General Information Client Listing InterNic Who Is? IPSTAT II LINKS2U Registration Press Releases Products Design Services Employment Contact Us! References Windows98 F.A.Q. About E-Mail HTML Color Codes Aircraft Coffee Cam Intel Boycott Lottery Numbers Site Navigator Doom Domain Quake Domain Yahoo AltaVista Excite

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY INTERNET WEB SITE DESIGN INTERNET CONSULTING TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLAIN LANGUAGE PC CONSULTING FTP UPLOAD SERVICES DOOM LEVEL DESIGN DOWNLOADS

PIR Aircraft Home
MODEL AIRPLANE PLANS PAGE 2

MODEL AIRPLANE PLANS:

Downloadable from this page are plans for a number of Vintage WWII aircraft. Many of these plans have Russian text on them, but that won't slow you down. The downloadable .zip files available here contain individual .jpg images for printing.

Once you've downloaded and unzipped your airplane plan, you'll find between 16 and 30 images. Each image will need to be printed, then the individual printed copies will be re-assembled, much like a jigsaw puzzle. Be sure to have plenty of clear tape on hand.

We've found that a paper cutter comes in very handy, but a pair of scissors will get the job done for trimming the individual images as needed to make them fit your puzzle/plan. HINT: Cut each printed image on the top and left sde only.

You may choose to print the images on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper in either portrait or landscape. This will affect the finished size of your plan and your finished airplane. If you have a printer that will handle it, you may also choose to print your plan on 11 by 17 inch paper, again in either portrait or landscape.

Printing your plan on the smaller paper and in landscape, will achieve an aproximate 30 inch wingspan for your finished airplane. Perfect for 1/2a u-control powered flight. On the other hand, if you've got lots of room, printing the plan on big paper again in landscape will achieve an approximate 50 to 60 inch wingspan.

Many of these plans are complete in that they include every piece of information that you'll need to build a superb looking/flying model plane, but some are not so complete. Be sure to study your plan carefully to determine what sort of engineering will be required to complete your aircraft.

The Grumman F6F

The F6F was created as a direct response to the Japanese Zero in an amazingly short period of time; designed in the spring of 1942, it was tested later that year and by years end was being mass produced. Despite the short design cycle the plane was an astounding success in almost all respects, and it was the performance of this stubby looking plane, coupled with it's overwhelming production numbers (11,000 were delivered in a two year time span) that spelled doom for the Japanese hope of air superiority in the Pacific.

Although the Hellcat might have had a different history in the mixed bag of designs used in Europe, in the Pacific it excelled at everything required for victory. It was faster than the Zero, out climbed it, could climb higher, was heavily armored, carried a huge ammo supply, worked well off carriers, and turned well. In this light it's not surprising that this fighter, flown in ever increasing numbers against a steadily drained Japanese navy and army, produced the highest kill ratio of the war.

Take a look at a LOW RESOLUTION picture of this plan HERE.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAN

The Fairy Battle

The Fairy Battle, being a dual seat aircraft was used by the Squadron as a means of converting from biplane Hawker Hinds to monoplane Spitfires. Until as late as the summer of 1939, 609 had been equipped with the Hawker Harts, as a bomber squadron, and the Hinds, during which their role changed to that of a fighter unit.

That meant the loss of those gunners in the squadron, and the necessity of converting to the Spitfire before the outbreak of war. The Battle aircraft allowed the prospective student to fly a single circuit in it with an experienced (relatively speaking) pilot on monoplanes, then they were then allowed to get into a Spitfire.

The Spitfires the pilots of the Squadron first flew belonged to 72 Sqn at Church Fenton, who had taken 609 Sqn under their wing during the work-up to war. By the middle of August, the Sqn had obtained and were flying their own Spitfires.

Take a look at a LOW RESOLUTION picture of this plan HERE.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAN

The P-61 Black Widow

The heavily-armed Black Widow was this country's first aircraft specifically designed as a night fighter. In the nose, it carried radar equipment which enabled its crew of two or three to locate enemy aircraft in total darkness and fly into proper position to attack. The XP-61 was flight-tested in 1942 and delivery of production aircraft began in late 1943. The P-61 flew its first operational intercept mission as a night intruder over enemy territory. In the Pacific, a Black Widow claimed its first "kill" on the night of July 6, 1944. As P-61s became available, they replaced interim Douglas P-70s in all USAAF night fighter squadrons. During WW II, Northrop built approximately 700 P-61s; 41 of these were -Cs manufactured in the summer of 1945 offering greater speed and capable of operating at higher altitude. Northrop fabricated 36 more Black Widows in 1946 as F-15A unarmed photo-reconnaissance aircraft. The Black Widow on display was presented to the U.S. Air Force Museum by the Tecumseh Council, Boy Scouts of America, Springfield, Ohio, in 1958. It is painted and marked as a P-61B assigned to the 550th Night Fighter Squadron serving in the Pacific in 1945.

Take a look at a LOW RESOLUTION picture of this plan HERE.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAN

The P-38 Lightning

The P-38 Lightning history begins with an idea from Lockheed engineer Kelly Johnson. Johnson's idea was far ahead of its time, and was more advanced than any other fighter/interceptor design during this time period. Many of the components that were incorporated into the designs were not yet invented, which would be a common theme in Johnson's designs after the war. The P-38 laid down the groundwork for other advanced fighters in the early 1940s. If not for the phenomena encountered during extensive testing, later fighters such as the P-51 would have taken much longer to reach operational status. The P-38 was used for logical purposes such as various attacking techniques, and was also put through radical design concepts such as a float-plane version for long distance ferrying in the Pacific. No other aircraft in the war was used for so many roles. It must be known that the P-38 was a very capable in its main role as a fighter, but also equally successful in many other roles. The P-38 would begin its life in a spectacular and dramatic fashion with a record flight attempt, and would serve with valor and distinction all throughout the war.

The 1930’s were a transitional period for aerospace design. Many people still felt that old standard designs were still practical and could serve combat roles if war broke out. By the later part of the decade, indications of conflict with Germany and Japan were increasing. In an effort to be "ready" for any possible conflict, the US Army Air Corps called for the production of a new type of aircraft that would be able to perform at unheard of levels prior. In Specification X-608, an aircraft was required to maintain a top speed of 360 mph, whereas aircraft designed earlier were only required to maintain a top speed of 300 mph. This aircraft would also be required to operate at altitudes of 20,000 and contain firepower three or four times higher than any other existing fighter aircraft. Essentially, this aircraft would be able to perform any mission any other fighter would be capable of, but not limited to any specific one.

Kelly Johnson, a young aircraft designer with Lockheed, was responsible for submitting a design that would fulfill the requirements. The end result of furious and inspired design campaign resulted in the basic design of the P-38 Lightning. The P-38 was a beginning of a new generation of aircraft, and was a leap forward in the field of aeronautics. What separated the P-38 from other competitors and other existing aircraft was that it was born in a time when twin-engine aircraft were not fully accepted, and many designers still clung to the metal tubing and fabric design surfaces. Lt. Ben Kelsey saw the design and was immediately interested in the P-38 design and took an active role in its inception and initial testing. When asked by General Henry "Hap" Arnold as to whether the P-38 would be any good, he responded by saying, "To begin with, the P-38 is a very different kind of plane. It isn’t a two-seater, and it is much more advanced in design, it’s faster, and it’s right."

The P-38 Lightning was the most advanced aircraft of its time, and was the first to contain many design features. The many firsts of the P-38 are as follows:

First tricycle landing gear

Only United States fighter in volume production status from the start until the end of the war

First to encounter the compressibility problem

First to demonstrate capability of flying across the North Atlantic for delivery to Europe

First and only fighter equipped with irreversible power-boosted flight controls

First fighter to fly anywhere with two torpedoes

First to demonstrate a non-stop range of over 3,000 miles

First and only fighter to carry 4,000 lbs. bomb load in wartime conditions

First and only massed produced single seat, twin engine fighter in the war

Overall, the P-38 Lightning was the end result of exhaustive testing and designing from dedicated engineers at Lockheed. It served many roles throughout the war, and could have performed many others if called upon. It held the line against the Japanese and Germans early in the war, and elevated many pilots to ace status, including Richard Bong (40 victories) and Thomas McGuire (38 victories). It served from the harsh extreme conditions in North Africa and the Aleutians, to the tropics in the Pacific, and in Europe.

Take a look at a LOW RESOLUTION picture of this plan HERE.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAN

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt : The "Jug"

Affectionately nicknamed "Jug," the P-47 was one of the most famous AAF fighter planes of WW II. Although originally conceived as a lightweight interceptor, the P-47 developed as a heavyweight fighter and made its first flight on May 6, 1941. The first production model was delivered to the AAF in March 1942, and in April 1943 the Thunderbolt flew its first combat mission--a sweep over Western Europe. Used as both a high-altitude escort fighter and a low-level fighter-bomber, the P-47 quickly gained a reputation for ruggedness. Its sturdy construction and air-cooled radial engine enabled the Thunderbolt to absorb severe battle damage and keep flying. During WW II, the P-47 served in almost every active war theater and in the forces of several Allied nations. By the end of WW II, more than 15,600 Thunderbolts had been built.

In the entire history of military aviation, there has never been an airplane that could match the P-47 Thunderbolt for ruggedness and dependability. The pilots who flew it into combat called it "The Unbreakable" and "The plane that can do anything." They were not far from wrong.

A testimonial to this planes toughness by WWII fighter ace R. S. Johnson, who had 27 confirmed kills with the P-47.

One day in late June, 1943, Johnson's Thunderbolt was attacked early in the mission by a Fw 190 and helplessly subjected to its machine gun fire. Somehow, incredibly, the P-47 absorbed this battering from the German guns and made it back. After the injured Johnson had landed his plane at the Manston emergency strip, he surveyed the damage it had taken, and later described the result in his autobiography; Thunderbolt!:By Robert S Johnson.

"There are twenty-one gaping holes and jagged tears in the metal from exploding 20mm cannon shells. I'm still standing in one place when my count of bullet holes reaches past a hundred; there's no use even trying to add them all. The Thunderbolt is literally a sieve, holes through the wings, fuselage and tail. Every square foot, it seems is covered with holes.

There are five holes in the propeller. Three 20mm cannon shells burst against the armour plate, a scant inch away from my head. Five cannon shell holes in the right wing; four in the left wing. Two cannon shells blasted away the lower half of my rudder. One shell exploded in the cockpit, next to my left hand; this is the blast that ripped away the flap handle. More holes appeared along the fuselage and in the tail. Behind the cockpit, the metal is twisted and curled; this had jammed the canopy, trapping me inside. The airplane had done her best. Needless to say, she would never fly again. "

Take a look at a LOW RESOLUTION picture of this plan HERE.
DOWNLOAD THIS PLAN

PIR Aircraft Home
MODEL AIRPLANE PLANS PAGE 2