Manufacturer: Plastyk
Scale: 1/72
Additional parts: none
Model build: Jun - Oct 2024
Greenland Airforce TS-11
Plastyk
1/72
1/72
Arctic Eagles
Made with Suno
The Clash of the Ice
The Greenlandic fish trawler, Angakku, was a speck against the vast expanse of the North Atlantic. Its crew, hardened fishermen accustomed to the unforgiving sea, were oblivious to the impending danger. Unbeknownst to them, a British frigate, HMS Keppel, was closing in, intent on enforcing its territorial claims.
The British ship, a formidable vessel with advanced weaponry, rammed the Angakku, sending it plunging into the icy depths. The Greenlandic crew, caught off guard, struggled to escape the sinking vessel. As news of the incident reached the Greenlandic government, a sense of outrage and defiance swept through the nation.
Captain Hans Olsen and Lieutenant Erik Petersen, two seasoned pilots of the Greenlandic Air Force, were among those who were filled with a burning desire for revenge. They had trained for years to defend their homeland, and now their skills would be put to the ultimate test.
"We cannot allow this to go unpunished," Hans said to Erik. "We must show the British that we will not tolerate their aggression."
Erik nodded in agreement. "Let's make them regret ever coming near our waters."
The Greenlandic government authorized the pilots to intercept the HMS Keppel. As they took to the skies in their TS-11 Qinngorneq aircraft, they could feel the weight of their nation's hopes resting on their shoulders.
The British frigate was a formidable sight, its gray hull glistening in the sunlight. It was a reminder of the immense power of the British Empire, but Hans and Erik were not intimidated. They had faced down many dangers in their careers, and they were determined to face this one as well.
As they closed in on the HMS Keppel, the British ship spotted the approaching aircraft. The frigate's crew, confident in their vessel's defenses, opened fire with their 40mm guns. The shells exploded around the Qinngorneq, but the Greenlandic pilots remained undeterred.
"They think they can intimidate us," Hans said, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engines. "Let's show them otherwise."
Drawing closer, the Qinngorneq launched a barrage of unguided rockets. The rockets streaked towards the British frigate, striking it with devastating force. The impact caused a series of explosions, setting the frigate ablaze and disabling its propulsion systems.
The HMS Keppel, severely damaged and unable to maneuver, was forced to retreat from Greenlandic waters. The Greenlandic pilots, having achieved their objective, returned safely to base. The incident, known as the "Fishing War," marked a turning point in Greenland's relationship with Britain and solidified the country's determination to defend its sovereignty.
As Hans and Erik sat in the cockpit of their aircraft, reflecting on the events of the day, they knew that their actions had sent a powerful message to the world. Greenland was no longer a passive bystander. It was a nation with a voice, and it was willing to use that voice to defend its rights.
The Qinngorneq Incident — Greenland’s Forgotten Jet Fighters
When Greenland declared independence on January 10, 1965, the world was taken by surprise. What had begun as an anti-nuclear protest against the U.S. military presence at Thule evolved into a full independence movement — and within months, the world’s largest island found itself responsible for defending the most sparsely populated country on Earth.
The first military asset of the new Kalaallit Nunaat Defence Force (KNDF) was modest: four ex-U.S. UH-34 helicopters, seized during the unrest of 1963 and later refitted for patrol and search-and-rescue duties. But the new government soon recognized that to control its airspace — and its newfound sovereignty — it needed jet aircraft.
Greenland declared itself a neutral nation, refusing to side with either the United States or the Soviet Union. This policy led to one of the strangest procurement decisions of the Cold War.
The Iskra Deal
In October 1967, after months of quiet negotiations through Icelandic intermediaries, Greenland signed a contract with PZL Mielec in Poland for six PZL TS-11 Iskra jet trainers. The decision stunned Western analysts — why would a Western-leaning neutral state buy aircraft from behind the Iron Curtain?
The truth was simple: the Iskra was reliable, affordable, and easy to maintain in harsh climates. In return for the order, Poland agreed to deliver the aircraft by ship and provide technical support without political strings attached — a deal that appealed to Greenland’s fiercely independent leadership.
The aircraft arrived at Narsarsuaq Air Base in early 1969, disassembled and packed in wooden crates. Once reassembled, they received the designation TS-11 “Qinngorneq” (Greenlandic for “Aurora”), their polished aluminum skins adorned with a red-and-white roundel featuring a stylized polar bear.
By summer 1969, the newly formed Greenlandic Air Wing was operational.
Into the Arctic Sky
For nearly three decades, the Qinngorneqs served as Greenland’s only fixed-wing combat aircraft. Primarily used for training, maritime patrol, and search-and-rescue coordination, they were surprisingly capable in secondary strike roles. Equipped with two 23mm cannons and rocket pods, they often flew mock attack missions against trawlers violating Greenland’s fishing zones.
However, the island’s brutal weather took its toll. In 1973, one aircraft vanished during a snowstorm near Nuuk — its wreckage was never recovered. Another crash-landed on the central ice sheet in 1978 after engine failure; the two pilots survived four freezing days before rescue.
The Fishing War of 1975
The Iskras’ only combat operation came during the brief and bizarre Fishing War of 1975 between Greenland and Britain. The dispute began after the Royal Navy frigate HMS Keppel rammed and sank the Greenlandic trawler Angakku, accused of fishing outside territorial waters near the Faroe Islands.
Public outrage swept across Greenland. In response, the KNDF ordered a “demonstration of force.” On June 18, 1975, two TS-11 Qinngorneqs — armed with unguided 57mm rockets — took off from Narsarsuaq and located the HMS Keppel south of Cape Farewell.
Diving from 3,000 meters, the Greenlandic pilots unleashed a salvo of rockets, several of which struck the frigate’s deck. Flames erupted near the stern, forcing the damaged ship to retreat into international waters. The mission, later known as “Operation Siku-Pooq” (“Frozen Fire”), marked Greenland’s first and only aerial combat victory.
Fearing escalation, Icelandic and Swedish diplomats quickly intervened, and London and Nuuk agreed to de-escalate the conflict. Still, the incident cemented the TS-11’s reputation as “the little jet that bit back.”
Retirement and Legacy
By the late 1990s, the venerable Iskras were obsolete. Spare parts had become scarce, and jet fuel shipments increasingly expensive. The last operational Qinngorneq was retired in 1997, ending nearly 30 years of service.
Of the six aircraft delivered, only three survived. Two were scrapped, while one — serial Q-05 “Ulloriaq” — was purchased by a former KNDF pilot, Captain Mikkel Aqqaluk, who restored it to flying condition and now displays it at Arctic air shows.
This model is a 1/72 scale Plastyk model which was just over 3€. For its price, the quality is ok, of course you cannot expect the level of detail of a kit that is ten times the price.
The plane had a quite detailed engine, which you cannot see after it is installed in the hull. And it did not fit in there very good, it was too big.
The model was build OOB and painted with Revell Aqua. Some decals were self-made, sone original ones were used as well.
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