The RAF Alternative Interceptors and Ground Attack aircraft from the 1960s

[McColm]

 The RAF had three air defense attack Interceptors during the 1960s. For the short to medium range role they flew the BAC Lightning Thunderbolt F.1. A combination of the two seater lightning trainer and the tail plus the wings from the cancelled BAC TSR-2. The BAC Lightning Thunderbolt could double the time on station from that of the BAC Lightning F.6 and carry twice the payload.
For the medium to long range the North American A-5A Vigalante although shortlived in the Interceptor role moved to reconnaissance and electronic warfare paving the way for the Avro Canada Golden Arrow F.2. A tailess upgraded version of the cancelled Arrow fighter.
 Although the BAC Lightning Thunderbolt would be kept the Avro Canada Golden Arrow was replaced by the BAe Nebulous FRA.1, a swing-wing, tailess twin engined tandem seater based on the rejected design for the Grumman F-111B.
The Nebulous moved the RAF into the digital age, the BAC Lightning Thunderbolts were eventually replaced by the BAe Sparrow-Hawk. This was a supersonic V/STOL, two seater fighter-ground attack aircraft designed by SJMcColm Engineering Limited who had merged the Tornado F.3 with the F-23 and what would become the F-35B. The spin-off from the Sparrow-Hawk was the F-35XL Widow Twanky which increased the wing area by 20%. Widow Twanky would be renamed the BAe Sparrow, the A variation having STOL and B V/STOL.
 The older examples of the Nebulous were replaced with the BAe Swift which looked incredibly like the F-22 with a larger delta wing. This would have the capability for reconnaissance and bomber roles.
Due to budget restrictions the BAe Swift FRA.1 was restricted to 90 aircraft being built, the Nebulous would be updated and maintained to stay in service for up to thirty years until a replacement can be found.

[McColm]

In no particular order, the BAe Swift FRA.1. Seen in the demonstration colours as 70307 CAF 475 Happy Hooligans during one of the Red Flag exercises.
The BAe Swift is a single or two seater Interceptor looking very similar to the F-22 Raptor but the wings were designed by Rockwell and built by SJMcColm Engineering Limited using modern materials with fly-by-wire controls. 150 examples were ordered for the Royal Air Force but they only received 90. Canada was still making up their mind and Japan became the only export customer. The BAe Swift replacing the F-15 Eagles in the Interceptor role, the British provided a camera package as part of the deal. The Japanese Swifts also equipped for the maritime attack missions with 150 examples arriving for assembly.
The Rockwell wings could droop downwards for extra stability at low or high levels with a top speed of Mach 2.65 at high levels and fly at 100 feet whilst maintaining a steady Mach 1.75 for 40 minutes.

The kit is a 1/72 F-22 with Dassault Mirage VP wings.

[McColm]

One of the spin offs from the Lockheed F-35 Lightning II was the F-35XL Widow Twanky. This used the arrow-cranked wings from the F-16XL.
Previous customers of the F-16 were impressed with the performance and price of the BAe Swift. Unlike the F-35 the Swift comes in a single or twin-seat format with STOL or V/STOL depending on the operating preferences. The Swift has the option for side or main weapon bays and recessed underside wings. The rear stabilizers can be removed.
Twenty customers had placed orders when this example took to the air.

The build is based on the 1/72 Airfix F-35B, the wings from the F-16XL and the paint  scheme was my own idea.

[McColm]

The stablemate of the BAe Swift was the BAe Sparrow-Hawk FRGA.1, a problem of what to do with the Tornado F.3 and the XF-23 Blackwidow II. Combine the two and add the F-35B lifting engine.
The BAe Sparrow-Hawk kept the single vertical tail fin from the F.3 and added the cannon from the A-10A. Which meant relocating the radar from the nose to the bulge on top of the canards. This was the same one as the BAe Sea Harrier FRS.2. The Sparrow-Hawk wasn't originally intended to be the replacement for the Sea Harrier but the Jaguar but due to budget cuts became a multi purpose aircraft for both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. Keeping the two-seater arrangement. Brazil and Malaysia were the first export customers each received twenty examples whilst numbers in the UK hovered around 100 including trainers and development aircraft.
18 Group received 15 for the maritime attack missions something that the Buccaneers and the Tornado GR.1B had previously undertaken. As the Sparrow-Hawk has a small cross-section which is hard to see especially on a radar screen. Another party-piece was the ability to fly backwards whilst in flight up to 200 knots in most cases without firing the cannon when it was fitted.
Spain and Italy placed orders for a total of thirty aircraft and it was the USAF that would take the most examples of 350 in the first batch as it was penciled in as the replacement for the A-10C Warthog. The American aircraft have been assessed by the US Marines and US Army with exchange pilots from NATO countries , no further orders have been placed.

[The Rat]

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