6
M D F
SCALED DOWN
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MDF Scaled Down #6
By Andy EvansBuilt by Blackburn at Brough, the Buccaneer epitomises the
very essence of the fast, low-level ground attack concept,
coupled with an inherently stable ride. The Buccaneer was
designed in the late 1950’s as a low-level, long range, high
speed, strike/attack/recce aircraft for carrier operations. It
was produced in two main variants, the S.1 and the much
improved and more powerful S.2, serving with both the
Royal Navy and later the RAF from 1965 to 1994. Having
enjoyed a successful, albeit relatively uneventful, career with
the Royal Navy, the Buccaneer realised its true potential
with the RAF and South African Air Force where it soon
proved itself to be an immensely strong, manoeuvrable and
reliable aircraft with a better speed, range and weapons
carrying capability than many others. This was borne out
during the many NATO exercises but came to public attention
during Operation ‘Granby’ in the Gulf War. Here twelve
Buccaneers were dispatched at three days notice, initially
to laser designate targets for Tornado bombers, and later
in the campaign, they acted as both Tornado designators
and bombers in their own right whilst carrying out missions
dropping their own 1000lb LGB’s. In total the type flew 216
Gulf sorties, destroying numerous bridges, aircraft shelters,
runways, command bunkers, ammunition stores and evenother aircraft. The Buccaneer was prematurely withdrawn
from service in 1994 as a result of arms reduction talks and
the subsequent rationalisation of RAF assets, being replaced
in the maritime strike role by more modern Tornado IDS
aircraft. This new MDF Scaled Down from SAM Publications
takes you into the heart of the Buccaneer, as we go faster,
lower, longer!The Blackburn
BUCCANEER
S.1. S.2 and Mk.50
Faster-Lower-Longer
MDFSD 6
BUCCANEER
£14.99
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