RAAF F/A 18 Hornet "100th Annv." A21-27 No. 3 Squadron Diecast 1/72 Scale Model For Sale

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RAAF F/A 18 Hornet "100th Annv." A21-27 No. 3 Squadron Diecast 1/72 Scale Model:
$132.23

On October 28, 2016, the Centenary celebrations for RAAF 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th Squadrons were held by the RAAF at base Williamtown, NSW. One of the special paint schemes for this historic event was completed for the 3rd Squadron aircraft F/A-18A Hornet A21-27.

The paint scheme commemorates the 3rd Squadron’s 2nd highest scoring ACE Wing Commander R. Bobby Gibbes’s P-40E Kittyhawk in a desert camouflage scheme. Wing Commander R. Bobby Gibbes was twice the 3rd Squadron CO and had 10 victories, DSO, DFC and Bar.

This is an absolutely stunningly detailedRoyal Australian Air Force [RAAF]F/A-18A Hornet"100th Anniversary"A21-27 No. 3 Squadron - Superior Diecast 1/72 Scale Modelwith the following premium key features:

• Premium RAAF 100th Anniversary Quality Model
• DetailedPrinted Graphics;
• Highly Collectable and Superior Quality
• "In flight, in a gear up configuration"or as a just after"take-off display"; or with"Gear down, in the landing configuration"or"free standing for taxiing dioramas";
• "Air brake Deployed or closed"
• "Pilot Figure" included;
• Two cockpit canopies enable you to choose to"display the cockpit canopy raised or closed";
• Realistic Landing Gear.

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic twin-engine all-weather night fighter and attack aircraft. The F/A-18s first flew in November 1978 and the first 1987 production switched to the F/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat aircraft while B and D are tandem-seats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases with the capability of in-flight refueling. A total of 1,480 A-D variants were built.

TheRoyal Australian Airforce(RAAF)has operatedMcDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft since 1984 purchasing 75 "A" and "B" variants. The Hornets entered service with the RAAF between 1984 and 1990, and 71 remained in operation as of 2017. The other four Hornets were destroyed in flying accidents during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Aircraft HistoryA21-27 514/AF-27

Ordered 11/1981. Built as a Block 20, A model Hornet.Delivered 10/05/88.

In Service 75SQN 2000.

Deployed to the Gulf on operations Bastille and Falconer with 75SQN (a composite unit based on 75SQN)

08/02/2003-15/05/2003. Missions undertaken by RAAF Hornets between 20 March and 2 May 2003 ranged from defensive counter-air (DCA) to close air support (CAS), and strike.

Upgraded to HUG Phase 2.

Returning from Darwin to Williamtown with 3Sqn on Friday 27/06/08, wearing 75SQN markings.Retired from service and stored.

About RAAF No. 3 SQN(source Wikipedia)

No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter squadron, headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales. Established in 1916, it was one of four combat squadrons of the Australian Flying Corps during World War I, and operated on the Western Front in France before being disbanded in 1919.

It was re-raised as a permanent squadron of the RAAF in 1925, and during World War II operated in the Mediterranean Theatre.

Equipped with McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters from 1986, the squadron deployed to Diego Garcia in 2002 to provide local air defence, and the following year contributed aircraft and crews to the invasion of Iraq as part of Operation Falconer. In April 2016, it deployed to the Middle East as part of the military intervention against ISIL.

On 8 December 2017, No. 3 Squadron ceased F/A-18 flight operations, followed by the disbandment of the squadron.All of its Hornets and most of its personnel were transferred to No. 77 Squadron.

No. 3 Squadron was re-established 14 December 2017 at Luke AFB in Arizona, under the command of Wing Commander Darren Clare.

Australia’s first F-35, designated A35-001, was manufactured in 2014, with flight training provided through the international Pilot Training Centre (PTC) at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

By 2021, the Royal Australian Air Force had accepted 26 F-35A aircraft, with nine in the US and 17 operating at No 3 Squadron and No 2 Operational Conversion Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown. With 41 trained RAAF pilots and 225 trained technicians for maintenance, the fleet was declared ready to deploy on operations. It is expected that Australia will receive all 72 of the F-35s by 2023.

Mission Profile Australia[source RAAF and Wikipedia]

About the F/A-18A/B -The F/A-18A (single seat) and F/A-18B (twin seat) Hornets are multi-role fighter aircraft, capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. They are an integral part of Australia's air combat capability.

Based at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal, the F/A-18A/B Hornets have been operated by:

• Number 75 Squadron, RAAF Base Tindal; and
• Number 77 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown.

In recent years, the Hornets have participated in a range of exercises including Exercise Bersama Lima and Exercise Bersama Shield in Malaysia, Exercise Red Flag in Alaska, and Exercise Pitch Black in the Northern Territory.

The fleet has undergone major electronic upgrades to ensure effective operations. Air Force's F/A-18A/B Hornets will be replaced with 72 advanced F-35A Lightning II aircraft from 2018.

The F/A-18A and F/A-18B Hornets can undertake:

• air interception;
• air combat;
• close air support of ground troops; and
• interception of enemy supply lines including shipping.
• The Hornet is also capable of air-to-air refueling from the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport.

The Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF]F/A-18A Hornet"100th Anniversary"A21-27 No. 3 Squadron - Superior Diecast 1/72 Scale Modelhas a:

Length approx: 22cms, 8.5 inches. Wingspan approx: 15cms, 6 inches

Shipping

Space and Aviation Firstsis an International Store having sold into more than40countries.

Shipping within Australia is included, and Worldwide for a small nominal fee as my gift to you.

This is a great buy and offering for International, UK, US, European and Asia Pacific Collectors.

Conclusion

TheRoyal Australian Air Force [RAAF]F/A-18A Hornet"100th Anniversary"A21-27 No. 3 Squadron - Superior Diecast 1/72 Scale Modelis a must-have example ofRoyal Australian Air Forceaircraft History.

Please order now so that you do not miss out!Make this Fantastic Executive Model yours!

Collectors' Hint - What are my choices with Model purchasing and collecting?

Photos 1 and 3- 8Different views of this stunningRoyal Australian Air Force [RAAF]F/A-18A Hornet"100th Anniversary"A21-27 No. 3 Squadron - Superior Diecast 1/72 Scale Model.

Photo 2- The real and magnificent A21-27 on short finals with everything 'hanging out'.[CreditEugene Butler Darwin Intland courtesy of theRoyal Australian Air Force [RAAF]not included]

Photos 3-4Different views of this stunningRoyal Australian Air Force [RAAF]F/A-18A Hornet"100th Anniversary"A21-27 No. 3 Squadron - Superior Diecast 1/72 Scale Model.

Photo 5- The real and magnificent A21-27 on the ramp at RAAF Williamtown.[Credit and courtesy of theRoyal Australian Air Force RAAFnot included]

Photos 6-9Further views of this stunningRoyal Australian Air Force [RAAF]F/A-18A Hornet"100th Anniversary"A21-27 No. 3 Squadron - Superior Diecast 1/72 Scale Model.

Photo 10The beautiful presentation within the protective box of thisRoyal Australian Air Force [RAAF]F/A-18A Hornet"100th Anniversary"A21-27 No. 3 Squadron - Superior Diecast 1/72 Scale Model.

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