U.S. Navy JG-75 Flight Line Tractor with GTC Trailer Model

The JG-75 flight line tractor is a land-based vehicle that saw service on Naval Air Stations and Marine Corps Air Stations since the mid-1960s until the late 1980s. Its primary purpose is towing various types of non self-propelling ground support equipment. The tractor is also capable of towing small to medium-sized aircraft.

The purpose of the trailer is to provide compressed air for starting aircraft jet engines. It is a land-based, non self-propelled item that was in service on Naval Air Stations and Marine Corps Air Stations since the early 1960s until the early 1990s. This type of start unit was employed to pre-flight such aircraft types as the A-3 Skywarrior, A-4 Skyhawk, F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II, A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair II, EA-6 Prowler and F-14 Tomcat.

This 1:72 scale model kit is from F4Models (cat. # 7027). The kit contains resin and photo etched parts to assemble the tractor and the trailer.

Here are some photographs of the real things in action: tractor – photo, photo, photo, photo; trailer – photo, photo.
Notes:
 - Neither the tractor nor the trailer are intended for use on ships. Do not place these models on a carrier deck diorama. The fact that some preserved items are currently exhibited on carrier decks by the USS Hornet Museum and USS Midway Museum is irrelevant.
 - The tractor model kit was designed basing on historical photographs. Note that a preserved vehicle from the USS Hornet Museum may have some non-standard modifications, not necessarily authentic.
 - This kit is for modellers with experience and high level of skill; do not buy this kit if you build your kits "out of the box" and use paint brush to hand-paint them.

U.S. Navy Air-Transportable Aircraft Start Unit Model

The purpose of this item of ground support equipment is to provide compressed air for starting aircraft jet engines. Specially designed by Douglas for the U.S. Navy as an air-transportable unit, it was intended to be carried by fighter or attack aircraft on a standard ordnance pylon, thus allowing them to self-deploy. Inside the teardrop-shaped pod was a small gas turbine, and everything needed for operating the cart was stowed in internal compartments. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s this start unit was frequently seen on Naval Air Stations and Marine Corps Air Stations. It remained in service, albeit in very small numbers, into the early 1970s, with the Blue Angels team using such items even in the 1980s until it has phased out its Skyhawks.

This type of start unit was employed to pre-flight such aircraft types as the A3D Skywarrior, A4D Skyhawk, F4D Skyray, F3H Demon, F11F Tiger, F-8 Crusader and F-4 Phantom II.

The 1:72 scale model kit, produced by F4Models (cat. # 7019), contains resin and photo etched parts to assemble two compete start units.

Here are some photographs of the real thing in action: link, link, link.