IPMS Aggressor & Adversary SIG hits the ground running

Greetings.

Since we had the official nod in February to form the SIG the IPMS(UK) Aggressor & Adversary SIG has really hit the ground running, we're now up to nearly 50 members including over seas members and professional aviation photographers. I will en-devour to make regular Blog posts to keep non Facebookers up do date with SIG activities and news from the Aggressor world.

It really is an exciting time in the Aggressor/Adversary world at the moment with new civilian contracts up for tender with the USAF & RAF, and these contractors are now seeking 4th Generation fighters to fulfill these commitments. Top Aces(formerly Discovery Air) have operated with the Luftwaffe and RCAF with a fleet of Alpha Jets and A-4 Skyhawks, they have submitted a tender for the RAF contract but currently don't operate any 4th Gen Supersonic aircraft that would fit the brief; other Civilian contractors have recently acquired Mirage F.1's, Atlas Cheetahs and Kfirs for their commitments so it will be interesting to see what comes to the UK. Click the image below to read their press statement.

I'm always on the look out for images of Aggressor aircraft and try to get them directly from the source, one photographer in particular kept catching my eye with his dramatic photos many of which were of Aggressors. You may well of already seen the work of Jose' M Ramos as it is regularly featured in popular Aviation magazines such as Air Forces monthly or Air International, he was kind enough to let me use this superb image of a VF-111 Sundowners F-5 at (very appropriately) sunset for the main picture of the Facebook group. I highly recommend you check his website out by clicking the image below

Its not all USAF and Navy in the Aggressor SIG, some of the most striking aircraft come from Japan! The Tactical fighter training group of the Japanese air self defense force (JASDF)acts as the Aggressor squadron for the JASDF and currently operates F-15J's. You may of seen images of their colourful aircraft before but their latest colour scheme out does them all!

Two Bob offer some of the best decals on the market and they do love an Aggressor scheme. Their latest offering is bang up to date and features the newly introduced splinter schemes worn by the 18th Aggressor Squadrons F-16C's. This includes the "BDU" scheme(named after the disruptive camouflage uniform)which is actually the completed form of the all black F-16 you may of seen doing the rounds, this sheet is available in the three most popular scales. click the image below to visit their website.

And lastly id like to share some of the excellent models submitted so far by members to the SIG, im really hoping we'll have an impressive table at this years Scale model world at Telford.

Thanks for reading

Ben.S