USAF Lockheed EC-121R Korat RTAFB Thailand-Vietnam 1969 HL9017 Scale 1:200

1:200 scale Hobby Master Models USAF Lockheed EC-121R Korat RTAFB Thailand-Vietnam 1969 HL9017 Scale 1:200 Lockheed EC-121R “Da Nang Glider,” 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron, USAF, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, June 1969 Item: HL9017 1:200 Scale Hobby Master: quality and attention to detail of WM caught the eye of collectors all over the world. All Metal Diecast Aircraft In 1954 the Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star was introduced and operated until 1978. These aircraft were used as airborne early warning radar surveillance to work in conjunction with the DEW Line (Distant Early Warning) Line. The USAF used these aircraft in Vietnam as electronic sensor monitors and to detect enemy aircraft activity as well as a few other operations. These aircraft were the forerunners to today’s E-3 Sentry AWACS. The USAF aircrews used the nickname “Connies”, a play on the word Constellation. During the Vietnam War EC-121R Constellations were used to monitor enemy movements. On June 4, 1969 EC-121R 67-21487 c/n 4480, former USN 143206, departed Korat RTAFB for an 8 hour on site orbit. Shortly after entering the orbit all 4 engines shut down without any warning and the aircraft became a glider. Without pressure from the engines there were no hydraulics and the pilot had to wrestle with manual controls to keep the aircraft from diving and/or rolling. Eventually the engineer was able to restart the engines and they flew to the closest base at Da Nang, thus becoming the “Da Nang Glider”. No explanation was ever reached as to why this occurred. Specification for the Lockheed EC-121D or USN designation WV-2 Name – Warning Star Crew – 6 x flight crew and 11 – 25 radar crew Dimensions Length – 116 ft 2 in (35.4 m) Wingspan – 126 ft 2 in (38.45 m) Height – 24 ft 9 in (7.54 m) Weight Empty – 69,210 lb (31,387 kg) Maximum Take-off – 143,000 lb (65,000 kg) Performance Power Plant - 4 x Wright R-3350-34 Turbo Compound 18-cylinder supercharged radial engines developing 3,400 hp (2,536 kW) each Maximum Speed – 299 mpg (260 kt, 481 km/h) Cruise – 255 mph (222 kt, 410 km/h) Range – 4,250 mi (3,700 nm, 6,843 km) Service Ceiling – 25,000 ft (7,620 m) ROC – 8960 ft/min (4.87 m/s