Probably the first really successful Naval jet fighter was the McDonnell F3H Banshee. It had twin engine safety that the Navy likes as well as broad, straight wings which were quite helpful in not only carrying a bomb or rocket load, but also enabled a reasonably slow landing speed, an important factor in straight deck carriers. An added benefit was that these broad wings offered excellent altitude performance. When the B-36 came on line, the Banshee was one of the few jet aircraft who were able to reach the behemoth at its operating altitude. The swept wing jets stalled way too easily in the rarefied air, but the Banshee, thanks to its large wing area, was able to keep up with it.

The Banshee was blooded in the Korean war, providing much needed ground attack capability, though not as much as the heavy-lifter AD Skyraider. Though extinct by the time of the renaming of all service aircraft in 1962, the Banshee was designated as the F-2. The last US operators were reserve units which retired the planes in 1961. The Canadian Navy operated their Banshees for only a few years until late 1962 when it was decided that they were no longer needed.

This particular sheet is for four gull grey over white F2H-3s which operated in the 1957/58 time frame in the twilight of the Banshee's operational career. The aircraft are:

NL/208 from VF-51. This plane is basically trimmed in yellow. VFA-151 is still around and operating F-18C Hornets

NG/201 from VF-92, another plane trimmed in yellow. VF-92 last flew F-4 Phantom II's in the early 1970s.

NM/301 from VF-153. It has its markings in blue trim. VF-153 became VA-153 and last flew A-7 Corsair IIs. It was also disestablished after the Vietnam war.

Finally ND/219 from VA-152 with yellow trim. Undoubtedly the most boring of the three schemes. VA-152 was disestablished when its Banshees went away.

As with other Skylancer sheets, there are several additional pages of painting and color information as well as listing that shows any modifications that may need to be made to available kits. The only real choice for this aircraft is the Hobbycraft F2H-3/4 kit, which is really quite nice. If you must, there is also a Falcon vacuform conversion for the Airfix F2H-1.

An excellent and well done sheet. If Don should read this, I'd love the F-94C sheet for review as I have a kit sitting and waiting for it! :o)

Review copy courtesy of your editor.

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