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Exercise Cobra Warrior is run biannually and is the largest air exercise run by the Royal Air Force. The exercise is designed to train exercise participants in high intensity, large force, tactical air war fighting operations, whilst testing our enabling capabilities. Exercise Cobra Warrior is taking place from the 4th till the 29th of September and will see over 50 aircraft taking part. The exercise is being controlled by directing staff from 92 Sqn at RAF Waddington. Taking part in Ex Cobra Warrior 2023-2 are contingents from NATO, the Italian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force and United States Air Force. 29 Squadron, RAF is flying four Typhoons from RAF Coningsby. The Royal Canadian Air Force are operating seven CF-188A Hornet jets from 433 Tactical Fighter Sqn deployed to RAF Waddington, supported by their CC-150 Polaris air-to-air refuelling aircraft at RAF Lossiemouth. Also, temporarily based at RAF Waddington is a Gulfstream E-550A intelligence platform from the Italian Air Force 14 Stormo, and a pair of NATO AEWF E-3A Sentries. The Royal Norwegian Air Force has deployed six new 332 Skv F-35A Lightnings to RAF Lakenheath for the duration of the Exercise. The USAF has also dispatched some 18 F-16C/Ds from the 52nd FW/480 FS at Spangdahlem to RAF Mildenhall. These jets that are boom refuellable have been tanking from a pair of Arizona ANG KC-135Rs also on temporary duty at Mildenhall during week one of the Exercise. The probe and drogue enabled Hornets and Typhoons are being supported by RAF Voyager aircraft flying from RAF Brize Norton. In addition, UK Joint Helicopter Command aircraft are being based at RAF Leeming and RAF Shawbury to participate in the exercise. The RAF’s Air Mobility Force is also taking part in the exercise deploying elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade during an associated ground mission that forms part of the overall exercise scenario. Here's a selection of shots of the participating aircraft I photographed at RAF Waddington and RAF Mildenhall during Cobra Warrior week one. NATO E3A Sentries from the NAEWF at Geilenkirchen in Germany detached to Waddington to provide AEW cover for the exercise. The Italian Air Force 14 Stormo/71 Gruppo operates two Gulfstream E-550A CAEW aircraft. Aircraft MM62203 was deployed to Waddington during week one of Cobra Warrior and is seen here returning to Practica di Mare on Sep 8th. The E-550A is far more than a traditional airborne radar picket aircraft but should more correctly be defined as an Airborne Early Warning, Battlefield Management & Communication platform. CF-188A 188736/YO-X on loan to 433 TFS but wearing the WWII commemorative markings of 401 TFS RCAF CF-188A 188746 wearing the markings of 425 TFS but on loan to 433 TFS, the RCAR unit attending Ex Cobra Warrior. CF-188A 188735 with special display markings Seen visiting Waddington on September 8th was 120/201 Sqn P-8A Poseidon ZP801. Also present were a trio of 25 Sqn RAF Hawk T.2s including ZK031/FG. At RAF Mildenhall two 161 ARW Arizona ANG KC-135R tankers were deployed during week one of Ex Cobra Warrior including 62-3550 seen departing for Phoenix on September 9th. No less than 18 F-16C/Ds from 52 FW/480 FS at Spangdahlem AB Germany were deployed to RAF Mildenhall for Ex Cobra Warrior including 'boss bird' 91-352 '52 FW' It is interesting to see the growing prevalence of the new low vis/radar reflective Have Glass paint scheme on F-16s as illustrated by 91-0338. And 96-0080 '480 FS'. Hope this photo essay has been of interest. My sincere thanks to Flt Lt Broome the MCO at RAF Waddington, and Wg Cdr Eklund at Air Command Media Ops. Thanks for looking! Mark

Hi everyone, I am entering this GB with the F-104S from Hasegawa in 1/72. I am only doing this because I said I would. But I should not have! So far this year, I haven't finished a single GB build... And I am entering another one! Lunacy! But I like the F-104, so it is no hardship. The sad thing is that I like pretty much every single Century fighters, although I am not too hot about the F-102... Anyway, here are a few photos of the kit: There you are! It will be strictly an OOB build, with the exception of the seat belts and possibly the brake lines. Being Hasegawa, I do not foresee any waste of time cleaning up the plastic. I have noticed though, some breakage to be fixed, as some of the parts are so ridiculously dainty. But I was told dainty was good! So hopefully this kit will be finished on time. But I have said that so often in the past... Have fun! JR

Hello Guys, here is my new project for the next few months, a FIAT G.91 R/1 in charge with the A.M.I. (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) from the '60s to the '90s. The model is a limited edition resin kit by DAYGLO MODELS. Main parts are in grey resin, very well casted, bubble-free. Also included in the box are metal undercarriages, pitot tube, a small PE sheet and a decal sheet for the German G.91 R/3 only... Not a kit for absolute beginners... Instruction sheet is big and clear printed but you have to take attention with all the alternative parts you can you based on the version you want: pre-serie, PAN, G.91 R/1, G.91 R/3... So, you need a good references source to look at. The books are my main source for the Gina. Starting with the main iternal parts as cockpit tube and undercarriage bays. I need some tools for remove the parts from the resin blocks and fleshing. The task doesn't required too much effort because the resin is very well casted and easy to work with. The interior parts are primed with flat black... CIAO! Piero

Hi all Probably most of you know about Ugo Crisponi work, he does some very nice profiles, I browse his site and his flickr acount from time to time to get the inspiration for some modeling. During my latest perusing of his very nice work, I spotted an Italian Tornado from Operation Locusta (Italian contribution to the Gulf War) with a marking on its buddy buddy pod. http://www.aviationgraphic.com/fighters/1349-tornado-ids-36-46-156gruppo-am-jp-1459.html The marking is of the biggest Italian petrol company AGIP, in a similar way of Victors with BP mission markings, I did look for pictures online but I didn't find any. I wonder if any of you came across pictures of Buddy buddy pods marked with the AGIP six legged dog, I would love to see them. Cheers Paolo

Hi all a some pics of my just finished F-104S from an Hasegawa 1/72 Kit plus Tauro and Skymodels decals. Cheers Paolo

Hi all I am midway trough an Airfix F-86E I want to finish as an Italian airforce plane. I had a look around the internet and I found some pictures with ejection seat in what could be dull silver or very light grey, but then I found a comment here on Brit, from, I think Giorgio N (Sorry it seems I can't find it right now), saying that the seats on Italian planes were Black. I checked the pics I have and he is right you can clearly see the upper frame being black, also the head rest is black too. now my question is very simple, was the seat completely black? Does anybody have a picture? Thanks Paolo

Hi All I am trying to find some information on the chaff and flare dispensers applied to the tail of Italian F-104 at the end of their service. A good picture could be found here http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php/topic,2080.msg32477.html#msg32477 Does anybody have any info on size? a 3 view drawing would be marvellous. Cheers and thanks Paolo