” to support ground troops in permissive airspace, just as its namesake, the A-1 Skyraider, did in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.”
That would be news to US Navy pilots over North Vietnam shooting down 2 MiG-17s. Or to Korean War pilots... that they were in “permissive” airspace.
I wonder if the heat signature of that engine is sufficient to get a lock by a MANPAD, unlike a jet.
Hell, even with all of its redundant systems and titanium 'bathtub' protecting the pilot, these days they only want to fly the A-10C Warthog in 'permissive' airspace.
It could just be bad writing, but I suspect when they use the term “permissive airspace” that they may be referring to an “air superiority” environment.
We did largly have air superiority in the same sense we had air superiority in many places in Korea and Vietnam. There might be the occasional MIG-15 in Korea, or MIG21 in Vietnam, but for the most part, we did have air superiority.
I have always been a huge fan of Robin Olds and his execution of Operation Bolo in Vietnam...just brilliant. But the Communists had limited aircraft, just as they had loads of SAMS and AAA.
As for this plane, I love it. Don’t think it would replace the fabled Warthog, but I’ll bet it would have been able to perform as well as a Skyraider. Loved those Skyraiders. What a plane.
I remember that. It was in the first weeks of Rolling Thunder.