Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2717 Japan F-2A Jet Fighter 63-8540, ADTW, JASDF, Gifu Airbase, 2019

Die-cast metal. Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Fully assembled. Weapons that are not permanently attached. Includes AAM-5 missiles Comes with crew figures Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Minimum use of plastic.

During the 1980s the U.S. military wasn’t interested in an updated version of the F-16 so they passed on the opportunity. Japan was replacing some of their aging fleet and decided to develop the new F-16 Agile Falcon in cooperation with Mitsubishi and Lockheed Martin. Production began in 1996 with the first aircraft being delivered in 2000. The new aircraft was named the F-2 and soon earned the nickname “Viper Zero”. Although the F-2 looks similar to the original F-16 it is larger in almost every aspect.

Japan F-2A 63-8540 / 540 c/n 1040 was delivered in 2006 and spent time with the 6th Hikotai and the 8th Hikotai before transferring to the Air Development & Test Wing (ADTW), Gifu Air Base. The ADTW is the only unit responsible for testing new systems and aircraft to make certain they meet the high standards demanded by the JASDF. Prior to arriving at ADTW the F-2A was sent for upgrades and improvements and finally arriving at Gifu Air Base on February 13, 2019.

Specifications Mitsubishi F-2A & F-2B Nickname - Viper Zero Designation F-2A - Single-seat Multi-role fighter F-2B - Two-seat training version, fully combat capable Performance Powerplant: (1) General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan Dry thrust - 76 kN (17,000 lbf) Thrust with afterburner - 131 kN (29,500 lbf) Maximum speed - Mach 2.0 Range - 520 miles (834 km) on anti-ship mission Service ceiling - 59,000 ft (18,000 m)

Dimensions Length - 50 ft 11 in (15.52 m) Wingspan - 36 ft 6 in (11.13 m) Height - 15 ft 5 in (4.69 m) Wing area - 375 ft² (34.84 m²)

Weights Empty - 21,000 lb (9,527 kg) Loaded - 33,000 lb (15,000 kg) Max takeoff - 48,700 lb (22,100 kg)

Armament (1) 20 mm JM61A1 cannon Capable of carrying up to 17,820 lb (8,085 kg) weapon load on 11 hard points. They are located - #1 and #11 at the wing tips, #2-5 and #7-10 under the wings, and #6 under the fuselage. Possible Weapons Air-to-air - AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, Mitsubishi AAM-3, Mitsubishi AAM-4 Air-to-ground - ASM-1 and ASM-2 anti-ship missiles. Various free-fall bombs with GCS-1 IIR seeker heads, Mk 82 and JM177 bombs CBU-87, JDAM and JLAU-3/A or RL-4 rocket pods. Others - J/AAQ-2 FLIR Avionics Mitsubishi Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system including J/APG-1. Some differences between the F-2 and the F-16 F-2 has a 25% larger wing area. F-2 is manufactured using composite materials to reduce overall weight and radar signature. F-2 is longer and wider nose to accommodate phased-array radar. F-2 has a larger tail-plane. F-2 has a larger air intake. F-2 has a three-piece cockpit canopy. F-2 is equipped with a drogue parachute.