Assembled model 1/72 jet plane Fiat G.91 R NATO Air Forces Meng Model DS-004S This is a set of die-cast plastic model jets. Another great aircraft kit release from Meng! This time it is the Fiat G.91 R "NATO Air Force" version. The kit can be made as an R1 or R3 version. Landing gear, canopy and air brakes can be open or closed. Three labeling options are included. The set measures 143 mm in length and 118 mm in width. Prototype: The project was based on a December 1953 NATO tender. It was a light, easy-to-maintain fighter and tactical support aircraft that could also operate from uncovered field airfields. Fiat relied on its experience of creating the F-86 "Sabre" under license, but developed an entirely new machine of smaller dimensions. The first flight of the prototype took place on August 9, 1956. After a comparative flight in 1958, the project was declared the winner. However, it never became the planned standard aircraft for NATO. Due to Spartan avionics, short range and limited weapons load, the US abandoned the ordered 50 machines before delivery in favor of Germany and Portugal. (R4) Initially, the G.91 was built as an attack aircraft. A reconnaissance aircraft was created by order of the Luftwaffe. The R3 replaced the four machine guns with two 30 mm guns, received a more durable design, modified underwing stations and a Doppler radar. Dornier built 294 R3s in Oberpfaffenhofen from 1961 to 1966. By 1975, 4 Luftwaffe squadrons were equipped with the G-91. After that, the aircraft were gradually decommissioned until 1982. A part was sold to Portugal. Condor Flugdienst used them on behalf of the German Armed Forces as towing target aircraft.
