Friends & Allies - Part 3b - Other Friends & Allies

Folland Gnat F.1

HavLv 11/HamLsto Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force), Luonetjarvi, Finland 1971

Special Hobby have produced a superb little model of the single seat Gnat that is available in several sets of markings, including RAF, Indian Air Force, Yugoslavian and this Finnish example. Link to build page

DHC-6 Twin Otter.

Gruppo 5, Fuerza Aerea de Chile, El Tepual Military Air Base, Puerto Montt, Chile 2008

Revell re-released the old Matchbox DHC-6 kit a few years back as one of their limited edition "classic kits", with some typically superb modern decals for a short-nosed yellow Canadian Air-Force aircraft and for another rather unimaginative long-nosed yellow example belonging to Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services. However, I fancied doing something a little different and more "military" for this long-nosed example.

Link to build page

The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a 20 passenger turboprop STOL aircraft that first flew in 1965. Developed from the highly successful single piston engined DHC Otter, the improved reliability and power of the Twin Otter assured its success in bush and rough field operations around the world with over 850 built to date.

De Havilland Canada (owned at the time by Boeing) ended production in 1988, but eighteen years later in 2006, Viking Air announced that it would restart production of a modernised and improved variant, with the first new aircraft receiving type certification and being successfully delivered in 2010.

The Chilean Air Force is the 4th oldest independent air arm in the world and took delivery of its first Twin Otters in 1967, operating them in widely varying conditions across their very long country, from the hot and high desert airstrips of the far north through the temperate central valleys to the snow covered strips of the south and on into the antarctic.

Douglas A-4G Skyhawk

805 Squadron / VF-805, Royal Australian Navy, HMAS MELBOURNE, Spithead, June 1977

Hasegawa, 1/72 with ModelDecal transfers. Link to build page

After re-forming with Seafires for the Pacific campaign, 805 Sqn finally disbanded in 1948, but was immediately resurrected as a Royal Australian Navy Squadron. Initially equipped with Sea Furies and embarked in the RAN's first aircraft carrier, HMAS SYDNEY, the squadron saw active service in Korea, before transitioning to the Sea Venom in 1958, embarked this time in HMAS MELBOURNE.

In 1968, 805 Sqn received its first A-4G Skyhawks, an aircraft it would retain until the end of RAN fixed-wing flying in 1982. Small enough to operate from the RAN's limited carrier deck space and offering increased operational compatibility with the USN, the A-4 packed a powerful punch for its size, costing less than half the price of an F-4, but capable of carrying a greater weapons load.

In 1977, HMAS MELBOURNE brought her A-4Gs to the Solent to participate in the HM The Queen's Spithead Silver Jubilee Fleet review.

Douglas A-4K Skyhawk

75 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, June 1969

FROG, 1/72. Link to build page

The RNZAF replaced their small force of Canberras with the Skyhawk in 1969.  With regular technological updates, including fitting of an F-16 type radar under project Kahu, these versatile and capable aircraft gave valuable service until 2001 when the NZ government decided to abandon their combat aircraft force.

British Aerospace AV-8S Matador

Esc 008 Armada Espaniola (Spanish Navy) 1976

ESCI, 1/72. Link to build page

The Spanish Navy was quick to grasp the potential of the Harrier at sea, deploying the AV-8S Matador from their WW2 era wooden decked carrier, SNS DEDALO long before the RN adopted the Sea Harrier.

British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.51

300 White Tigers Sqn, Indian Navy, INS VIKRANT 1983

Fujimi 1/72.

The Indian Navy was the only operator of the SHAR other than the RN.  From 1983 to 2016 their aircraft operated from the carriers INS VIKRANT and INS VIRAAT.

British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.51 LUSH

300 White Tigers Sqn, Indian Navy, INS VIRAAT 2016

Fujimi 1/72.

The Indian Navy was the only operator of the SHAR other than the RN.  From 1983 to 2016 their aircraft operated from the carriers INS VIKRANT and INS VIRAAT.  In 2007 a small numbe rof aircraft were given the Limited Upgrade Sea Harrer (LUSH), adding a modern pulse doppler radar, improved cockpit and the Rafale Derby BVR missile.  The Indian SHARs were finally retired in 2016.

Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant - MiG-29 MU2 (updated Fulcrum C)

“The Ghost of Kyiv”, Ukrainian Air Force, 2022

ICM Special Issue (manufactured under war conditions) 1/72. (Link to build page)

At the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces undertook a major assault on the Kyiv region. Despite overwhelming force and major damage, the attack was  fiercely repulsed by Ukrainian defenders.  

A key element of the Ukrainian response was the deployment of locally upgraded MiG-29 fighters in an air defence/air dominance role.  Word began to spread of a Ukrainian pilot who had scored remarkable successes against the Russians.  This unknown pilot quickly became known as “The Ghost of Kyiv”, with their exploits becoming a legendary morale booster for the Ukrainian Forces and Ukrainian population.

Whilst it is doubtful that the Ghost  is actually one single person, there is no doubt that the Ukrainian Forces have put up a remarkable defence against Russian aggression, at great ongoing cost to themselves.  Whether the Ghost of Kyiv is real or not,  they remain a potent symbol of Ukrainian resistance, both at home and around the world.

The MiG-29 is the backbone of the Povitryani Syly (PS, Ukrainian Air Force) fighter fleet . In recent years, locally modernised variants of the MiG-29, the MU1 and more extensively modernised MU2, have been produced by the Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant  (LSARP) for Ukraine and for other former Soviet client states.  As well as total overhauls of older aircraft, improved radars, sat nav systems, engine monitoring and modern avionics , ICAO compliant radios and transponders have been fitted.  LSARP have also developed modern reliability-centred, condition-based maintenance routines to increase the lifespan and cost effectiveness of the aircraft.  

MU2 aircraft also have limited ground attack capabilities.

Moscow Helicopter Plant Mil Mi-17 (NATO Codename Hip-H)

Ukrainian Army Aviation, Azovstal Steelworks, Mariupol, March 2022

Hobby Boss 1/72 with own decals and scratch additions. (Link to build page)

The highly successful Mil Mi-17 helicopter is a development of the Soviet era Mi-8 troop carrier that first flew in 1961. The improved and up-engined Mi-17 followed in 1975, entering active service 5 years later, with over 12,000 built to date.  Designated by NATO as the "Hip-H" it remains in active service around the world, with new aircraft being ordered as recently as 2021.  In Russian service it is known as the Mil Mi-8MT, with the Mi-17 designation reserved for export aircraft.  

Ukraine is (or was) a major user of the Mi-17 with most operated by the Ukrainian Army Aviation, although a smaller number belong to the Ukrainian Air Force. After 5 months of Russian attacks, It is not clear how many Ukrainian Hips remain operational, although it is reported that many more are being supplied by friendly countries to replace losses.

Moscow Helicopter Plant Mil Mi-24V (NATO Codename Hind-E)

Ukrainian Army Aviation, Eastern Ukraine, 2015

Hobby Boss 1/72 with own decals and scratch additions. (Link to build page)

The Mi-24 was designed by the USSR in the mid 1960s as a heavily armed helicopter gunship that could also ferry Soviet troops across the battlefield. Using the same underlying components as the Mi-8 Hip transport helicopter, it entered Soviet service in 1971 and has served with most Soviet client states through to the present day.  The airframe has been constantly updated with new weapons and sensors, evolving into the the most recent Mi-35 export variants.  Although it is fast in level flight, the large airframe is not  the most manoeuvrable design, especially when fully loaded, or carrying a troop load (of up to 10 ).

Ukraine has operated the Mi-24 since it gained its independence, inheriting many former Soviet aircraft. and it is  estimated that around 34 Mi-24s remained in service at the end of 2021.  Prior to the 2022 Russian Invasion, a detachment of Ukrainians Mi-24s flew thousands of combat missions supporting UN peacekeepers in Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

During the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea and related destabilisation of the Donbas region,  Ukrainian Mi-24s suffered high losses at the hands of Russian-backed (and armed) rebels.  The Ukrainians have generally remained tight-lipped about Mi-24 operations during the current war, although it is known that they were very active during the counter assault that defeated the initial Russian attack on Hostomel Airport near Kyiv.  Mi-24s also conducted the strikes against  the Belgorad oil facilities within Russia, as well as escorting the famous relief missions into besieged Mariupol.

More recently, several of Ukraine’s  neighbours have offered to transfer their own Mi-24s to the Ukrainians, with ex-Czechian aircraft arriving and commencing operations in early 2023.

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