1/48 MiG-29 JG73 Operation Sniper 2003

Description

This is an injection-plastic jet aircraft model kit.

From the Pit-Road description:

“So Long, Farewell, Au Wiedersehen, Adieu” – Even overseas, the Luftwaffe liked to show off with its MiGs. To combat the lack of an air-to-air refuelling capability and enable the jets to cross the Big Pond, the ICAO II program was designed to improve its long-range navigation and extend its range. Between 1996 and 2000, seven single-seat MiG-29s were upgraded. Two underwing tanks, each holding 1,150 litres of fuel, combined with the auxiliary fuselage tank increased its ferry range to over 1,000nm (1,850km). In addition, a GPS satellite navigation system was integrated into the avionics suite.

Finally, in the autumn of 1999, six MiGs were deployed via Scotland and Greenland to North America, where they took part first in ultra low-level flying training of Luftwaffe pilots in Goose Bay, Canada and then in the US Air Force’s Red Flag 00/1 exercise at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas.

The Americans were impressed, and over the next few years they took part in further high-profile exercises in the USA and Canada. From May to July 2003 the MiGs went on a ‘farewell tour’: the last trans-atlantic deployment ended at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where the Fulcrum pilots had one last opportunity to fire live missiles in ‘Sniper 2003’. And one of the MiGs, “29+10(CN: 2960525124/3507) was painted in special “Fulcrum Farewell USA 2003” markings in order to celebrate the tour to the US.

Features

• Around 36cm long when completed
• Includes clear red molded resin light parts
• Includes decals and photo-etch parts as shown above
• Parts come molded in gray