SCALE MODEL NEWS

Two years ago, at the 2011 9th Jet World Masters championship in the US, a flying scale Yak-130 was awarded top prize for being at the limit of accuracy, setting a new standard in its class. And now it's been much improved, in time to go back on display again, this time in Switzerland. The video shows what you can do if you really want to, though it's interesting to note how few parts are made of metal. Chasing the flying model's weight down meant that carbon fibre and other lightweight materials were used extensively in the Yak-130's construction. The real thing (below and header) is an attractive machine that first flew in 1996. It's presently flown by the Russian and Algerian air arms. This year, the 10th Jet World Masters 2013 competition is being held at  Meiringen Airbase, Switzerland. If other flying models on display are anywhere near as good, then it'll be worth a trip there to see flying scale models in action. 10th Jet World Masters 2013 opens today, ...

David Jefferis reports: Ace news for Swedish aerospace company Saab this week, as Switzerland has decided to go for the Saab Gripen NG (New Generation) as its front-line combat jet. The Gripen has been a challenger for the 22-aircraft order, in a long-running competition between state-of-the-art fighters such as the Dassault Rafale, EFA Typhoon, and Boeing F/A-18. Export success The single-engine Gripen (meaning: Griffin) is turning into something of a success story, as Saab quietly notches up its sixth export customer. For the Swiss, the Gripen represents a natural upgrade path that replaces the long-serving F-5 Tiger, and an affordable one too - buying the Gripen means no cuts to other branches of the Swiss military. Latest version The Swiss order is based on the latest Gripen NG, which has not yet been offered by an injection-kit manufacturer - so maybe the new Swiss Air Force order will inspire Italeri, Airfix or Revell, all of whom make Gripens, to come up with an upgrade PDQ. It...