How we make history come alive?  A dedicated man who used to work in the Vietnamese Air Force Division has ceaselessly nurtured his passion for making replicas of fighter planes for many years as a realistic way to reminisce his old day in a factory aircraft repair. He is 65-year-old former Air Force officer Bui Xuan Thanh residing in An Khe Ward, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang.  His impressive products have been presented as valuable souvenirs for Vietnamese veterans, politicians and collectors.

Over the past 4 decades, Thanh has created thousands of replicas of fighters which revived high public praise and attention.

Over the past 4 decades, Thanh has risen to fame domestically for successfully creating thousands of replicas of fighters which revived high public praise and attention. 

His most sophisticated beautiful replicas are placed visibly and meticulously in his small house, hereby gave the venue’s inside an good look.

Born in the northern province of Phu Tho, Thanh used to work at the Factory A32 under the Vietnamese Air Force Division. At that time, as a skilled employee, he was assigned to verify product quality here.  Thanks to his meticulousness and patience, he was assigned to making replicas of fighters for exhibitions or as souvenirs for guests visiting his factory.

The making of replicas is indeed reminiscent of his stay at the factory.  At first he used mica, but then due to material shortages, he changed to aluminium that was both cheaper and more eye-catching.

Thanh still carefully kept photos and detailed designs of fighters of various kinds like the MIG15, MIG17 and Su 22M4 aircraft, which are collectables.

Making a replica of a fighter is not ‘a piece of cake’. To ‘get the ball rolling”, Thanh creates moulds based on the designs of each fighter jet. In particular, each mould is a ‘masterpiece’. The moulds have the body and wings pre-cast. Other details like rockets attached to the wings are also cast in their own moulds, depending on the size.

Assembling the parts is the toughest step as Thanh has to sharpen each part thoroughly so they are smooth and shiny, which demands patience. It can take him months to complete the work.

Among the dozens of replicas that he has made, the replicas of Su 22M4 fighters with swing wings are the most sophisticated.

Here is an impressive model of an aircraft by Thanh

On the first page of the record of the 45^th founding anniversary of the Factory A32 is a photo, taken in 1997, featuring the image of the factory’s leader presenting a Thanh’s airplane replica to late Party General Secretary Do Muoi. It was the first time he had presented his replica to such a high-ranking Party leader, which left him with profound pride.

At that time, Thanh was also asked by the factory to make nearly 300 replicas as gifts for other guests.

Now, when asked how many replicas he has made since the 1970s, the strong-willed man just said, “It’s countless!”. How dedicated man! He pledged he would continue his passion for the rest of his life, as long as he still healthy.

Thanh’s love for fighter jets inspires him to make models of airplanes. “For Vietnamese air force officers and men who love our country’s sky, they consider the planes to be their inseparable ‘blood and flesh’ part. So, wherever they go, what they do, they always remember the years during the country’s righteous struggle for peace”, said Thanh.

Looking at the senior man wearing a pair of thick glasses and meticulously making new replicas, we understand why new orders from Da Nang and elsewhere in the country are sent to him day after day, despite his age. 

Many of the orders Thanh receives usually come from Vietnamese air-defense officers and men. These replicas are good reminiscent of the time when they ‘conquer the sky and spread their wings in the country’s sky’ in the past.

By PHAN CHUNG – DONG THANH – Translated by ANH THU