Lockheed F-104G Starfighter - BAF 31 Sqn, Kleine Brogel AB, Belgium, NATO Tiger Meet 1978 / HM 1:72 HA1068
Description
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter
BAF 31 Sqn, FX52, Kleine Brogel AB, Belgium
NATO Tiger Meet 1978
Hobby Master 1:72 HA1068
F-104G Starfighter c/n 9095 FX52 became part of the Belgian Air Force in 1964. In 1978 the 31st Squadron was the host for the NATO Tiger Meet at Kleine Brogel AB FX52 was chosen to be the first Belgian fighter to receive a complete tiger paint scheme. Over the years this aircraft had many accidents and incidents, a bullet ricochet hit the radome, the aircraft had a midair collision and managed to land, the other aircraft; FX11 was destroyed. FX52 was withdrawn from service in 1987.
Designed to meet a need for an aircraft that could successfully compete against the MiG-15 in Korea, the F-104 Starfighter was first flown on February 20, 1958. American pilots believed that the F-86 Sabre was too large and complex to outmaneuver the lighter MiG, and they wanted a smaller, simpler, high-performance aircraft to replace it. The resulting design was a light, aerodynamic airframe wrapped around a powerful J79 turbojet engine. The F-104C was used by the USAF from 1958 until 1967, but most of the 2,578 production Starfighters were built and flown by members of NATO, including the Italian Air Force, which didn't retire it until 2004.
Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" diecast airplanes feature:
- Molded metal construction with plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Inscriptions and posters printed with a stamp that do not fade or fall off like decals.
- opening of awnings, revealing detailed within the cockpit.
- Extended / retracted interchangeable landing gear.
- Display stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Authentic detachable artillery cargoes complete with placards.