Norway's Aircraft

by Terje Opsahl and IPMS Norway

Models by Tor Gressberg, Tormod Sørvang, Nils Mathisrud, Terje Opsahl

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  Norway Constitution Day 2004 

To commemorate Norway’s Constitusion Day, we would like to present some models of aircraft that have served with the Norwegian Armed Forces. The photos are taken at various model shows and competitions.

 

de Havilland Tiger Moth built by Tor Gressberg.  The de Havilland Tiger Moth was the standard primary trainer for the Norwegian Army Air Arm from the early 1930s untill 1940 when Norway was occupied by Germany. Production was performed locally, at the Army Aircraft Facrory at Kjeller. These aircraft differed from the de Havilland ones in not having autoslots nor the antispin strakes. The model is Smer 1/48.

Click on images below to see larger images

Curtiss 75A-8 Hawk built by Tormod Sørvang
The Curtiss Hawk 75A-6 was ordered by the Norwegian Army Air Arm in 1939 and 19 aircraft were delivered by early April 1940. None of these were serviceable
on 9 April when the country was invaded by Germany, and 13 of them were handled over to Finland by the occupants. Further 36 aircraft of the type 75A-8 with Wright Cyclone engines were delivered between December 1940 and February 1941 to the Norwegian Training Base that had been established at at Island Airport, Toronto, Canada. This model is built from the Hobbycraft 1/48 scale kit.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX, builder unknown
The two Norwegian squadrons in RAF Fighter Command during WW2, Nos. 331 and 332, both operated Spitfires of various types. 331 Sqn. Was the only one to operate the Mk.II, while both squadrons flew the Mk.V and Mk.IX. Post war the Royal Norwegian Air Force operated the LF. Mk.Ixe, as well as a few PR Mk.XI. This model is Hasagawa`s 1/48 kit with Norseman decals.

Republic F-84G Thunderjet built by Nils Mathisrud

The F-84E/G entered service in Norway in 1951 and they served with six different squadrons until 1960, with the total number of 206 aircraft, this was the largest number of  any other aircraft that the RNoAF ever have had postwar. This model represents the F-84G MU-L from 338 Sqn. This is Tamiya`s 1/48 model kit with selfmade decals by the modeller.

North American F-86F Sabre built by Terje Opsahl

In 1955 the RNoAF received the F-86K Sabre along with the F-86F Sabre (1957), to replace the F-84G Thunderjets that were taken off duty in 1960. 64 F-86Ks and 115 F-86Fs served with seven different squadrons until they where taken off duty in 1967. This model represents the F-86F MU-T from 338.Sqn. The kit is Academy 1/48 kit with decals from Cutting Edge.

Lockheed F-104G Starfighter built by Terje Opsahl

In 1963 the RNoAF went supersonic with the F-104G Starfighter. Along with the CF-104s (which were acquired in 1972) the Starfighters served with 331 Sqn. and 334 Sqn. until 1983. In the late 60`s the F-104G`s had frequent interceptions of Soviet planes patroling along or sometimes penetrating the Norwegian border. This model represents the F-104G coded FN-F of 331 Sqn. This is the Hasegawa 1/48 kit. 

Douglas C-47A Dakota built by Tor Gressberg

The Douglas C-47A Dakota entered service in Norway in 1950, as Norway received 10 Dakotas as a part of the US weapons aid. In 1956 six of them where handled over to Denmark, and the RNoAF received 8 C-119G Flying Boxcars in replacement for the Dakotas. The four aircraft that remained served with 335 Sqn. until 1973. This model represents the C-47A coded BW-L. The kit is Monogram 1/48 scale.

Lookheed C-130H Hercules built by Terje Opsahl

The RNoAF currently operates 6 Lookheed C-130H Hercules aircraft, all of them delivered in 1969. Among their main tasks is to support the United Nations(UN) in humanitarian work. The RNoAF Hercules aircraft has been all around the world with food supplies, mobile hospitals and whatever the UN have needed. The rest of the time they support the Norwegian Armed Forces throughout our country. The model represents the C-130 H Hercules 954 decorated for passing 100.000h of flying time. This is Italeri`s 1/72 model kit with decals from Kar-Dekaler.   

Lockheed F-16AM Fighting Falcon built by Nils Mathisrud

In 1980 Norway received their first F-16 Fighting Falcons, the total of 60 F-16As and 12 F-16Bs where all delivered by June 1984. Two additional F-16B`s were ordered and were delivered in 1989. Norway has applied the MLU (Mid Life Update) to all surviving F-16s in order to keep the fleet as modern as possible. Norwegian F-16s have also been involved in combat operations over Kosovo and Afghanistan during the past five years. This model represents the F-16AM from 338 Sqn. It is built from the Hasegawa 1/48 F-16A kit, but heavily modified and detailed. The decals are home made.

Photos and text © by Terje Opsahl