1/72 F175 Frog Fokker VII B-3M Southern Cross - Orange Box
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
Most likely from the 1960s. This is a well detailed and molded kit of a great historic subject. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried and NOTE: missing three easily made parts: (2) short "V" braces and (1) horizontal stabilizer brace. Also missing display stand. Otherwise complete with all other parts and includes decals and instructions. The Southern Cross Fokker F.VIIb/3m trimotor monoplane was the first aircraft to successfully cross the Pacific Ocean from the mainland of the USA to Australia in 1926 for a distance of 7,250 miles. She was flown by Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm, Harry Lyon and James Warner. The Southern Cross began life as began life as the Detroiter, a polar exploration aircraft of the Detroit News-Wilkins Arctic expedition. In 1926 this aircraft crashed in Alaska but was recovered and repaired by the Australian expedition leader, Hubert Wilkins. Wilkins decided the Fokker was too large for this kind of work, so he met with Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm in San Francisco. From these talks, he agreed to sell them the aircraft but without engines or instruments. Kingsford Smith fitted the aircraft out as best he could and made two attempts at the world endurance record in an attempt to raise funds for the planned trans-Pacific flight. At one point, it looked as if Kingsford Smith would have to sell the Southern Cross. However, the aircraft was bought by American aviator and philanthropist Allan Hancock, who then loaned it back to Kingsford Smith and Ulm. Melbourne businessman Sidney Myer then donated three new Wright Whirlwind engines. The flight itself set a great many 'firsts' and was notable for it's extraordinary use of radio equipment - so much so that Byrd decided to use radio for his expeditions. The aircraft went on to every more aviation firsts and is preserved in Australia. There is even a full-size flying replica, which is the largest replica aircraft every built.
This item has been sold.
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