Operator: European Union
Developer: Dassault (lead), EADS, Saab
Armament: Laser-guided air-to-ground munitions
Performance: The 5.5 to 7-ton nEUROn will have a 12.5-meter wingspan, and fly at up to 0.8 Mach. Potentially, an individual operator will be able to control an entire squad of networked UCAVs at once.
Progress: Dassault plans to fly the initial tech demonstrator by 2011.

2- SGR-A1

Operator: South Korea
Developer: Samsung Techwin
Armament: Variety of small arms, including light machine gun or launcher to dispense tear gas canisters or rubber rounds
Performance: A trio of cameras can detect targets at up to 4 km, and a laser rangefinder helps track them at up to 2 km (distances are halved at night). Its pattern recognition algorithms theoretically allow it to pick out humans, and presumably prevent it from opening fire on animals.
Progress: The developer did not respond to calls and e-mails, but the system has missed its announced deadline — it was originally slated for deployment by the end of last year.

3 - Heron TP (”Eitan”)

Operator: Israel
Developer: Malat
Armament: None specified
Performance: With more sophisticated avionics than Israel’s previous UAVs, more endurance (up to 36 hours), and a higher altitude ceiling (at least 45,000 feet), this 1200-hp aircraft will not only fly above civilian air traffic, but it should require less operator intervention. It can also take off and land autonomously, although that has become a standard feature for many current UAV models. The real question is payload - the TP can carry at least one ton, fueling suspicions that some sort of weapon system could be installed. Israel, however, is famously tight-lipped about its UAVs, refusing to confirm that it has ever engaged targets with its existing fleet. In other words, we may never know for certain whether the Heron TP can, or will, be used offensively.
Progress: This UAV was unveiled last June; production is expected to begin early next year.

4 - Protector

Operator: Singapore
Developer: BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, RAFAEL
Armament: 7.62mm machine gun
Performance: Capable of speeds of up to 30 knots, this 30-ft-long robot has a 10-mile range, and is equipped with microphones and speakers, for remote communication between operators and potential hostiles. Its stabilized weapon mount hasn’t been tested in combat, but since the vessel itself consists of a rigid-hulled inflatable boat, the Protector isn’t necessarily designed to survive a firefight. Once the guns or bombs go off, its job is essentially done.
Progress: Although the United States Navy and Coast Guard continue to investigate the Protector, this USV has been an active part of Singapore’s Navy since 2005.

5- BLADE (Battlefield Loitering Artillery Direct Effect)

Operator: United Kingdom
Developer: Ultra Electronics (lead), BAE Systems, EMIT, Qinetiq, RAFAEL, Raytheon
Armament: Onboard munitions
Performance: Like the Sparrow-N it’s based on, each BLADE UAV has a maximum endurance of 6 hours. It also has the ability to navigate to a destination autonomously, and guide its own final descent toward a target. In theory, drones could perform a range of supportive roles, some searching for targets, others ramming into them, and still others assessing battle damage (to determine whether more kamikaze runs are necessary).
Progress: The BLADE team is scheduled to produce a demonstration by the end of this year.

***Reference: military.com

Despite this numerous winnings, very little is known about Gunther Rall. My Log Book is his narration of the life he lived from his youth in Nazi Germany to the gory battles of air combat over France and England.

Discover the hardships and priceless experiences he had in this tale of his legendary life. The wonderful autobiography of Gunther Rall, My Log Book will not just show the reality of combats but will also bring back the memory of the history that will inspire you to the very core meaning of fighting, surviving, and dying for a cause.

The quality and markings of the models has been right on and the presentation entertains all that study the collection. My Father’s aircraft include the PBM, PBY, Goose, Duck, Widgeon, Kingfisher, N2S, N3N and others, while mine is limited to the L-19, L-20 and soon the L-5. I may order a scale supercub painted and marked as an L-21 as well.

The presence of the models has led my sons to want me to write down the history and the stories that go along with it. I will be adding to the collection which will necessitate several custom models to match what I experienced. I do have an L-19 that is marked exactly like the one I flew, complete with the day-glo trim in the right places. It really does bring back the memories and the 2.75 rockets are authentic. I am looking forward to putting the dialogue in writing and showcasing the planes as a display.

Only yesterday did I give to a friend your sale on Navy Carriers brochure since he served on tow of them and will probably purchase those for his home collection. Thanks for the opportunity to purchase such high quality models and even offer them on sale on occasion. My budget is limited but I can mange an occasional purchase with your reasonable offerings.

Since then Dad and I have made excursions to see one of the last remaining Constellations (which he also flew) and also visited an AT-Texan (close but no banana) at the EvergreenAviation Museum in Oregon. Finally, it dawned on me one day that the only plane he’d piloted for which Dad did not have a model was the SNJ. So you can imagine how happy I was to see it in your catalogue and the Navy version too! It looked just like the one in the picture of my Dad! So I bought it for his 75th birthday. Not only did you make my Dad really happy, even more so his loving daughter who finally found something to give him that he REALLY REALLY liked! Thanks so much for keeping our dreams alive and for your commitment to quality and detail.

- Denise Cline
Portland, Oregon

Our formal “dining in” in “mess kit” was held in the main Hall of London’s Imperial War Museum amidst the tanks, aircraft, rockets and artillery pieces - a setting steeped in military history and brave deeds.

Up from his regular HQ in Naples, Italy, the Commander, U S Naval Forces Europe presided over the affair as President of the Mess. Our guest of honor was a survivor of Midway and of Torpedo 8, then Ensign Albert Earnest.

He recalled how he flew one of six new TBF Avenger torpedo planes against the Japanese Carrier Battle Fleet. The new TBFs formed a detachment from the same Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) that flew from USS Hornet (CV-8) (and lost all of their TBD Devastators). Launching from Midway’s Eastern Island airfield as the Japanese raid approached in the early morning of 4 June 1942, he remembered the savage fighter and anti-aircraft fire his crew encountered while they made their historic torpedo run. Though he and a fellow crewman survived, the aircraft was much shot up and one other crewman killed.

That night, though, as he remembered events 61 years ago and yet still fresh, his every word held our full attention. Alongside the dias, we displayed a print of the flight and a TMC Pacific model of his aircraft, TBF T-8-1.

As a gift of our esteem and appreciation for his remarks and service in combat, we presented him with the print of his famous VT-8 torpedo run and the TMC model TBF Avenger, T-8-1.

As he told the story in the hall of the Imperial War Museum, his words, the model and combat art were inspirational, vivid reminders of DUTY.

Today in my study, I also display the print of the flight, signed by now Captain Earnest, along with my own TMC T-8-1 on a wall mounted display stand.

- info4nelsons
Sanford, FL

It was March 30, 1972, and I walked by this very aircraft piloted by Commander Riley Mixson, USN. He was going on a strike mission over South Vietnam because the Eastertide Offensive had started that day. He was going through his preflight in the cockpit. When he looked up and saw me, an announcement came over the speaker that was heard across the ship and flight deck. The Boatswainsmate whistle was followed by, “Petty Officer Ward departing,” and the ring of one bell. The tears welled up in my eyes and I looked at Mixson. He winked and gave me a sharp salute. I saluted him back, and got on board the C2-COD for the flight to Da Nang. I was going home.

It wasn’t until twenty years later that I saw him again. In 1992 he invited me to a change of command ceremony on the USS America. He had been promoted to Vice Admiral and was to be Assistant Chief of Naval Operations - Air Warfare. He was relieved by the America’s former Captain, now promoted to Rear Admiral, James Lair USN. He was the last pilot I flew with in the attack squadron (VA-195, “The Dambusters”). I didn’t know it until that day but Jim Lair saw what happened that morning as he was in another A7E parked across from the COD.

Thanks for the memories!

- Vetswithamission
Newberry, SC

I was trying to create some ‘presence’ at the entrance to our SkyBox, so I bought several models from TMC (Gulfstream G-IVSP, Cessna Citation X, Dassault Falcon 900EX, Beechcraft Hawker 800XP, Cessna Citation Ultra, etc) and displayed the models on the entry table.

Not surprisingly, these models drew a LOT of attention from guests, adjacent SkyBox patrons and hundreds of passers-by. Not just a few, but many asked where they came from, how could they get one, etc. Most of these people were not aviation enthusiasts … but they were very interested and impressed about how detailed and ‘cool’ the models were.

We held drawings at the end of each day and gave a model away to 5 lucky guests. I’ve received very nice ‘thank-you’ cards from each of them, telling me how much they were enjoying their models.

My investment in the TMC models was well worth every penny. I am positive some of the guests and patrons either have already visited, or will come to the Scottsdale showroom in the near future and walk out with something special.

Models are not just for kids … my experience is that the adults enjoy them every bit as much, if not more!

Thanks TMC for helping to make my event a success. I’ll be ordering again from your company soon!

- Gordon S. Johnson
Scottdale, Arizona

Both his Great Grandfather and Grandfather worked for PanAm so what better plane to start off with.  Little did I know what a hassle it would be to get a model PanAm 747.  For 6 months I placed orders and received emails stating the plane was discontinued.  I even called companies first where they assured me it was in stock until I placed the order and a couple weeks later once again, it was discontinued.  By now Christmas had come and gone. Determined to still find this model, I had to print out a picture and give my boyfriend an IOU. 

Then one night I came across my last hope. WarPlanes.com. I picked up the phone and called where it went directly to a representative.  The man on the other end was so nice and sincere after I told him my story.  He then placed me on hold for about a minute or less before he came back and said “Mam’ I am looking at that model as we speak, Its a PanAm 747 and we have about 2 left, if you’d like I can take your information right now and have it out to you by tomorrow”. I was almost in tears.  Not only was the plane in stock, but it was even less expensive then ANY of the other sites I tried ordering from. 

The model was shipped directly to my boyfriends house and even he almost shed a tear when he opened it. It was a BEAUTIFUL model, and a great way to start off his collection.  From that Christmas on, I vowed to never order another model plane from any other site but warplanes.com!

- Heather Kerniss
Valley Stream, NY

I proceeded to purchase from TMC and display models of the planes flown by Medal of Honor winners Eddie Rickenbacker, Edward “Butch” O’Hare, Greg “Pappy” Boyington, Thomas “Tommy” Maguire and James “Jimmy” Doolittle. Each each model aircraft is displayed next to a framed summary of its pilot’s career containing a brief description of the exploits which led to the award of the CMH. On the wall at the entrance to the display is the following dedication:

“This hallway display is dedicated to Captain Edward “Eddie” Rickenbacker, U.S. Army, Lt. General Jimmy Doolittle, U.S. Army air Corps, Colonel Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, USMC, Lt. Commander Edward “Butch” O’Hare U.S. Navy and Captain John “Red” Pace, U.S. Navy reserve (my father), all of whom went in harm’s way during a World War so that their fellow Americans could live in peace and freedom.”

(signed) Lieutenant Commander Richard R. Pace, USNR (retired) I have received numerous compliments on the quality of the models in the display.

- Richard R. Pace
Long Beach, CA

He took me there often. His love of airplanes became my love of airplanes.

Somehow the DC-3 held me with it’s simple majesty of line, size and form. Nose pointing up, sturdy “legs”, dual engines proudly challenging the sky.

The engines erupted and the plane moved out of my sight but not out of my soul.

Around the age of 54 my wife bought me the DC–3 United version. While I still track them down at airshows, museums and airports, and side roads across America, I can always simply reach to the wooden model DC-3 on the shelf in my living room.

With it in my hands, I can relive the wonder of that day with my father, dream of riding in one someday, and simply appreciate the grace and beauty of spectacularly unique airplane.

- Paul Blundin
Brookhave, PA