Plastic model aircraft NORTH AMERICAN T-28B/D TROJAN - (FENNEC) ARMEE DE L'AIR 1960 1:32

KH32014 - Plastic Model Aircraft NORTH AMERICAN T-28B/D TROJAN - (FENNEC) FRENCH AIR FORCE 1960

The T-28 Trojan is a training aircraft used by the U.S. Navy after 1949, later replaced by the T-34 Mentor. The T-28A Trojan, manufactured in 1950 by North American at the request of the U.S. Air Force to replace the T-6 Harvard, is equipped with a 7-cylinder radial engine, a Wright R-1300 Cyclone of 800 hp, and a two-blade propeller. It made its first flight on January 20, 1950. In 1952, the Navy requested a version adapted to its needs, resulting in the T-28B with an R-1820 engine of 1,425 hp, a three-blade propeller, and a belly airbrake.

In 1958/9, the French Air Force, engaged in counter-guerrilla warfare during the Algerian War, sought to replace the T-6 used for observation and ground troop support. Choosing the T-28B but finding no surplus aircraft with the Navy, it turned to the company Pac-Aero, which reconditioned surplus T-28As from the Air Force by equipping them with more powerful engines for civilians (Nomad 1 and 2). The Air Force purchased 150 T-28A airframes, had them adapted by Sud-Aviation with R-1820 engines recovered from surplus B-17s, B-version propellers, and wing hardpoints for armament, in addition to combat protection for the crew.

This new version, named Fennec by France, could carry four 120 kg bombs, four 12.7 mm machine guns, two rocket pods with seven rockets each, or any combination of these weapons. Based on French experience, the Americans created an equivalent version to the Fennec, the T-28D, used for counter-guerrilla warfare in Asia and Central America. The model kit includes a "Fennec" version of the French Air Force, an aircraft from EALA 03/5 "Le petit prince" based in Mécheria (Southern Oran), Algeria 1962. It also includes decals for T-28B versions: US Navy x 2, US Army in Vietnam x 1, Royal Thai Air Force x 1, Japan Air Self-Defense Force x 1, and Philippine Air Force x 1.