1000 Military Aircraft in Colour

146 Pages·2001·86.45 MB·English

by  Gerry Manning

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MILITARY AIRCRAFT

MILITARY AIRCRAFT
Copyright© 2001 GerryManning
FirstpublishedintheUKin2001
byAirlifePublishingLtd
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isavailablefromthe BritishLibrary
ISBN 184037 1994
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the four contributors of pictures who
have been able to fill in some of the gaps in my own
collection. They are, in alphabetical order, Phil Duckett
(P.J.D.), Tony Griffiths (A.G.), John Smith (J.D.S.) and Steve
Williams (S.G.W.). Photographs without a credit are my own.
INTRODUCTION
." This is a military companion for my 1998book, 1000 Airlines
in Colour. It shows the range of military aeroplanes and the
colour schemes worn. The aim is not just to look at the latest
fast jets, they are in, but to show the range of aircraft types
that have served in uniform over the last forty years.
Military aircraft have in recent years been lasting longer
and longer in service. Who would have believed that when
the B-52 first flew in 1952 itwould not only still be in service
today but scheduled to continue until 2020. This example is
now only one ofmany.
The colour schemes on a lot ofmilitary aircraft types today
can be described as grey with grey markings. These are a far
cry from the dazzling colours on some of the older aircraft
illustrated. An effort has been made to show examples ofthe
special markings that squadrons apply for anniversaries to
help bring some colour to the pages ofthe newest types.
The order of the pictures is: fighters and bombers then
trainers, transport including assorted liaison designs,
maritime, helicopters and, to end, a section of aerobatic
teams. These sortings are only approximate, as so many
aircraft are now multi-role some could fit in almost any
category. Where types have different functions they are
grouped together for ease ofcomparison.
It must be accepted by the reader that there is a long time
lapsebetween finishing the text and itbeingpublished. Ihave
tried to keep it as up to date as possible but some things will
have changed during this time period. An index of aircraft
types is included at the back ofthe book.
Gerry Manning
Liverpool
'.
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1000 MILITARY AIRCRAFTINCOLOUR
Right: The MiG-25 was designed to combat the
menace, to theRussians, ofthe North American
XB70 Valkyrie, a high-flying Mach-3 bomber.
The Americans cancelled the project but the
MiG went ahead. The fighter, with a 3,000
km/hrspeed together with its bulk, it was 71 ft
6in (22.3 m) longwithawingspanof45 ft 2in
(14.1 mI. was not a dogfighter. It was also used
as a reconnaissance platform. Illustrated is
01(Blue) a MiG-25U-LL. Note that the rear seat
is open as this airframe is used to test ejector
seats at high speeds. It is seen at its base,
Zhukovsky, in August 1995.
Above: Pictured is 91(Red) aMiG-25PU. This is Below:ThecurrentbackboneoftheSwedishAir Above: The SAAB 39 Gripen (Griffin) is the
a h\'o- eat training version, note how the extra Force (Flygvapnet) is the multi-role SAAB 37 latest design from the Swedish manufacturer. It
placehasbeengraftedontothenosesection. Itis Viggen (Thunderbolt). Seen visiting Finningley is a true multi-role machine, being a fighter, an
een taxiing out to take off at the Russian in September 1986 is 37330 a jA37 ofF13; this attackandareconnaissanceaircraft inone. Seen
re earchbaseat Zhukovsky, August 1995. variant isconfiguredas afighter. at Farnborough, is jAS39 39.4,September1992.
Above: Sweden has for many years had a 'go it
alone'policywiththedesignandmanufactureof
veryadvancedwarplanes.Thiscomplementsthe
nationalneutralstatus.InOctober1955theyfirst
flew the Mach-2 interceptor, the SAAB 35 Right:TheFinnishAirForceisintheprocessof
Draken (Dragon). The first production aircraft replacing its Draken fleet with F/A18 Hornets.
were delivered towards the end of that decade. Seen at Pirkkala, part of Satakunta Air
Seenhereat its Angelholmbase,August 1995,is Command, is J35FS Draken DK263, a single
35586 62/Fl0, a J35J variant. FlO was the last seat interceptor of HaLLv 21, june 1998. The
unittooperatethetypeinfront-lineservice.(PJD) unit was in transitionat this time.
Left:DK270isaSAABSk35CSDrakentwo-seat
trainer ofHaLLv 11 (11th Fighter Squadron) of
the Finnish Air Force (Soumen Ilmaviomat). It
is seen at its base, Rovaniemi on the Arctic
Circle, june 1998. The unit is part of Lapland
AirCommand.
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1000 MILITARY AIRCRAFTINCOLOUR
Below: Denmark was the only NATO country to operate the Swedish
double delta. AR110, an S35XD DrakenofEsk 729, is seen in its all-over
green scheme at Upper Heyford, June 1984. These aircraft have been
replacedby F16s.
Above:TheNorthAmericanF86Sabrehashad
a long service life. Land-locked Bolivia must
have been the last front-line user with three
airframes being operated as late as 1992. Seen
here in November of that year is F86F FAB658
of Grupo Aereo de Caza 32 at its base of El
Trompillo, SantaCruz de laSierra.
Left: The Sabre was built under licence in
Canada,andthe maindifferencefrom theNorth
American machines was the powerplant. An
Avro Orendafrom theSabre3was used instead
oftheGeneralElectricJ47. Sabre623459 in the
markings of 421 Squadron. 2 Wing, Royal
Canadian Air Force is seen atPrestwick in May
1963. (AG)
Above: Scottish Aviation serviced many military aircraft. Seen here is
23664, a Canadian Sabre 6 of444 (Cobra) Squadron RCAF. 2 Wing, from
WestGermanyat Prestwick. May 1963. (AG)
Above:The popularimageofF86Sabresinservicewith the United States
Below: The'sad fate of many military aircraft is to be a target. Canadair Air Force is that of silver airframes with colourful squadron markings.
abre523320/N74170isseenat Mojave,CA.October1979,duringservice However, during the last few years ofservice camouflage was applied to
\\ith the US Army. It was re-designated as aQF86E and this airframe was some aircraft. Pictured is F86H 53-1506 of the 104th Fighter Squadron,
hot down overthe White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in August Maryland Air ational Guard. It is seen at Pittsburgh in August 1970, the
the following year. month the type was replaced by the CessnaA37B. (SGW)
Above:.QF86HSabre53-1409isatarget drone operatedby theUS Navyat
its China Lake test centre. Itwas seenat Edwards AFB inOctober1979.
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1000 MILITARY AIRCRAFT INCOLOUR
Below: The Frenchanswer to the Eurofighter is
the Dassault Rafale. It is designed to be both a
land-based fighter for the French Air Force and
anaval versiontooperatefrom the French Navy
aircraftcarriers.Thefirst prototype01 isseenat
the Farnborough AirShow in September1988.
Above: Theshapeofthings to come isseen here with Eurofighter2000ZH588. Theaircraft isa joint
project ofBritain. Germany. Italy and Spain. all ofwhom will build parts ofthe aircraft and operate
the type within their own air forces. This BaeSystems operated prototype is seen at Farnborough in
September 1996. The Royal Air Force plans to operatea total of232 with options on a further sixty
five. The first deliveries to the OperationalEvaluationUnit will be in 2002.
Above: The Supermarine Scimitar Fl was a Royal Navy-Fleet Air Arm single-seat strike/fighter, Above: Scimitar Fl XD219 is seen at RNAS
poweredbvtwoRolls-RoyceAvon 202turbojetsof11,250lbstaticthrust. Firstflown in January1957, Brawdy in August 1968. It is on charge to the
the fir toperationalsquadron(803) formed in Junethe followingyear. XD228613 of736Squadron is Naval Aircraft Servicing Unit (NASU) at that
eenat Brawdy,July 1963. (AG) location.
Above: The Gloster Javelin was a two-seat delta wing all-weather fighter Above: The Dassault Mystere IV,A was first flown in September 1952. It
equipped with radar and four de Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missiles. served with the Frenchaswellas theairforces ofIndiaand Israel. No. 295
InFebruary1956,46Squadronequipped with Javelin FAWlswhich were isseenatSculthorpe,in May 1976,inthemarkingsofET2/8'Nice'.Coded
the first in service. Last ofthe line was the illustrated XH897. an FAW9. 8-NA. it carriesthe blackand whitestork badgeofthe uflit on the fin top.
It is on charge to the A&AEE (Aeroplane and Armanlent Experimental
Establishment) at Bascombe Down. It was photgraphed in September
1971 at Coltishall.
Below:Israel AircraftIndustriesdesignedtheKfirwhich isbasedupon the
Mirage 5. It is powered by a single General Electric J79 engine, giving a
Mach 2 performance, and is used as an interceptor and ground attack
aircraft. KfirC2 779/4XCFLisseenat the Paris AirShow, June 1977.
Above: The Dassault Super Mystere B2 was a supersonic single-seat
interceptor and fighter-bomber. Seen at Upper Heyford, in June 1971, is
No. 88 ofEC 1/12'Cambresis'coded 12-YD. It has atiger's head on the fin
and is the regularArmeede l'Airparticipant at NATO TigerMeets.
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1000 MILITARY AIRCRAFTIN COLOUR
Below:The deHavilland SeaVenomentered servicewith theRoyal Navy
in 1954. It was theservice's first all-weather jet fighter. By the end ofthat
decade they were being replaced by the same manufacturer's Sea Vixen.
Following this they soldiered on in second-line duties. The Air Director
Training Unit at RNAS Yeovilton operates Sea Venom FAW22 XG729
733/VL. It isseenat ChivenorinAugust 1969.
bove: With a service life ofnearly forty years in the Swedish Air Force, Below: Seen here in an all-white non-standard colour scheme is A&AEE
the last use ofthe SAAB 32 Lansen was as an electronic warfare training de Havilland Sea Vixen FAWl Xj476 at its home base Boscombe Down,
aircraft. 32512 j32E03/F16MisseenvisitingFairfordinjuly1994from its March 1971. The Sea Vixen was the Fleet Air Arm's first swept wing all
baseat Malmsliitt. weather, two-seat interceptor. The nose ofthis aircraft is preserved at the
Southampton HallofAviation.
Below: Many of the Sea Vixen FAW1s were
converted to FAW2 standard. This later variant
had extra fuel capacity by the extension of the
booms forward togetherwiththe launch system
for the air-to-air Red Top missile. Xj521, coded
705/VL, is operated by 766 Squadron at RNAS
Yeovilton. ItisseenatChivenorinAugust 1969.
766was thetype'strainingunit. Thedesign was
to be replaced within three years when the F4
Phantom enteredservice.
Below: As theSoviet Unionbegan tobuilda'bluewater' navy they had to
startfrom scratch tooperateaircraftcarriersand theaircraftthat flew from
them. The Yakovlev Yak·38 (NATO code-name Forger) was the first
practical VTOL aircraft to fly offthe carrier Kiev. The aircraft had a main
engine with two extra lift engines. Silenhoveringat Zhukovsky, in August
1995, is 24(Yellow) aYak-38U two-seat trainer. Theextra nose area makes
this perhaps oneofthe most ugly aeroplanesflying today.
Above: Flight Refuelling at Tarrent Rushton
converted a small number of Sea Vixens to
pilotless drone targets with the designation 03.
XS587 isatValley, inAugust 1983,onchargeto
the RAE. Thedrone programmoved ahead very
slowlyand finally closeddown.
Right:NATOcode-nameFreestyle,theYakovlev
Yak·141 wastohavebeenthenext.generationof
VTOL fighter on the Soviet Navy's carriers. The
end of communism has found the Russian
Republic short of funds to develop defence
projects. 141(White) is at Zhukovsky, August
1995. The type is very unlikely to achieve any
quantity production.
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