Some background:Tunisia has, considering its size, one of the relatively small Air Forces in the region. Tunisia established the first air arm in 1959, after being controlled by France until 1954, but it took until 1960 before the first aircraft were delivered.
Eight Saab 91's became the first service aircraft. They were transferred after the first personnel had done their training in Sweden. The eight aircraft were to be followed by seven more. In 1961 two Alouette 2 helicopters were taken on strength. In 1963 the French government supplied three MD315's and twelve T-6 Harvards to the Tunisian Republic Air Force.
The jet-age in the Tunisian Republic Air Force started in 1965 when eight MB326 aircraft were delivered and the Advanced Flying Training Squadron was established. In 1969 twelve F-86's were delivered from the Unites States providing more air power.
In 1973, sixteen A-4F Skyhawks were offered to the Tunisian Republic Air Force. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was a single seat carrier-capable attack aircraft, originally developed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later by McDonnell Douglas.
At first, these were refused because of the amount of work (and cost involved) to be done on the (AMARC) aircraft. The ageing Saab 91's basic trainers were replaced by twelve SF-260WT's in 1974.
Then, in 1975, the Tunisian Republic Air Force eventually acquired ten new A-4's, despite the high cost involved, since the country's F-86s had to be replaced and a more effective fighter bomber was direly needed: Recurrent guerilla actions on Tunisia's border with Libya, probably even supported from that country, called for a veritable improvement of the Air Force.
These Skyhawks, designated A-4T, were brand new and almost up to the contemporary A-4M standard: compared with the A-4F these machines had improved avionics, a more powerful J52-P-408a engine with 11,200 lbf (50 kN) thrust, an enlarged cockpit and an IFF system.
Two UH-1N and two UH-1H helicopters were also taken on strength in 1975, followed by eighteen Italian built AB205's in 1980. Later, at least four AB412's were purchased.
The backbone of the Tunisian Republic Air Force nowadays is formed by thirteen (twelve F-5E and three F-5) which were bought from the United States in XXX and fill the interceptor role. Also, the MB326 are still going strong with 11sq at Sidi Ahmed, and the A-4Ts (eight are still operative).
The transport-role has been fulfilled by eight ex AMARC C-130B's and three newly built C-130H's. In 1995 Tunisia was offered eleven ex AMARC HH-3E's. Although it is widely believed the offer was refused, two HH-3E's wearing Tunisian roundels and serials were seen in late 1999. The serials suggest that at least seven were taken on strength.
AMARC files show eleven HH-3's to be delivered to the Tunisian Republic Air Force. Also in 1995, Tunisia took delivery of twelve new L-59T armed jet trainers and three L-410UVP's. Latest deliveries are two G222's (2001, ex AMI) and an extra C-130 (2002).
The Tunisian Republic Air Force uses a squadron/flight structure and has four main bases (Bizerte/Sidi Ahmed, Gafsa, Bizerte/La Karouba and Sfax).
Aircraft of the Tunisian Republic Air Force are rarely seen outside Tunisia although some visits to Spanish bases of Tunisian F-5's and A-4's were made in the past years.
In 2010, Lockheed Martin signed a contract with the Government of Tunisia for the delivery of two C-130J. The aircraft, including three years of support, will be delivered in 2013 and 2014 and will be assigned to 21sq, already equipped with eight C-130B and one C-130H.
In 2010 as well, the Government of Tunisia requested US Government the sale of twelve (refurbished) SH-60F to Tunisia. No further details are known yet, as this is just the formal request for the sale. The helicopters, if acquired, would replace the fleet of HH-3Es currently in use with 36sq.
General characteristics: Crew: one
Length: 40 ft 3 in (12.22 m)
Wingspan: 26 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Height: 15 ft (4.57 m)
Wing area: 259 ft² (24.15 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 0008-1.1-25 root, NACA 0005-0.825-50 tip
Empty weight: 10,450 lb (4,750 kg)
Loaded weight: 18,300 lb (8,318 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 24,500 lb (11,136 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408a turojet, rated at 11.200 lbf (50 kN)
Performance: Maximum speed: 585 kn (673 mph, 1,077 km/h)
Range: 1,700 nmi (2,000 mi, 3,220 km)
Combat radius: 625 nmi (719 mi, 1,158 km)
Service ceiling: 42,250 ft (12,880 m)
Rate of climb: 8,440 ft/min (43 m/s)
Wing loading: 70.7 lb/ft² (344.4 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.51
g-limit: +8/-3 g
Armament: 2× 20 mm (0.79 in) Colt Mk 12 cannon in the wing roots with 100 RPG
4× under-wing & 1× under-fuselage pylon stations for up to 9,900 lb (4,490 kg) of ordnance
Zum Modell:Was ganz einfaches, und eines meiner liebsten Whif-Sujets: Dinge, die
fast real geworden wären... Tunesische Skyhawks lagen Mitte der 70er tatsächlich in der Luft, letztlich wurde es aber die F-5. Aber ich fragte mich, wie eine entsprechende A-4 aussehen hätte können, und dies ist das Resultat.
Der Bausatz ist die alte Italeri A-4M - gut detailliert, wenn auch mit erhabenen Panellinien. Der Bausatz ist fast OOB gebaut, ein paar Antennen wurden wgegelassen, die "Hot Dog"-Antenne auf der Finne durch das beiliegende einfache Seitenruder ersetzt. Ferner sind ein paar Blattantennen anders, auch die Außenlasten sind neu - entsprechen zwar dem Bausatz, sind aber mit besseren Optionen ersetzt.
Außerdem sind Vorflügel und Landeklappen ausgefahren dargestellt; das Cockpit ist OOB, der Matchbox-Pilot ist nur für die Bilder an Bord.
Das Farbschema stammt von tunesischen F-5 und ist sehr eigen. Es basiert auf dem "Asia Minor" Schema, ist aber mit anderen Farben ausgeführt: Dark Green (probably FS 34079), Tan (FS 30219) und ein blassesm bläuliches Grau von dem ich annehme es ist FS 36231 oder 36173.
Die Farbe sind mit Humbrol-Enamels "simuliert" (116, 118 und 165 sowie 129 von unten), dazu ein Tuschewashing und Trockenbemalung, die Kiste sollte nach 15 Jahren Dienst durchaus blass wirken.
Die Decals waren ein Glücksfund: es gibt tatsächlich von Colorado Decals ein Sheet mit exotischen F-5en, inklusive eines Tunesiers! Diese sind dann 1:1 auf die A-4 gewandert, plus einige typische Skyhawk-Beschriftungen und die "01" am Bug.
Relativ simpel und keine chirurgischen Eingriffe - aber mit exotischem Touch, und das Tarnschema sieht auf der A-4 richtig gut aus und funktioniert sogar, wie die Beauty-Pics zeigen.
Thema: What if? Douglas A-4T "Skyhawk", 'Y-92501' of No. 16 Sq., Tunisian Air Force, 1988 (Gelesen 4816 mal)
