T-39N Sabreliner N305NT / BuNo 166513

Although the USAF's T-39s have long since been retired, the USN continues to fly the Sabreliner. The T-39N is based on the commercial Sabreliner 265-40, and is used for radar navigation and intercept training, using the APG-66NT radar. T-39N N305NT (BuNo 166513) is seen here at Dayton in July 1998. Sabreliner originally supplied the aircraft and pilots to the USN, but the T-39Ns were later bought outright by the Navy.

USN T-39 on static display at the 1998 Dayton Air Show

At least one radiometer-equipped USAF T-39A was flown against secretly acquired MiG-17s and a MiG-21, measuring the Soviet fighters' infrared signatures. One Sabreliner had the mission equipment in a prominent dorsal fairing, while the other had a fuselage-mounted system.


Sabreliner Bibliography
Magazine Articles and Photos:


William S. Reed "Sabreliner Shows Fighter-Like Handling, Performance" Aviation Week & Space Technology June 5, 1961 p.54-57 three photos.

"North American T-39D Evaluated"  Naval Aviation News  May 1963  p.6  two photos.

Photos (2): "USAF T-39 Readied for Recovery Tests" Aviation Week & Space Technology January 1, 1968 p.82

Photo: T-39B Air Force May 1999 p.26

Sabreliner used by Lockheed Martin to test the seeker for the JAGM missile

F-117 86-0821

F-117 86-0821, seen here at Pittsburgh in the early 2000s, was the 37th production Nighthawk, and first flew in June 1986, when the program was still "black" It was nicknamed Sneak Attack.

T-2C Buckeye walk around

The North American Buckeye first flew in January 1958, having been bought to provide the USN with a carrier-capable advanced jet trainer. North American's design had a wing based on that of the company's FJ-1 Fury, and was powered by a Westinghouse J34. The company turned out 217 T2J-1/T-2As, before production shifted to the more powerful T-2B with twin J60 engines. 1968 saw the arrival of the further upgraded T-2C, which had unaugmented General Electric J85s. T-2C production totalled 231; the T-2D and T-2E were land-based variants for Venezuela and Greece, respectively.




T-2C intake for GE J85 engine


T-2C canopy



T-2C nose gear

Scale Models:
The T-2C was kitted in 1/72 scale by Matchbox, and this kit has been re-released by Revell Germany as a T-2C/E. TwoBobs Aviation Graphics has released 1/72 decals for Greek, Venezuelan, and VF-43 aircraft.

Special Hobby makes a 1/48 scale Buckeye, and Twobobs decal set 48-200 in 1/48th  covers Buckeyes from VT-4, VT-7 and VT-10.


Bibliography

"Additional T2J-1 contract - service ceiling of 40,000+ feet"  Naval Aviation News  June 1959

"NABTC to get new T-2Bs"  Naval Aviation News  June 1965  p.25

"VT-7 gets new trainer - twin jet arrives at Meridian"  Naval Aviation News March 1966  p.3

Photo: T-2B carrier suitability trials Naval Aviation News September 1966 p.3

Photo: CH-47 carrying a T-2A as a sling load. Naval Aviation News December 1966 p.22

"Best in the Business - VF-43 Challengers" World Air Power Journal Vol.8/Spring 1992  p.10-8-121.  Includes a photo of a T-2 in aggressor colors.

"USS Lexington: On Deck #2"  Squadron/Signal Publications  includes a color profile of T-2C BuNo 159708 of VT-4 Rubber Ducks.

The 1/48th scale Special Hobby T-2C kit finished as a Greek T-2E

Carrier launch and recovery of the RAZBAM T-2C for FSX

Photo of a T-2 ejection seat

Lockheed L-14 Super Electra & L-18 Lodestar military derivative 3-views

Lockheed A-29 Hudson

A-29 Hudson 3-view

The first Hudson flew in December 1938, and by early the next year aircraft were arriving, via ship, in the UK.

Hudson Mk.II: A slightly heavier version of the Mk.I, with flush riveting.

Hudson III: GR-1820-G205A engines, plus the ability to carry fuel in the cabin. III(LR) aircraft had extra fuel in the wing.

Hudson IV: P&W R-1830-SC3G engines.

Classic Airframes made a short-run Hudson kit with decals for USN and Australian aircraft.

"Britain's Lockheed Hudson" Popular Aviation April 1939  p.19. Includes a photo of an aircraft with a dorsal turret mockup.

Hal Andrews  "PBO-1 Hudson"  Includes a photo of the XR4O-1 prototype.  Naval Aviation News March-April 1990.

"Workbench Review: Hudson Mk. V/VI in 1/72 scale from Italeri"  FineScale Modeler  February 2007  p.62-63

Paulo di Cara "The Forgotten Bomber"  Skymodel 15/08  p.12-17  A detailed look at scratchbuilding an RAAF Hudson IIIA in 1/48 scale.


Hudson model in RAF markings, from NMUSAF trip, July 2012

Lockheed C-60 Lodestar

The C-60 designation was used for aircraft built new for the USAAF, but the service also flew impressed civilian aircraft as C-56s and C-57s.

Postwar, surplus Lodestars were rebuilt by Lear to the Learstar configuration; this effort was later carried on the PacAero, which offered the uprated Learstar II with revised engine cowlings and extended outer wings.

1/72 scale kit finished as an aircraft of the Forca Aerea Brasileira

Photo: Lodestar without wings under restoration. FlyPast December 1998  p.55 

Lockheed-Vega PV Ventura

1943 USAAF recognition manual  
The PV-1 was a Ventura derivative for the US Navy, optimized for patrol work rather than overland bombing. PV-1s have been kitted in 1/48 scale by Koster (vacuform) and in injection molded form by Fonderie Miniature and Revell.

 Collision of an American Airlines DC-3 and a Ventura

Build article on the Revell Ventura kit


Another 1/72 Brazilian aircraft, this time a PV-2 Harpoon



Bibliography:

Captain Edgar J. Wynn  "Bombers Across" Ferrying Hudsons to the UK.  Flying February 1942

Charles L. Scrivner "Harpoon: On Patrol In A Lockheed PV-2"  Airpower November 1973

Color profiles of VB-135, RAF, RNZAF, South African, and Canadian Venturas (the last in target tow colors) Air International July 1988  p.36


Ralls Clotfelter "Pacific Venturas" FlyPast October 1998. An excellent account of VB-142 at war in the Pacific.


"Workbench Review: Minicraft/Academy 1/72 scale PV-1 Ventura"  FineScale Modeler  April 1988  p.17-18

"American Airplanes of World War II" edited by David Donald. - p.161-165 "Lockheed PV Ventura/Harpoon and B-34 Lexington" Includes a color profile of a VB-135 aircraft, and a large color 3-view of a VPB-142 PV-2.

David Mondey The Hamlyn Concise Guide to American Combat Aircraft of World War II

Color profiles:

USAAF A-29 in RAF camouflage

Hudson Mk.III of No.279 Squadron

Hudson Mk.V of No.48 Squadron, Coastal Command

F-4 Phantom II wrap around camouflage pattern

 

A very  nicely done 1/32 scale Tamiya F-4E

B-25 Gallant Warrior at KAGC

Built in 1943 as a B-25D-35-NC, this aircraft flew seven combat missions, and was transferred to the RCAF as a Mitchell II, serving until the early 1960s and at some point having its original glass nose replaced by a solid unit. It still flies today as the Yankee Warrior.

The B-25D was identical to the B-25C, the only difference being that the D was built at Dallas. Features included R-2600-13 engines, external hardpoints, and the ability to carry fuel in the bomb bay.

B-25D Gallant Warrior at the Allegheny County Airport circa 1988
(C. Reed)


Accurate Miniatures 1/48 scale B-25C/D kit

An excellent series of walk around photos of a preserved B-25D (French language site)

Details of the crash of B-25D 43-3488

KC-130F walk around

The KC-130F (originally GV-1 pre 1962) was the first /Marine Corps version of the Hercules, and was a C-130B derivative bought to replace the C-119. Aside from serving as a standard transport, the KC-130F could also be fitted with underwing drogue pods for refueling USMC tactical aircraft and later helicopters. Despite their age, KC-130Fs were given service life extensions in the 1990s, and served during the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The type was finally retired in 2005 as new KC-130Js entered service.





KC-130F tailcone -most modern Herks have plethora of antennas in this position


underwing drogue pod


drogue basket

KC-130Fs were flown by VMR-152 at MCAS Iwakuni, VMGR-234 at NAS Glenview, VMR-252 and VMGRT-253 at MCAS Cherry Point, and VMR-352 at MCAS El Toro.

Photo: KC-130F tanking a pair of Marine Phantoms. World Air Power Journal Vol.18 Autumn/Fall 1994 p.55

KC-130F BuNo 148897 of VX-30 Bloodhounds

KC-130F BuNo 147573 in storage at Davis-Monthan