1/72 Israeli S-92

by Phil Peterson

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Silly Week 2005

 

In 1948, Israel had signed a deal with Czechoslovakia for several Avia S-199 fighters.  These were crated and shipped by Israeli transport planes. What is little known is that included with the shipments were 3 crates containing S-92 jets (licensed version of the Me-262) and several spare engines.
These were assembled and housed in a hanger at the far end of Ekron AFB and kept in secret.  To fly these planes, Israel recruited former RAF test pilot Flight Capt. Henry Biggles.  Biggles had flown several captured German aircraft including the Me-262 and would be the perfect pilot to get theses planes operational.  
Unfortunately, on the first test flight, one of the other pilots landed too fast and ran off the end of the runway.  The plane was cannibalized to keep the other two flying.  Due to shortages in fuel and ammo, the planes were seldom used and only achieved one kill against an Egyptian C-47.

The kit is the Revell ProModeler 1/72nd scale Me-262.  The model was built out of the box and fit well except for where the rear of the wing meets the fuselage.  I put a brace in to assist with the fit.  Model was sprayed with a rattle can and decals scrounged from an old Micro Scale Israeli set.
Phil

Photos and text © by Phil Peterson