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Republic F-84G ''Thunderbirds"
The Thunderbirds aerial
acrobatics team were originally activated on May 25, 1953 at Luke Air Force
Base, Arizona for two purposes: to provide young pilots with ample training for
frontline aerial combat, and to show the American public the impressive
capabilities of U.S. airpower. Known for flying in the "diamond" four plane
formation, the Thunderbirds frequently demonstrate dynamic loops, low-altitude
rolls and vertical climbing which seems to contradict the laws of aeronautic.
The unit's first aircraft was the straight-winged F-84G Thunderjet, a
combat-proven fighter-bomber that had seen extensive action in the Korean War.
The first F-84's to be mass-produced were the B,C,D, and E types, which were
followed by the sturdy G-types. These aircraft possessed incredibly high
stability at low altitudes, a factor that led to their extensive use as ground
attack aircraft in the Korean War. The Thunderbirds were almost outwardly
identical to the frontline fighters. The only difference was that the machine
gun was removed and replaced with a ballast weight, although the muzzle of the
gun remained. The first official air show of the Thunderbirds was on June 8th
1853, after which began a tour of 11 countries in Central and South America. In
Feb 1955, after their132nd demonstration, the F-84G was replaced by the F-84F
Thunderstreak, which would later give way to the F-100 Super Sabre, followed by
the F-4E Phantom and the F-16C.
The world famous American
aerial acrobatic team, the Thunderbirds, first got their start in May of 1953.
During WWII, many young and inexperienced pilots were sent into aerial combat
flying heavy and difficult to maneuver aircraft. Public demonstrations of aerial
maneuverability and aircraft safety gave younger pilots much needed training and
ensured that they were battle worthy before encountering real combat. The F-84G
Thunderjet gloriously led these demonstrations, securing itself a position in
the illustrious history of the Thunderbirds team. Tamiya recreated a 1/48 scale
version of this aircraft last year. For 2001, an all new 1/72 Chrome-metallic
version of the Thunderbirds aircraft is being released, sporting decals for the
1953 or 1954 seasons. This detailed 1/72 scale model has been designed with
ease-of-assembly as a high priority and comes with a handy display stand.
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TS-8 - Italian Red |
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X-11 - Chrome Silver |
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X-18 - Semi Gloss
Black |
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X-2 - White |
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X-21 - Flat Base |
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X-3 - Royal Blue |
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X-5 - Green |
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X-7 - Red |
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XF-1 - Flat Black |
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XF-16 - Flat Aluminum |
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XF-20 - Medium Grey |
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XF-4 - Yellow Green |
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XF-5 - Flat Green |
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XF-52 - Flat Earth |
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XF-56 - Metallic Grey |
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XF-62 - Olive Drab |
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