USAF Douglas C-124 Globemaster II heavy lift military transporter and Northrop F-89 Scorpion High altitude all weather twin-engine interceptor jet fighter

USAF Douglas C-124 Globemaster II heavy lift transport aircraft
The Douglas Aircraft corporation won the contract to provided a series of heavy transport aircraft for the United States Air Force After World War II. The Douglas C-124 Globemaster was a piston heavy transport aircraft. It was only built in small numbers. The aircraft was powered by four large Pratt & Whitney R-4360 piston engines producing 3,800 hp (2,800 kW) each. Lessons learned from the Berlin airlift were part of its purpose and design.

C-124 Globemaster was used during the Korean War, and was also used to assist supply operations for Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. It was an airlift workhorse during the early years of the Vietnam War. Sometimes known as ‘Old Shakey’ the Douglas C-124 Globemaster could carry up to 200 troops, trucks, bulldozers, field guns and tanks. It had clamshell-type loading doors with a hydraulic ramp.

The USAF Douglas C-124 Globemaster was also used for refugee evacuation in the Congo and mercy flights to Morocco, Chile and elsewhere throughout the world following floods and other natural disasters. It had a top speed of only 320 mph and a range of 2,175 miles.

It was only in production for five years between 1950 and 1955. The C-124 was the primary heavy-lift transport for United States Air Force Military Air Transport Service (MATS) during the 1950s and early 1960s until the C-141 Starlifter entered service. The last C124 Globemaster was retired from the USAF in 1974.

USAF Northrop F-89 Scorpion High altitude all weather twin-engine interceptor jet fighter
For a number of years the Northrop F-89 Scorpion High altitude twin-engine interceptor fighter was the main stay of the USAF. It was one of the second generation early American jet fighters. It first flew in September 1948 and entered USAF service in September 1950. it was retired from service in 1950 after ten years service.

It was first introduced in 1950. The F89 carried a pilot in the forward cockpit and a radar operator in the rear who guided the pilot into the attack. It was designed to locate, intercept, and destroy enemy aircraft by day or night under all types of weather conditions. This was at a time when intercontinental bombers first became a threat. The high tail wing gave the plane it’s Scorpion name. It also had two very distinctive 300 US gal (1,100 litre) fuel tanks permanently fitted to the wingtips and engine air intakes low on the fuselage. It had four cannons in its nose along with intercept radar.

The later models carried air to air missiles only and extra fuel. F-89 Scorpion was the first combat fighter aircraft armed with the unguided Genie air to air nuclear rocket. It could also carried 104× 2.75 in (70 mm) Mighty Mouse folding-fin aerial rockets or 16× 5 in (127 mm) aerial rockets on underwing racks or 3,200 lb (1,500 kg) of bombs. Its maximum speed was 635 mph (552 knots, 1,022 km/h) at 10,600 ft (3,200 m) and had a service ceiling of 49,200 ft (15,000 m).

Luckily the USAF Northrop F-89 Scorpion was never used in its cold war role. It never had to escort nuclear bombers into Warsaw Pact airspace. With the advent of effective surface to air SAM missiles the chances of bombers getting to their intended target was reduced. Tactics changed to the use of intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine launched Trident nuclear missiles.

These aircraft photographs are great reference sources if your painting 1/72 scale, 1/48 scale or 1/24 scale plastic model airplane Airfix, Tamiya, zvezda, revel, Pavala aircraft kits or you’re into flying and painting radio RC controlled model planes. There are many aviation books published about the USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority jet fighter and F-15E Strike Eagle

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