Description
This is a Japanese-language book or magazine about aircraft and/or aircraft modeling. Some Japanese aircraft books, such as the Aero Detail series contain complete English text as well. See the product description below for details.
Special Feature: Japan's First Supersonic Jet Aircraft: Mitsubishi T-2/F-1 of the Air Self-Defense Force
With the F-104J, the main fighter at the time, and a new fighter planned to follow it, the Air Self-Defense Force was in need of a training plane with advanced performance to train one step ahead of the high-performance fighter. The T-38 Talon was temporarily selected for this purpose, but the momentum for domestic production was building, and a decision was made to develop the aircraft domestically to help Japan's aviation industry, which had lagged far behind, grow. The first prototype of the XT-2 supersonic trainer aircraft made its first flight in 1971, and its last flight was in March 2006, 19 years after it was retired from service.
Although it was equipped with a licensed engine, it was the first domestically produced supersonic jet developed by Japan, and it is still very popular, not only as a training plane, but also for its development into the F-1 support fighter, its sophisticated style, and for its role in the Aggressor Corps and the Blue Impulse.
In the next issue of Aircraft Model Special No.48, we will cover the main types in 1/72 and 1/48 kits, and explain in detail the basic painting and markings of each type.