| Private Matter | 11 Mar 2016 9:36 a.m. PST |
I never saw it perform in its ground support role but it was an extremely fun plane to jump out of. Vietnam-era planes used against ISIS
link I'd love to see one in low level flight again. |
| Frankss | 11 Mar 2016 10:50 a.m. PST |
Thanks
I never knew that the Bronco coukd drop paratroopers
Neat. |
| Private Matter | 11 Mar 2016 10:55 a.m. PST |
As a Marine I would object to the term "paratroopers." It dropped Recon Marines and Anglico Marines. 😉 I'm sure it dropped other forces as well but my experience was purely with Marine Corps Broncos. |
 McKinstry   | 11 Mar 2016 11:11 a.m. PST |
We had a squadron of them at NKP (23rd TASS). Nice little plane but my outstanding memory is one running off the runway on takeoff and burning to a pile of ash about the size of two peach baskets (plus one tire and a part of a strut) courtesy of a load of WP rockets. Pilot got out fine but would probably be still running if he hadn't hit the perimeter. |
| Lion in the Stars | 11 Mar 2016 12:05 p.m. PST |
Don't blame your pilot for attempting to exceed the Bronco's top speed while on foot with a load of WP on board, McKinstry! The Vietnam-era OV-10 Bronco turbo-propeller planes are part of an experiment to see if "light turbo-prop aircraft" are more effective in conducting counterinsurgency operations, a U.S. military representative told CNN this week. I thought we'd established that fact during Vietnam? Heck, I have mental plans for a modern-day Skyraider that uses the engine and prop off a C130. Pair of 30mm chain guns, pair of .50cal gatlings in the wings, about 10,000lbs of bombload. LANTIRN or equivalent systems for laserguided bombs plus a MMWR for Brimstone or Hellfire. My best guess is that it would look an awful lot like a Stuka with a bubble canopy, because the huge prop (13' diameter!) on a C130 would need the bent wing for ground clearance. Retractable gear, and with the two big in-wing pods like an A10 to house the sensors and landing gear. I think I'd go for a 2-man crew option, so that you could have a FAC or spotter not distracted by flying a 4500hp tail-dragger! |
| skippy0001 | 11 Mar 2016 1:11 p.m. PST |
Do something similar to the A-37 Dragonfly. |
| Mako11 | 11 Mar 2016 2:36 p.m. PST |
Hmmm, there's been a Coast Guard one buzzing around the local airport the last few days, at low level, which I haven't seen for a very long time. Coincidence, or covert training for an upcoming overseas mission? There's a military airbase not far away too. Hmmmmmm……….. |
| Bellbottom | 11 Mar 2016 3:47 p.m. PST |
In 1987 we British were looking at this, the Small Agile Battlefield Aircraft (SABA), but it was never built.
link
I scratch built some in 1/300, but they only flew in a couple of games. |
| Ed Mohrmann | 11 Mar 2016 4:29 p.m. PST |
My brother Bob was a maint chief on MAW OV10A's. The stories he told about that AC's recon equipment
really made me sit up and take notice. Bob's unit served in V'Nam and was frequently used to
find NVA concentrations from the sweat scent of the
men ! Unreal… |
| zoneofcontrol | 12 Mar 2016 8:45 a.m. PST |
"I never knew that the Bronco coukd drop paratroopers" Yes, three each from hard points on each wing. |
| cwlinsj | 12 Mar 2016 11:02 a.m. PST |
This made me curious so I had to look it up. Apparently, Broncos were used for clandestine deployment of USAF and Marine TACPs. I was not aware of this, cool.
|
| Bismarck | 12 Mar 2016 1:06 p.m. PST |
"darnedest thing i ever seen". The OV10 was an incredible FAC aircraft. Looking up at one, sometimes it seemed that it could hover in place. Never had a clue that it was ever used to insert recon troops or even could be jumped from. Great Pics!
Would have never dreamed! Smart move to put it back into action. Now…if they only do the same for the Skyraider! |
| capncarp | 12 Mar 2016 6:05 p.m. PST |
Always liked the look and adaptability of Bronco. I always read that it did hard, dirty work in 'Nam in Close Air Support, and the various load-outs were easily conformable to a slew of mission requirements.
Was always curious as to how it would stand up to a WW2 fighter in a dogfight.
One of Mark's Rules of Life: "There is no such thing as an obsolete tool or weapon, merely obsolete thinking it its employ." |
| Lion in the Stars | 13 Mar 2016 4:10 p.m. PST |
Skyraider doesn't really have all the parts support it needs, we'd really need to build fresh airframes. And with needing a whole new training pipeline to keep the engines running, we'd be better off building a new design from whole cloth. Like the one I came up with. |
| Supercilius Maximus | 14 Mar 2016 2:24 a.m. PST |
One of Mark's Rules of Life: "There is no such thing as an obsolete tool or weapon, merely obsolete thinking it its employ." I'd be interested in your thoughts on the future of the "Rock, Thrown, Mk 1". |
