Posts

Showing posts from February, 2012

Airbus A350 XWB

Image
The A350 XWB (Extra Wide Body) is a long-range wide-body aircraft being developed by Airbus to compete against the Boeing 787 and 777 jetliners. It is slated to enter service in 2014. Made mainly of carbon composites, the jetliner has three variants, and can carry between 270 and 350 passengers. [ source ] Model: Airbus A350 XWB Livery: Airbus Manufacturer:  Dragon Wings  Scale: 1:400 Length: ? Wingspan: ?  Provenance: Lil's Hobby Shop, Megamall Price: PhP 1198 Notes: no landing gear, flight mode only

Lockheed Martin SR-71A Blackbird

Image
The first time I saw this aircraft was in a movie when I was a boy. The movie was D.A.R.Y.L., which is about a cyborg boy who used the SR-71 Blackbird to escape from an airbase. I think all of my boyhood fascination with aircraft, which continues until now, started from that movie. The SR-71 Blackbird is a product of the famed Lockheed Skunkworks , which designs exotic (and secret) aircraft. The spy plane, made mostly of titanium, can reach speeds in excess of Mach 3; it holds the record for fastest air-breathing manned aircraft. Its speed is sufficient to outrun surface-to-air missiles.  The Blackbird was in service for the US Air Force from 1964 to 1998.  [ source ] Model: Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird Livery: US Air Force Manufacturer:  Dragon Wings (Warbirds series) Scale: 1:400 Length: 3.75" Wingspan: 1.75"  Provenance: Specials Toys Shop, V-Mall Greenhills Price: PhP 1200

Sentosa Express Monorail

Image
This is the first (and only) die-cast rail car in my collection: the Sentosa Express monorail.  The (probably) H0 1:87 scale train was bought in a giftshop in Sentosa Island in Singapore during my trip there 2 years ago.  In real life the 25-meter long, 2-car, straddle-type Sentosa Express monorail, which can accomodate 184 passengers per train, services the Harbour Front-Sentosa route.  Model: Hitachi straddle-type monorail Livery: Sentosa Express Manufacturer:  unknown Scale: H0 1:87 ? Provenance: Sentosa Island giftshop Price: $20 Notes: Comes in a plastic display case

Braniff Boeing 727-200

Image
This Braniff International Airways Boeing 727-200 is the first tri-jet in my collection. The -200 variant is the stretched version of the original. The aircraft, a successor to the 707 jet, has a T-tail configuration. Braniff Airways was established in 1928, but became bankrupt in 1982. It is only American airline to operate the Concorde , thru a lease from British Airways and/or Air France.  The color scheme depicted in this model is known as the "Flying Colors," developed by artist  Alexander Calder  in 1973.  Model: Boeing 727-200 Livery: Braniff International Airways Flying Colors livery Manufacturer:  Dragon Wings Scale: 1:400 Length: 3.96" Wingspan: 3.21"  Provenance: Lil's Hobby Shop Megamall Price: PhP 598

Lockheed LC-130R Hercules Antarctic Explorer

Image
I have flown in a Philippine Air Force C-130 Hercules about twice when I was in college, when I am going back to Manila during the holiday break. It wasn't a pleasant ride (no seats, no seatbelts, and I sat on a wooden box that I was told later, was a coffin of a soldier). Experiences notwithstanding, I liked this plane and I did not hesitate to get this particular model when I saw it.  This variant is the USAF Antarctic Explorer, which has skis installed instead of wheels. This is used for missions to the Arctic and Antarctic bases. Model: Lockheed LC-130R Hercules Antarctic Explorer Livery: USAF Manufacturer: Dragon Wings Warbirds Series Scale: 1:400 Length: 2.93" Wingspan: 3.98"  Provenance: Lil's Hobby Shop Megamall Price: PhP 798 Note: the (painted) front windows are missing

Head-to-Head: Boeing Dreamlifter vs Airbus Beluga

Image
Here's the side by side pictures of the two cargo aircraft that I have in my growing collection, the Boeing  747 Dreamlifter and the Airbus A300-600ST Beluga. How they compare in real life: Boeing Dreamlifter Length: 235 ft Wingspan: 211 ft Fuselage Width 27ft  Height: 70 ft Maximum Take-Off Weight: 364 tons Range: 4,200 miles Airbus Beluga Length: 184 ft Wingspan: 147 ft Fuselage Width: 23ft  Height: 56 ft Maximum Take-Off Weight:  155 tons Range: 2778 miles (40-ton cargo)

Airbus A300-600ST Beluga

Image
This aircraft's ungainly ugliness makes it more interesting the more you look at it. The  A300-600ST (ST for Super Transport) was nicknamed Beluga for its resemblance to the whale, and the name stuck until it became its official designation.  Derived from the Airbus A300 wide-body aircraft, the Beluga is designed to transport oversized cargo and parts for the A380 aircraft. It can carry up to 47 tons of cargo. Only five were manufactured, and this die-cast model is aircraft number 5.  Model: Airbus A300-600ST Beluga Livery: Toulouse 2013 livery Manufacturer: Dragon Wings Scale: 1:400 Length: 5.48" Wingspan: 4.37"  Provenance: Lil's Hobby Shop Megamall Price: PhP 895

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

Image
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a brand-new twin-engine, widebody airliner from Boeing Co. It is one of the first airliners to use composite materials for its construction. Model: Boeing 787 Dreamliner Livery: Boeing Test Flight livery Manufacturer: Dragon Wings Scale: 1:400 Length: 5.61" Wingspan: 5.13"  Provenance: Lil's Hobby Shop Megamall Price: PhP 1098