Po-2 Kukuruznik and Bücker Bü-133 Jungmeister
Posted on 03/09/2016 8:45:21 AM PST by C19fan
The U.S. military is testing out a dependable, rugged little vintage bomber as it battles elusive ISIS militants in Syria and Iraq. War was just an experiment for two of the U.S. military’s oldest and most unusual warplanes. A pair of OV-10 Broncos—small, Vietnam War-vintage, propeller-driven attack planes—recently spent three months flying top cover for ground troops battling ISIS militants in the Middle East. The OV-10s’ deployment is one of the latest examples of a remarkable phenomenon. The United States—and, to a lesser extent, Russia—has seized the opportunity afforded it by the aerial free-for-all over Iraq and Syria and other war zones to conduct live combat trials with new and upgraded warplanes, testing out the aircraft in potentially deadly conditions before committing to expensive manufacturing programs.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
I’d like to see some Douglas Skyraiders
Fighting ISIS is probably a lot like fighting the Viet Cong.
if it works.....
ISIS doesn’t have triple canopy jungle.
No, think classic. Po-2s.
So I’m guessing here, that muslims can at least serve as “running deer targets” for Russia and USA?
My theory [for what it counts for] We know that some of our aircraft will be shot down & the commanders in the field do NOT want any of the high tech equipment & gear falling into some very unfriendly hands.
Someone in the chain of command is playing it very safe & pulling aircraft out of the “Bone yard” in Tuscon, Az.
We’re still flying C-130’s, which were designed in the 50’s. We’re still flying B-52’s from the 50’s.
Lots of military planes from the 60’s and 70’s are still in the air.
Chasing ISIS is like chasing individual rabbits in the desert. Might as well use planes that have a more personal function.
Besides, the Broncos look really cool. Like a truck version of the P-38.
The *expensive* high tech equipment and gear.
OV-10s are impressive and effective little aircraft. Why build anything new if they can do the job well and mothballed ones can just be pulled from desert storage and given upgrades?
Used to coordinate air strikes and artillery fires........Bat 21
Keep in mind that the late WWII vintage A-1, and the A-26 Invader for that matter, raised the same sort of hackles for being used in Vietnam.
They probably work a lot better than the newer aircraft - and can fly a hundred missions for the cost of sending up one F-35. :)
Because they are good planes for the task at hand.
My understanding is that the pilots really liked the platform, too.
Maybe because they don’t need Chinese replacement parts?
They always reminded me of a much better looking and performing version of the Black Widow...
Not gonna happen. They don't burn JP8.
Not gonna happen. They don't burn JP8.
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