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CONT I srael iI ndependence Day 2012 Chr i sWood t r avel st oI s r aelt o wi t nes st he annual I s r ael i Ai rF or ce ef f or t st o mar k I ndependenceDay
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TENTS
I ssue 8 June 2012
Paul Dunnget sai r bor newi t hT r avi sAF B’ s60t hAi rMobi l i t yWi ngt o l ear naboutt hechangi ngf aceoft heGl obal Reachmi s s i on
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heS t at eofI s r ael wasbor n15May1948i n t he af t er mat hoft he S econd Wor l d War . S i ncet hedayofi t sf oundi ngi thashadt o f i ghtf ori t ss ur vi val andhasf oughtwar swi t hal l i t s nei ghbour sovert hei nt er veni ngyear s .Cr uci al t o i t svi ct or i esi nt hes e war shasbeendomi nance oft he s ki es ,a t as kwhi ch hasbeen achi eved t i me and t i me agai n byi t sr el at i vel ys mal lbut hi ghl yef f ect i veai rf or ce. T he I s r ael iAi rF or ce ( I AF )cur r ent l yoper at esa moder n f l eet of pr edomi nant l y Amer i can des i gned and bui l tai r cr af t .A l otofi t sai r cr af t have been upgr aded wi t h addi t i onal ,l ocal l y des i gned, avi oni cs and i t oper at es a f ew ver s i onsofai r cr af tt hatar euni quet ot heI s r ael i Ai rF or ce.I tal s o gi vesal li t sai r cr af tHebr ew names ,t he t r ans l at i on of whi ch i s us ual l y di f f er entt ot hei rwel l knownWes t er nnames .
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sed atHat zer i m seen on 27Apr i l .
I thasaf l eetofF 15Eagl esofever yvar i ant ,i ncl udi ng25ofi t sown ver s i onoft heS t r i keEagl e,t heF 15I .T wos quadr onsoper at et heA, B,C andDmodel s ,knownbyt heI AFas“Baz ”( F al con)f r om T el Nof , whi l s tt her ei sones quadr onoper at i ngt heF 15I ,whi chi sknownas “Ra’ am”( T hunder ) ,atHat z er i m.Unus ual l yi t sai rdef enceF 15shave beenmodi f i edandcanbes eencar r yi ngai r t ogr oundweaponsas wel l ast hei rmor enor mal ai r t oai rweaponr y.
Above -F15D " Baz" ,701,named " Fi r ef ox"oper at ed byNo.106 Squadr on f r om TelNof ,l andi ng atDeci momannu dur i ng Exer ci se Vega i n November 2010.
Above -" Cel ebr i t y"F15A " Baz"695ofNo.133Squadr onbasedatTelNof . Thi sai r cr af tcar r i esf ourki l lmar ki ngs,havi ngshotdownf ourSyr i anMi G21s -t wo on 24 Sept ember 1979,anot her one shar ed wi t h an F4E on 31 December1980 and t he f our t h on 9 J une 1982.Al lt he I AF’ s" Baz"car r y namesi n Hebr ew,t hi sonet r ansl at esas" TheSt ar " .Theexampl ei nt heAi r For ceMuseum i spai nt edt or epr esentt hi sai r cr af t .
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On2May1952,Br i t i s hOv er s easAi r way sCor por at i ondeHavi l l andDH 106Comet1GALY c ommer c i al j et l i nerpas s engers er v i c e,f l y i ng6000+mi l est oJ ohannes bur g,Sout hAf r i c a,wi t haf u t he60y ear ss i nc et heCometmadeav i at i onhi s t or y ,c ommer c i alai rt r av elhasbec omeani nt e ThomasPi t t sl ook sbac katt heev ol ut i onoft hej et l i nerandhowi thass hapedt hewor l di nwhi c h
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hi l ec ommer c i alai rt r aveli t s el fdat esbac k asf arast he 1 800s ,when ai r s hi pswer e us ed t of er r y pas s enger sf r om c oas tt o c oas toft he US A,i twast he i nvent i on oft he j et engi ne – and t he avi oni cdevel opment sbr ought aboutdur i ng Wor l d WarTwo – t hatenabl ed ai r t r avel t obec omet hegl obal phenomenoni ti st oday.
I n1 943 ,t heBr abazonCommi t t eewasf or medwi t h t heai m ofdevel opi ngt hes pec i f i c at i onf orBr i t ai n’ s f ut ur eai r l i ner .Theai r c r af twasr equi r edt ohavea pr es s ur i s ed c abi n –t he l i kesofwhi c h had been devel opedbyt hepr opl i ner soft heer a,s uc hast he Loc kheedCons t el l at i on–apayl oadc apac i t yofone t onneandac r ui s es peedof400mph.
I n 1 952 j et power ed f l i ght was ,c ompar at i vel y s peaki ng, s t i l li ni t si nf anc y, havi ngbeenar eal i t yf or onl y1 3year s .Upt ot hatpoi nt ,t hej etengi nehad beenus eds ol el yf ormi l i t ar ypur pos es ,havi ngf i r s t power ed t heHei nkelHe1 7 8and Gl os t erE28/ 3 9i n 1 93 9and1 941r es pec t i vel y,aswel lasunder goi nga bapt i s m off i r ei nWor l dWarTwoast hepower pl ant oft heMes s er s c hmi t tMe262i n1 944.
I twasS i rGeof f r eydeHavi l l and, hi ms el famemberof t hec ommi t t ee, whof i r s ts ubmi t t edapr opos alf ora j et power ed ai r l i ner ,bas ed upont heexper t i s ehi s c ompanyhaddevel opedt hr ought hedes i gnoft he ear l yj etf i ght er ss uc hast hedeHavi l l andDH 1 00 Vampi r eandt hr ought hedes i gnandmanuf ac t ur eof t het ur boj etengi nei t s el f .
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( l at ert obec omet hedeHavi l l andGhos t )engi nesi n t hepr ot ot ypeai r l i ner . TheType1 06wasc hr i s t enedt heDH1 06Comet , wi t h t hepr ot ot ypemaki ngi t smai denf l i ghton27J ul y 1 949 wi t hl egendar yde Havi l l and Chi efTes tPi l ot J ohn‘ Cat sEyes ’ Cunni ngham att hec ont r ol s . Thi sf i r s t f l i ghtl as t ed at ot alof3 1mi nut es .The pr ot ot ype Cometmade i t spubl i cdi s pl aydebutatt he 1 949 S oc i et yofBr i t i s hAi r c r af tCons t r uc t or sF ar nbor ough Ai r s how.
LYP depar t edf r om Londonont hei naugur al f ul l c ompl ementoff ar epay i ngc us t omer s .I n t egr alpar toft heday t odayl i v esofmi l l i ons . i c hwel i v e.I magesasc r edi t ed.
The f i r s tpr oduc t i on Comet1 ,GALYP f l ew on 9 J anuar y1 951andwasl oanedt oBOAC’ sComett r i al s uni tatHur n( nowBour nemout hI nt er nat i onal Ai r por t ) i n Dor s et .As par t of t he r out epr ovi ng t r i al s pr ogr amme, ‘ Yoke Pet er ’f l ew t he i naugur al pas s engerf l i ghton2May1 952bet weenLondonand J ohannes bur g, S out hAf r i c a, wi t hs c hedul eds t opsi n Rome,Bei r ut ,Khar t oum,Ent ebbeand Li vi ngs t one. The f l i ghtc over ed s ome 6, 7 24 mi l es ,whi c ht he Cometc over edi n23hour sand40mi nut es .I nt he pr oc es s , deHavi l l and’ sCometl ai ddownt hegaunt l et f ort hef ut ur eofc ommer c i al t r avel .
I twasawor l dc hangi ngevent . Cover i ngs uc hgr and di s t anc eswasnot , i ni t s el f , qui t es uc hamonument al ac hi evement . I twast hes peedoft hi snew f or m ofai r I mage-Kar lDr age t r avel whi c h, eveni ni t si nf anc y, s hr unkt hewor l di na way t hathad been hi t her t o uns een.By way of c ompar i s on,BOAC’ sHandl eyPageHer mesLondon Ther es ul tofdeHavi l l and’ spr opos alwast heType t oJ ohannes bur gc har t er–wi t hr ef uel l i ngs t opsi n 1 06, anai r c r af tt obedes i gnedbyRonal dBi s hop, t he Tr i pol i , Kano, Br azzavi l l eandLi vi ngs t one–was1 , 000 manr es pons i bl ef ordevel opi ngt heDH98Mos qui t o. mi l ess hor t ert hant her out ef l ownbyt heCometon2 I n Dec ember 1 945, Br i t i s h Over s eas Ai r ways May,butt ook s ome 27hour sand 55mi nut est o Cor por at i on( “ BOAC” ) pl ac edanor derf or1 0Type1 06 c ompl et e. ai r c r af t , wi t hani ni t i al s eat i ngc apac i t yof24. F orat i me, t heComet1l edt hewayf orc ommer c i al j et TheType1 06,muc hl i keanyot herai r c r af tpas s i ng t r avel . I twasas l eek, at t r ac t i vedes i gnwhi c hboas t ed t hr ought hedes i gnanddevel opmentphas e,went a s uper bc ombi nat i on ofaes t het i cand,f r om t he t hr oughmuc hi t er at i onbef or eBi s hopf i nal l ys et t l ed pas s enger ’ s per s pec t i ve, er gonomi c c omf or t . onades i gnwhi c hboas t edanenl ar gedf us el aget o F ur t her mor e, t heComets ymbol i s edt heopeni ngup ac c ommodat ear evi s ed pas s engerc apac i t yof3 6, oft hegl obepos t war ;t hegat ehadbeenopened f ourRol l sRoyc eAvont ur boj et sembeddedi na20 wi def ort hepubl i cand, al mos tover ni ght , peopl ehad degr ees weptwi ngandac onvent i onal t ai l pl ane. At beenpr es ent edwi t hanai r c r af tt hatenabl edt hem t o t hatpoi nt , t heAvonengi newasyett obec er t i f i edf or f ul f i lt hei rdr eamsofs eei ngt hewor l di ns t yl eand us e,anddeHavi l l andf i r s t l yus edHal f or dH. 2Ghos t c omf or t .
AVI ATI ON PROFI LES
BRI AN SMI TH
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Br i anSmi t hhasbeenapr omi nentnamei nt hewar bi r di ndus t r yf ormor et han25 year s , wi t hover25, 000hour sunderhi sbel tandac ar eeri nai r s how di s pl ayf l yi ng t hathass eenhi m wor ki ngf ort heOl dFl yi ngMac hi neCompany,TheFi ght er Col l ec t i on, t heAi r c r af tRes t or at i onCompany, t heHi s t or i cAi r c r af tCol l ec t i onand numer ousot hervi nt ageai r c r af toper at or s .GAM l ooksbac kathi sl i f ei nt he ai r s how i ndus t r y,f r om t heTur bul entTeam t ot hemi ght yGr ummanBear c at . Wor dsbyEl l i ot tMar s h, i magesasc r edi t ed.
Per hapsunus ual l yf oramanwho ent er ed t he avi at i on wor l d ata young age,Br i an S mi t h was n’ t bor ni nt oaf ami l yofavi at or s . Li ke manyc hi l dr en, hemar vel l edatt he “ mons t eraer opl anes ”f l yi ngi nand outofHeat hr ow ai r por tas he gr ew up,and equal l y,l i kemany buddi ngavi at or s , hewasbi t t enby t hebugwhi l eof f er i nghi ss er vi c es asa“ hangarr at ” atRedhi l l , hi sl oc al aer odr ome.
Att hatpoi nt ,i nt hel at e1 950st o ear l y1 960s , Redhi l l wast hehome oft he Ti gerCl ub i ni t sheyday ( now bas edatHeadc or ni nKent ) and was a haven f or vi nt age ai r c r af toper at edundert heCl ub’ s umbr el l a–Ti gerMot hs ,S t ampes and Tur bul ent s i n t he mai n. Thr ough t hi s as s oc i at i on,Br i an qui c kl ybec ame ac quai nt ed wi t h t hel oc alpi l ot sandt hei rmount s . “ Iwasl uc kyasac hi l d bec aus eI hadaf oc us , I knew whatI want ed t o do” ,Br i an t el l sGAM.“ Idon’ t qui t eunder s t andwhyt hough. My f at herwas n’ tanyt hi ngt odowi t h aer opl anes and he di dn’ tr eal l y under s t and t heat t r ac t i on;i twas A young Bri an Smi t ht i nker s wi t h a Cosmi c Wi nd atRedhi l l ,ci r ca 1963 an Smi t h Col l ect i on) al l ver y s t r ange t o hi m. He (TheBri expr es s l yf or bademet ogof l yi ng i nt heaer opl anesbut ,ofc our s e,I hi sTi gerMot h atRedhi l land i n ar oundus .Is nuc kof fanddi dn’ t di d, anddi dn’ tt el l hi m. ” r et ur n f or me pus hi ng t he r eal l yt hi nkanyt hi ngofi t . ” aer opl aneoutoft hehangar ,he I twas n’ tl ongbef or eoneoft hes e as kedi fI ’ dl i kear i deupt oWi s l ey Nat ur al l y,gi ven t hat Di c k was c l andes t i ne ai r c r af tr i des woul d wi t h hi m.Ofc our s e,you don’ t s omet hi ngofa‘ name’ ,t hepr es s hel pt oi nadver t ent l y br eak t he havet os ay‘ yes ’ t wi c e! pi c ked up t hes t or yi mmedi at el y newst oBr i an’ spar ent st hatt hei r and, over t he ens ui ng days , s onwasdes t i nedf oral i f ei nt he “ I twasagr eatdayunt i li tc ame phot ogr aphsoft hei nc i dentwer e c l ouds . . .“ One dayi n about1 964 t i mef orDi c kand It ol eave.He publ i s hed i n paper snat i onwi de. t her ewasadi s pl ayonatWi s l ey c r as hed t he Ti ger Mot h on “ The f ol l owi ng mor ni ng,my ol d andt heyhadagar denpar t y,as t akeof f ; unf or t unat el yI wasi nt he manopenedt hepaperandt her e onedi di nt he‘ 60s . Abl okec al l ed f r ont . I tj us ts or tofr ol l edi t s el fi nt o i twas : ‘ Di c kEmer ys ur vi vesc r as hDi c kEmer y, whous edt obeaf ai r l y abal land webot hs t epped out he and pas s enger Br i an S mi t h wel lknown TV per s onal i t y,kept wi t hvar i ousbi t sofMot hhangi ng s ur vi vebyt hes ki noft hei rt eet h! ’
Pr ovi di ng t heUSmi l i t ar ywi t ht heabi l i t yt odepl oyt r oopsand equi pment wor l dwi de,Ai rMobi l i t yCommandr el i esonaf l eetoft r ans por tandt anker ai r cr af tt oper f or mi t sgl obalai r l i f tmi s s i on.T hel ar ges tai r cr af tavai l abl et o AMC i st heL ockheedC5Gal ax y.Paul Dunnvi s i t sT r avi sAF Bt of l ywi t ht he 60t hAMW andmeets omeoft hepeopl ewhooper at et hi shuges t r at egi c ai r l i f t er .Al l i magesaut horunl es sot her wi s es t at ed. Ai rMobi l i t yCommand came i nt o bei ng on1 J une 1992,asa r es ul tofa pos t Col d War r eor gani s at i onoft heUS AF .I twascr eat edf r om el ement sofS t r at egi cAi rCommand( S AC)and Mi l i t ar y Ai r l i f t Command ( MAC) .Undert he pr evi ouss ys t em,whi l s tai r l i f toper at i onswer e t her es pons i bi l i t yofMAC,muchoft heUS AF ’ s t ankerf l eetf el lundert he command ofS AC. T he cr eat i on of AMC l ogi cal l y br ought t oget hert he vi t alr ol es ofai r l i f tand aer i al r ef uel l i ngunderauni f i edcommand. Oneoft hekeyr es pons i bi l i t i esoft heUS AFi st he
pr ovi s i onofr api dgl obal mobi l i t yf orUSf or ces , andt hi sr ol ef al l st oAMC.I nor dert opr ovi de t hi smobi l i t y,ati t shear tAMC hast hr eecor e capabi l i t i es – ai r l i f t , aer i al r ef uel l i ng and aer omedi calevacuat i on.F ort he ai r l i f t( and i ndeed aer omedi calevacuat i on)r ol e,t her e ar et hr eemai nt ypesavai l abl e;t heL ockheed C130Her cul es ,Boei ng C17Gl obemas t erI I I and L ockheed C5 Gal ax y. T he aer i al r ef uel l i ng f l eet cons i s t s of t wo t ypes ;t he Boei ng ( McDonnel l Dougl as ) KC10A Ex t enderandBoei ngKC135R/ TS t r at ot anker .
T hes e ai r cr af tar et he pr i mar yt ool st hatAMC us est o accompl i s hi t smi s s i on.Bet ween t hem, t he ai r l i f tand t ankerf l eet sal l ow t he US AFt o depl oy per s onneland equi pmentwor l dwi de; t he t anker f l eet al s o af f or ds ai r cr af t of Ai r Combat Command and Gl obal S t r i ke Command t he abi l i t y t o at t ack t ar get s t hr oughoutt hegl obe. I n addi t i on t o t he war f i ght i ng r ol e, AMC’ s per s onnelar e al s o cal l ed upon t o as s i s ti n humani t ar i an r el i efoper at i ons ,wi t ht he mos t r ecentex ampl ebei ngf ol l owi ngt heear t hquake i nHai t i i n2010.AMC’ sai r cr af twer eamongs tt he f i r s tont ot hes ceneoft hedi s as t er ,br i ngi ngwi t h t hem ai ds uppl i esand wor ker st o as s i s ti nt he r el i efoper at i on.
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Thes eas i der es or tofWes t onS uper Mar ei shomet oTheHel i c opt erMus eum. S i t uat edont hef or mers i t eofRAFWes t onS uper Mar e, t hemus eum hous est he wor l d’ sl ar ges tdedi c at ed c ol l ec t i on ofhel i c opt er s and r ot or c r af t .Shaun Sc hof i el dpaysavi s i tt ot hi sver i t abl eAl addi n’ sCaveofr ot ar yai r c r af t .I mages aut horunl es ss t at edot her wi s e.
Thes i t eonwhi c ht hemus eum s t andshasal ong as s oc i at i on wi t h avi at i on.Es t abl i s hed i nt he 1 93 0s ,t he ai r f i el ds er ved as a c i vi lai r por t , pr ovi di ng awaypoi ntf orRai l wayAi rS er vi c es ’ s c hedul edf l i ght sbet weenPl ymout handBr i s t ol . By1 93 8,at er mi nalhadbeenc ons t r uc t ed,wi t h Wes t er nAi r waysc ommenc i ngs er vi c eswi t hi t s deHavi l l andDr agonRapi desandDr agonf l i es . I near l y1 93 9, t henewl yf oundedNo5S c hoolof Tec hni c al Tr ai ni ngatnear byRAFLoc ki ngut i l i s ed t heai r por tatWes t onandt hees t abl i s hmentof No. 3 9El ement ar yand Res er veF l yi ng Tr ai ni ng S c hool( ERF TS )s oonf ol l owed, pr ovi di ngahome f orMi l esMagi s t erandHawkerHi ndandAudax ai r c r af t .Thr oughoutt her emai nderof1 93 9and i nt ot hes pr i ngof1 940, t heai r f i el ds aw anumber oft r ai ni ngs c hool sc omeandgobef or et heRAF f or mal l yt ookc ont r oloft heai r f i el don1May. A new mai nr unwaywasl ai dt os uppl ementt he exi s t i ngs hor t ergr as ss t r i psandaf ac t or ys etup on t he s i t ef or t he manuf ac t ur e of Br i s t ol Beauf i ght er s .Lat ei n1 942,286S quadr onmade Wes t oni t shome, oper at i ngavar i et yofai r c r af t , i nc l udi ng Hawker Hur r i c anes , Boul t on Paul Def i ant s and Ai r s peed Oxf or ds i ns ec ondar y r ol es ,pr ovi di ngt ar get sf ort r ai ni ngant i ai r c r af t ( AA)gunner s .By November 1 943 ,286 was r epl ac edby1 1 6S quadr on, whi c hhadt her ol eof c al i br at i ngt heAAr adarus edbymanyoft heAA bat t er i es t hr oughout t he UK.Thi sr ol e was s uppl ement ed i n Mar c h1 944 by an Ai r c r af t Devel opmentUni taswel last hef oundi ngofa Pol i s hs t af fc ol l egeont hes i t e, whi c hr emai nedi n us eunt i l 1 946. Pos t war , t heai r f i el dc ont i nuedi t st r ai ni ngr ol es i nc onj unc t i onwi t hnear byLoc ki ng, butal s os aw ar et ur n ofc i vi l i an f l i ght s .Dur i ng 1 955,t he Hel i c opt er di vi s i on of t he Br i s t olAer opl ane Companyr el oc at edf r om i t sf ac i l i t yatF i l t oni nt o t heol dBeauf i ght erf ac t or yatWes t on,whi c hi s wher et hes i t e’ sas s oc i at i onwi t ht hehel i c opt er begi ns .S yc amor esand l at erBel veder esr ol l ed outoft he f ac t or y unt i lpr oduc t i on c eas ed i n 1 960, af t erwhi c hWes t l andt ookovert hef ac t or y f orus e asa l ogi s t i c ss uppl ys t at i on unt i li t s event ual c l os ur ei n1 987 .
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I t ’ saL oad ofHotAi r Regul arf ol l ower sofal l t hi ngsbal l ooni ngwi l l r emembert hatbacki ni s s ue5 ofGAM,whenPaul Dops onr epor t edonf l yi ngatt heI ci cl eMeet ,heandhi s par t ner ,Heaven,hadpl acedanor derf orabr andnew Camer onConcept envel ope.T hi si st he s t or y,f r om t he i ni t i alconceptr i ghtt hr ough t o pr oduct i onand,event ual l y,t hef i r s tf l i ght . I nt heaut umnof2011,HeavenandI pur chas ed a compl et eCamer onVi va 77( l ef t ) ,s ot hatwe coul df l yt oget herandcompl et eHeaven’ spi l ot t r ai ni ng.T he77( 77, 000cubi cf eet )i st heper f ect s i z ef ort wo peopl et o bot hf l y and manage eas i l yi nt er msofgr oundhandl i ng.Weknew t hat t he envel ope al r eadyhad a good numberof f l yi nghour soni t ,buti twoul dgetust hr ought he wi nt erand al l ow Heaven t o gai n herpi l ot ’ s l i cence.Anot herr eas onf orbuyi ngwast hatt he bot t om end ( bas ket and bur ner ) was i n ex cel l entcondi t i on,and t he whol e package camewi t hacover edt r ai l er . Af t eraf ew f l i ght st hough,i tbecamecl eart hat t he envel ope had a r ealt hi r s tf orf uel .As envel opes get ol der t he mat er i albecomes mor e por ousand heatr et ent i on di s appear s . Gener al l ya bal l oon wi l lus e one l i t r e off uela mi nut es oeachofourf or t yl i t r et ankswoul dgi ve f or t y mi nut esf l yi ng t i me.T hi s77 wasf l yi ng at near l yt hr eet i mest hatr at e,maki ngi tex pens i ve and al s ot r i ckyt of l y,asi thad t obecons t ant l y war m or woul d des cend ver y qui ckl y. S o, f ol l owi ng myf l i ghtatt he I ci cl e Meet ,we t ook t he deci s i ont o gr ound t he 77and buya new Camer onConceptenvel ope.
We deci ded on a s l i ght l yl ar gerenvel ope,at 80, 000cubi cf eet .Al t hough i twoul d gener al l y be j us tt he t wo of us f l yi ng,s epar at el y or t oget her ,t hi swoul dal l ow ust of l yourf r i endsas pas s enger s .Asa r es ul t ,t he bal l oon woul d be f l yi ng l i ght l yl oaded and t hi snor mal l yi ncr eas es t heenvel ope’ sl i f es pan.Wedeci dednott ot ake t he opt i on oft ur ni ng vent s ,as wi t has mal l bas keti t ’ sj us taseas yt ot ur n your s el fi nt he bas kett of ace t he di r ect i on oft r avel ,r at her t hanr ot at et hewhol ebal l oon. S o,wi t ht he envel ope t ype and s i z e agr eed upon,came t he r eal l y di f f i cul tpar t :whati t s houl dl ook l i ke.T he Concept80 envel ope i s madeupoft wel vemai ns i des( gor es )andeach oft hes egor esi smadeup oft wel vepanel s .S o t hat gave us 144 panel st hat we had t o coor di nat ei nt oagoodl ooki ngbal l oon-f r om a choi ceof23col our s !
T HEF 86 &J A
We once agai n del ve i nt ot he i ncr edi bl e pi ct ur e ar chi ve ofL i nds ay Peacock,who t hi st i me t akesusbackt o 1970s ’As i a,ashe ex ami nest he car eeroft heNor t hAmer i canF 86Sabr ewi t ht heJ apanes eAi rSel f Def ence F or ce( J ASDF ) .I magesascr edi t ed. F ol l owi ngi t sdef eati n1945,r es pons i bi l i t yf ort he def enceofJ apanr es t edwi t ht heUS Af oral mos t adecadeandi twasnotunt i l1952t hatt hef i r s t s t epst owar dsr es t or at i onofi ndependentar med f or ces wer e t aken. S epar at e par ami l i t ar y or gani s at i onsknownasHoant ai ( Nat i onal S af et y F or ce)andKei bi t ai ( Coas t al S af et yF or ce)came
i nt o bei ng dur i ng t hatyearand pr oved t o be t he bui l di ng bl ockswhen t he t i me came t o or gani s et he Gr ound S el f Def ence F or ce and t heMar i t i meS el f Def enceF or ce.Bot hoft hes e mi l i t ar ys er vi ceswer e cr eat ed on 1 J ul y 1954, al ongwi t hanai rar m knownast heKokuJ i ei t ai ( J apanes eAi rS el f Def enceF or ceorJ AS DF ) .
86SABRE J ASDF
S t ar t i ngf r om s cr at chandwi t ht heas s i s t anceof t he US A,t he J AS DFex per i enced a f ai r l ys wi f t ex pans i onandwass oonabl et oas s umegr eat er r es pons i bi l i t yf orpr ot ect i onofnat i onal ai r s pace. T he f i r s tj et t ype t o be r ecei ved was t he L ockheedT 33At r ai nerdur i ng1955andt hi swas f ol l owedbef or et heendoft hatyearbyt hef i r s t
Nor t h Amer i can Avi at i on F 86FS abr es ,a t ype t hatwast opl ayapr omi nentr ol ei nenabl i ngt he J AS DFt ogetbacki nt ot hef i ght erbus i nes si na meani ngf uland ef f ect i ve way.Mor et han 600 ex ampl es of t hi s cl as s i c war pl ane wer e event ual l yr ecei ved by J apan, al t hough a s hor t ageofqual i f i ed pi l ot sr es ul t ed i n45oft he
Thedi st i nct i on ofbei ngt hel astf r ont l i nesquadr on t ooper at et heF86Fwascl ai medbyNo. 6 squadr on atTsui ki , whi chhadl esst hanayeart ogowhent hi sSabr ewascaughtathomebasei nDecember1979( Li ndsayPeacock)
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I TCOULD BEYOUNEXT! Gl obalAvi at i on Magazi nei sgi vi ngmember sofTHEHANGAR t he chancet oseean i mageoft hei r sshowcasedon t hebackcoveroft he Jul yi ssue. Thi st i met het hemei st heSuper mar i neSpi t f i r e,andwe’ vegotapi l ot whowi l lactast hej udge!SeeTHEHANGAR f ormor edet ai l s.