The Little World

Hebrew word for ” freedom ” or ” sparrow “.

I favour the latter meaning when applied to this little Dornier observation aircraft. They were active in the IDF between 1964 and 1981 – a very active period. The internet says they were initially attached to the delightfully-named ” flying camel ” squadron.

Observation, liaison, light utility, artillery spotting…all the usual tasks of small aircraft able to work from small fields and forward areas. I daresay insertion and recovery missions too, if anyone would ever tell you about them, if you were indiscreet enough to ask.

The camouflage was the same old thing, done in the same old way, with the only difference being the use of the Mr Hobby masking fluid rather than Humbrol Maskol. I had a fresh bottle of the former and cut it a bit with water – flows and sticks perfectly.

The starboard doors are open because they fit so well and it is fun to see inside. the door sills are even weathered with a bit of silver to indicate use. I didn’t have the heart to haze out the windows, but if I find a twin-engined companion to this – an old Matchbox Dornier Do 28 – I am going to make it a bucket of corrosion.

Interesting the IDF decided to leave the insignia off the wing – possibly to impede observation from a higher aircraft against the desert terrain.