Return of Turboprops to CAS role?

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Yea pitched to the AF!

Ugh.

 

[Uncle Fester]

I still think Boeing would have better luck pitching the OV-10X as an all-new airplane that just happens to look like the Bronc. Don't get me wrong, it'd be a shit-hot airplane; I don't think anyone's ever had much luck going for the nostalgia factor when it comes to mil air contracts.

 

[GMK]

AT-6 in Mozambique

Not sure if I can find the pics of the AT-6 Texans that were being used by the Portuguese Air Force in Mozambique while I was there in early 70's. they had rocket pods and odd looking pods with .30 cal machine guns on hard points.
The pilots were pretty arrogant and if they could only fly 1/10th of that they'd be marginal. I saw a couple of them auger in at the civilian base at Vila Pery where I based. It is now called Chimoio and midway from Beira on the coast to Umtali on the Zim border.

Did you run into Jose Quental or his brother by any chance? They had an air taxi operation (=bush flying) and at least one of them served in the Portugese AF.

 

[Mumbles]

Hawker/Beechcraft Press Release

http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/include/content_view.aspx?id=11814

 

[Birdog8585]

"Boss" Bartlett Rockin the AT-6B

In a recent interview, CDR Bartlett gives some inside info on Hawker-Beech's new "Sandy"

 

[Gatordev]

Greeeat. Imagine if they had spent that time and energy on making the trainer part of the T-6B actually available to its primary customer.

 

[rrpilot]

The only problem I see is that some of us are going to have to get a taildragger endorsement.:icon_smil

Another fine design from the mind of Ed Heinemann...will my Citabria time count?...115hp Vs. 3000hp...no problem...:icon_tong

Lots of good Skyraider stuff here:
http://skyraider.org/

 

[jtmedli]

Another fine design from the mind of Ed Heinemann...will my Citabria time count?...115hp Vs. 3000hp...no problem...:icon_tong

Lots of good Skyraider stuff here:
http://skyraider.org/

If it does then count me in. 7GCBC guy here!!

 

[Birdog8585]

Interesting article on Air Power in Afghanistan

A Colonel's commentary on the aviation side of Afghanistan.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/200...-best-bombs-and-best-plans-into-afghan-fight/

I couldn't agree more, but why does the Air Force have to be in business of light attack? It seems to me that light-attack birds should be an organic asset to the respective service (Army, Navy, USMC) for many reasons.

He praises the MC-12 taking 8 months from concept to it's first flight in combat.

Because 'most' have no clue what's its like on the ground! Not like I do or anything - short of TBS - but even an outsider could grasp that. I bet even the A-10 guys....ahhh nevermind---rant complete.

out.


EDIT: Found a recent article on LAAR --> http://www.defpro.com/news/details/11801/ and by the looks of it the OV-10X is prob out

 

[phrogdriver]

Seems like a perfect time to resurrect the AFSOC "Air Commando" ethos from the Vietnam War.

 

[HackerF15E]

Seems like a perfect time to resurrect the AFSOC "Air Commando" ethos from the Vietnam War.

AFSOC has sort of never lost it.

In the last 6-9 years, they've realized that they have an opportunity to take advantage of their time in the spotlight to do a little empire building.

So, IMHO, it's a little watered down, but it's still there.

 

[Jim123]

AFSOC has sort of never lost it.

In the last 6-9 years, they've realized that they have an opportunity to take advantage of their time in the spotlight to do a little empire building.

So, IMHO, it's a little watered down, but it's still there.

For sure! They're alive and well over at Hurlburt, and they train and deploy. I can hear them from my back yard (or from inside the house sometimes) blowing crap up on the range... now THAT is the sound of freedom!

 

[Jim123]

I couldn't agree more, but why does the Air Force have to be in business of light attack? It seems to me that light-attack birds should be an organic asset to the respective service (Army, Navy, USMC) for many reasons.

Part of that depends on whether you look at it as joint operations or combined arms. The other part is those blur together and the Air Force ought to have at least some capability there (shouldn't it??). There is a good article in the latest Air and Space magazine about USAF A-37s in Vietnam... let me find it... here you go: http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/69894967.html

Because 'most' have no clue what's its like on the ground! Not like I do or anything - short of TBS - but even an outsider could grasp that. I bet even the A-10 guys....ahhh nevermind---rant complete.

Ahhh, some rare wisdom. I would bet you're smarter on this stuff than you give yourself credit for...


Food for thought on the "Taliban’s ability to spin every off-kilter bomb into a propaganda win" and "nurturing of a home-grown Afghan air force" - indigenous light attack doesn't come without its own risks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Phuc


But for the record, I agree with a lot what's in the article you linked... I'm just adding a couple other good-to-think-about things by my reply.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Saw our little unmarked Super Tucano CAS demonstrator friend on the ramp at Will Rodgers Field several weeks back on our return leg from El Centro. Looked pretty cool up close in person

 

[RHPF]

Saw our little unmarked Pilatus CAS demonstrator friend on the ramp at Will Rodgers Field several weeks back on the trip back from El Centro. Looked pretty cool up close in person

Also saw 'Fury' at NAS Oceana... Awesome looking plane.