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F-20C of VFC-111

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The F-20A went through a service life extension to add 2000 flight hours to the airframe, add the latest upgrades to the F404 engine, and improve the avionics to simulate 21st century threats. This includes radar enhancements that simulate near peer threats and the capability to employ the AN/ALQ-188 threat simulation pod. Upgraded aircraft were designated F-20C. (The F-20B was a 2 seat proposal that didn't go beyond a few marketing brochures.)   I built this Hasegawa F-20 kit to have some fun and practice my airbrushing skills. I made a mask and painted the rising sun colors on the tail. The paint job is all free hand. I used Authentic Decals from Russia- sheet 72-33: THEY   WERE   AWFUL!!!! I just couldn't get them to lay down. I beat hem into submission with Solveaset and future floor polish. So,   I replaced all the decals on this kit except for the red numbers, the stylized AF and the red star. Everything else was printed on a laser print...

F-104A of the SC Air National Guard

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  This model built as a F-104A with the SC ANG depicting a Starfighter circa 1960  from the Monogram F-104C kit .  F-104A vs the U-2:  "Maj Gen Stan Hood, then Starfighter pilot with South Carolina ANG (SCANG) recalls a high-altitude sortie on which he was launched from five-minute alert status to intercept an ‘intruder’. Not informed of its identity, Hood’s ‘target’ was being trailed by an F- 101 that was flying at 56,000 ft — the Voodoo’s maximum altitude; `I went by the F-101 at Mach 2. If I’d had communication with that airplane I could have contacted him, but I had no reason to. I could have gone up another 10,000 ft with no trouble at all, but I slowed down with a split-S maneuver at 63,000 ft and returned to base, as I was getting too far south. When I got back I called the F-101 pilot and he said, “Was that you that went by me?” I said, -Where was the real target then?” He replied that it was 15,000 ft above him and 20 miles in front. We were sworn to se...

Joint Base Charleston SC AIRSHOW 2024

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April 20 & 21 2024 JBC held an airshow for the public. Missus & I went to see the planes and watch the Thunderbirds. Here's the static displays:  The F-22A F-15E  F-16C  HELOs MH-65 Dolphin CH-47D Chinook AH-64 Apache Longbow B-29A "The Doc"  C-17A Our hosts AC-130J  B-1B  P-8A  C-47 F-35B  The THUNDERBIRDS!!!  Quite a day! Had a great time.  RJ