to light or phoographs of her in service colours,I had to make an educated guess at her markings,this is what I think she would have looked like way back in 1940,I do not think the scheme would have been far out ?
The model was built from the Airfix kit ,which in my opinion was one of the best mouldings for this type,Monogram did one much earlier than Airfix with skies and Arctic survey colours,she makes for a very interesting period subject and there is plenty of scope for markings,including one operated by the Olivetti typewriter company ! this one toured around as a flying typewriter showroom,so you got the clatter of typists and the clatter of those wonderful radial engines to contend with.
Wonwings diary-The Lockheed F-94C Starfire.
Lockheed F-94C Starfire.
Within six months of its formation,in the Autumn of 1947,the United States Air Force advised Lockheed of an urgent requirement for a two seat all-weather fighter.Successful use of the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star,and the T-33 trainer derived from it,led to the suggestion that a fighter could be based on the T-33 to meet the U.S.A.F request.The close relationship can be gauged by the fact that a modified F-80 served as the prototype for the T-33,and the same aircraft then became one of the two Lockheed YF-94 Starfire prototypes.It differed by having a fuselage lengthened to house fire control radar,and modified to accept the more powerful Alliison J33-A-33 Turbojet with an afterburning thrust of 6,000 lb.
The aircraft was flown a mere 12 months from the initiation of the idea during 1949,and despite the two protypes being beset with powerplant problems the advanced aircraft entered service in December of that year.So the U.S.A.F acquired its first turbojet all weather fighter quicker than would have been possible in any other way.
Production of this fine machine totalled 854 aircraft in three main versions,and these gave a decade of valuable service,serving first with the U.S Air Force in Korea,and remaining in service with the Air National Guard as lates as 1959.
Lockheed F-94C Starfire.
Within six months of its formation,in the Autumn of 1947,the United States Air Force advised Lockheed of an urgent requirement for a two seat all-weather fighter.Successful use of the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star,and the T-33 trainer derived from it,led to the suggestion that a fighter could be based on the T-33 to meet the U.S.A.F request.The close relationship can be gauged by the fact that a modified F-80 served as the prototype for the T-33,and the same aircraft then became one of the two Lockheed YF-94 Starfire prototypes.It differed by having a fuselage lengthened to house fire control radar,and modified to accept the more powerful Alliison J33-A-33 Turbojet with an afterburning thrust of 6,000 lb.
The aircraft was flown a mere 12 months from the initiation of the idea during 1949,and despite the two protypes being beset with powerplant problems the advanced aircraft entered service in December of that year.So the U.S.A.F acquired its first turbojet all weather fighter quicker than would have been possible in any other way.
Production of this fine machine totalled 854 aircraft in three main versions,and these gave a decade of valuable service,serving first with the U.S Air Force in Korea,and remaining in service with the Air National Guard as lates as 1959.
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