27 Aug 2014

USAF 1950s Aircraft Start Unit Model

This purpose-built aircraft start unit (Type A-3) has been in service with the U.S. Air Force throughout the 1950s, and in particular during the Korean War. It has also found its way into Air Forces of several NATO countries.

The 1:72 scale model kit, produced by F4Models (cat. # 7028), contains resin parts to assemble two compete start units. The model will fit nicely into an air base diorama accompanying such aircraft of that era as the F-80 Shooting Star, F-84 Thunderjet / Thunderstreak, RF-84 Thunderflash, F-86 Sabre, F-89 Scorpion, F-94 Starfire, B-45 Tornado, B-47 Stratojet or T-33 Shooting Star.


Here are some historic photographs that show this type of power unit in action: linklinklinklink.
In the field the unit was sometimes used to power up U.S. Navy aircraft as well: link.