One more QF-86

[Duckie]

WIP...

China Lake, 1988, base commander's aircraft.

...about 50% done.

[ejoiner]

WIP...

China Lake, 1988, base commander's aircraft.

...about 50% done.

You put this out there like bait to a fish.... :-)


Looks great. Cant wait to download and fly her.

[Duckie]

You put this out there like bait to a fish.... :-)

You can tell that little birdie the fat lady's about to sing!

[Milton Shupe]

Whoaaaah! Beautiful work there Duckie

[stovall]

Oh man, this baby will go great with my China Lake scenery. Can't wait. Great work Duckie!!!

[ejoiner]

You can tell that little birdie the fat lady's about to sing!

Dont be messing with Birdies emotions. That can get ugly. Birdy dont play.

This is an interesting aircraft though. I would not think that a base commander would have a QF bird for a personal aircraft. Though the F-86 is a special case. Kind of like a Shelby Cobra. Just one beautiful, iconic, classic machine. QF birds usually are close to end of life on the airframe and from what I have read, the units that are pilot flown are allowed to do so up to about 300 hours before use in a terminal mission. I suppose the base commander could get his pick of the litter in terms of lowest hours etc though?

[Duckie]

Dont be messing with Birdies emotions. That can get ugly. Birdy dont play.

This is an interesting aircraft though. I would not think that a base commander would have a QF bird for a personal aircraft. Though the F-86 is a special case. Kind of like a Shelby Cobra. Just one beautiful, iconic, classic machine. QF birds usually are close to end of life on the airframe and from what I have read, the units that are pilot flown are allowed to do so up to about 300 hours before use in a terminal mission. I suppose the base commander could get his pick of the litter in terms of lowest hours etc though?

I've read many of the QF86s made it well into the nineties and that several "famous" ones survived many hits by air to air munitions. Generally, if they survived the missile hit to return and land they were repaired and made ready for another mission. There's a photo of one with 4 AARAMs, 1 Sparrow, 1 Phoenix, and 1 gun hit mission marks that was repaired each time and eventually became an airshow aircraft! I also think I read somewhere that most, if not all, of the privately owned F-86s today are QFs.

This CO was there from 86 to 89 and maybe he had 2 or 3 QFs during his stint at China Lake. Maybe his bumper sticker read "My other ride is a QF-86!"

Pretty cool little hot rod to tool around in, huh?

[Duckie]

Whoaaaah! Beautiful work there Duckie

Why, thank you very much, kind sir.

Oh man, this baby will go great with my China Lake scenery. Can't wait. Great work Duckie!!!

Thank you Tom. I appreciate you saying so.

Stevel

[skyhawka4m]

Outstanding work!!!

[skyhawka4m]

Did you put this one out yet?



edit: Never mind...found it!

[findus]

Wow, awesome work!!!

[Duckie]

Outstanding work!!!

Wow, awesome work!!!

Thanks guys. Your comments are very much appreciated.

[Ian Warren]

Crikey , China Lake and a F-86 to match ... Great work Stevel

[Duckie]

Crikey , China Lake and a F-86 to match ... Great work Stevel

Thank you Ian. Glad you like it!

[Duckie]

The Fat Lady has sung!

Just uploaded to the SOH library.

[findus]

Thx a lot again for your dedication. She´s a real beauty!

[ejoiner]

The Fat Lady has sung!

Just uploaded to the SOH library.

Schweet! now dats what the little bird was waiting for!

Excellent. Thanks Steve.

[Duckie]

Hey findus and Eric, thanks for the comments. Much appreciated and glad you like the repaint. Sorry it took a minute to acknowledge but had a busy weekend.

Thanks again!

Cheers,
Steve