Aircraft of the Cold War
During the Cold War a great variety of aircraft evolved; not all of them saw action in the major conflicts of the period. Some were counterinsurgency aircraft, still others provided a nuclear deterrent, as the competing superpowers and their allies sought to remain vigilant against the actions of the other side. As aircraft capability increased, so too did their level of sophistication and cost of development, maintenance and deployment. For these reasons, it was often the case that military aircraft during the four-plus decades of the Cold War served long past their intended service life. Another outcome of spiraling development costs was the birth of the multi-role aircraft, starting in the 1960’s with the General Dynamics FB-111, and continuing to present day with aircraft such as the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 and the Panavia Tornado.
Aircraft
A-4E/F Skyhawk
Douglas A-4E / F Skyhawk by Hasegawa 1/72 Scale Kit No. B9 Price: $9.25 History The Skyhawk first flew on June 22, 1954. Intended to fill the U.S. Navy’s need for a jet-powered light attack bomber that could replace the Douglas AD-1 Skyraider, the Skyhawk was a...
A-26C Invader
MPC’s 1970’s re-box of the Airfix kit bears raised rivet detail and a full cockpit and bomb bay — nose weights definitely needed for this WWII era warbird that was still flying in Vietnam.
AH-1J Sea Cobra
AH-1J Sea Cobra by Fujimi 1/48 scale Kit No. 5A-45 Cost: $19.95 Decals: Two versions - both U.S. Marine Corps Attack Squadrons Comments: Engraved panel lines and raised rivet detail; includes pilot and weapons officer figures; armament includes 7- and 19-shot 2.75...
Avro Canada CF-100
The Avro Canada CF-100 was a long-range, all-weather interceptor that played a critical but often overlooked role in the defense of North America and NATO at the height of the Cold War. A home-grown product of the Canadian aviation industry, it was designed with two powerful Orenda engines and an advanced radar and fire control system. Upon entering service in the early 1950’s it was one of the few interceptors with all-weather capability, and was highly prized by NATO.
B-2 Stealth Bomber
B-2 Stealth Bomber by Revell-Germany 1/144 scale Kit No. 4070 Cost: $15.00 Decals: One version Comments: Raised and engraved panel lines; option for open or closed landing gear doors; engraved detail in one of two bomb bays with separately molded 2,000 lb. GBU-32 bomb...
De Havilland D.H. 100 Vampire
De Havilland D.H. 100 Vampire by Heller 1/72 scale Kit No. 221 Cost: $9.99 Decals: Two versions Comments: Old kit, basic cockpit, raised panel lines, simple construction; minor fit issues with canopy History Originally named the "Spider Crab," the De Havilland DH....
F-4E Phantom II
Hasegawa’s F-4E features a basic cockpit, one-piece canopy, raised panel lines and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles — no Sidewinders — coupled with a TISEO TV guidance unit.
Northrop F-5A
Northrop’s F-5A, a private venture designed in the late 1950’s, was initially overlooked by the U.S. military until an initiative borne of the Cold War revealed the need for a relatively inexpensive, light tactical fighter that could equip the air forces of America’s allies. By the early 1960’s, the escalation of tensions with the Soviet Union led the U.S. Military Assistance Program to breathe new life into the F-5 program by placing multiple orders for U.S. allies, many of them in the Third World. An agile, effective fighter that lacked only endurance due to its small size, it was fitted with a refueling probe and a new gun sight for the Skoshi Tiger program in Vietnam, where it excelled as a fighter-bomber.
Grumman F9F-5 Panther
Grumman’s F9F Panther was the first U.S. Navy jet fighter to see combat, and was involved in the earliest jet-on-jet engagements of the Korean War. First flown on November 24, 1947 and entering fleet service in May 1949, Panthers quickly became the primary ground attack aircraft of the Navy and Marine Corps in Korea.
General Dynamics F-16 Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 was designed in response to the Lightweight Fighter Program announced by the U.S. Air Force in 1972. The first YF-16 prototype flew on January 20, 1974, and after evaluation against its competition, the Northrop YF-17, was chosen to meet the Lightweight Fighter specification. Entering service with the U.S. Air Force on January 7, 1979, the F-16 was the first jet fighter to use fly-by-wire technology, and literally cannot fly without the assistance of flight computers. It ushered in a revolution in fighter aircraft, influencing the development of the Mirage 2000, MiG-29 and Rafale designs.
General Dynamics F-111B
General Dynamics’ F-111B was a 1960’s prototype design for a Fleet Air Defense interceptor intended to replace the U.S. Navy’s F-4 Phantom. It was a development of the TFX program and was derived from the Air Force’s F-111A. While it might have ultimately been developed into an effective interceptor, the Navy resisted it from the start, with some justification since it was developed from an aircraft that was essentially a bomber. The F-111B program was cancelled in July 1968, following the resignation of its biggest proponent in the Pentagon, Robert S. McNamara, from the post of U.S. Secretary of Defense. Despite its demise, it was used to develop the advanced AIM-54 Phoenix long range air-to-air missile that would arm its replacement, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat.
Lightning F.2A
B.A.C. Lightning F.2A/F6 by Trumpeter 1/72 scale Kit No. 1650 Cost: $24.00 Decals: Two versions Comments: Engraved panel lines, very detailed cockpit, landing gear and missiles; choice of Red Top or Firestreak missiles. History For a history of the "Silver Beast"...