Posted on 04/04/2025 3:31:01 PM PDT by Macho MAGA Man
Air Force Special Operations Command marked a new chapter with its latest aircraft April 3 when the first Skyraider II fully modified for military use arrived at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
A modified crop duster, the OA-1K will provide airborne eyes, ears, and precision fires to support ground troops in permissive airspace, just as its namesake, the A-1 Skyraider, did in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Michael Conley said at the welcoming ceremony that the aircraft’s small maintenance footprint and ease of swapping out sensors, weapons, and communications equipment will play a key role in future conflicts.
“Skyraider II represents not just a new platform, but a modular solution to our national security needs,” he said, according to a press release. “It will redefine how we approach joint campaigning, crisis response and the evolving landscape of modern warfare.”
(Excerpt) Read more at airandspaceforces.com ...
Skyraider II
Has a payload capacity of 8,000 pounds and features 10 external hardpoints, including eight wing hardpoints for 600-pound bombs and two centerline hardpoints for 1,000-pound bombs, with the innermost wing station optimized for armaments ranging from .50 caliber to 20mm.
A solid upgrade, going to be intrsting to see if these deploy on US/Mexico border.
” 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.
For use in permissive airspaces... ‘ya think?
I wonder if the heat signature of that engine is sufficient to get a lock by a MANPAD, unlike a jet.
Where are the napalm cannisters?
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.
I wonder what it sounds like??... ‘specially when its diving!!
It’s a Pawnee. A crop duster ag plane.
the size of the exhaust compared to the width of the engine space?... Is it gas turbine??
Perfect for ISR on the Southern Border!
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.
“going to be intrsting to see if these deploy on US/Mexico border.”
That’s just what I wrote in #13 (before I saw your comment). Looks like a great slow and loiter ISR platform.
It’s a low, slow, high horsepower to weight ratio airplane. It comes these days with a PT-6 or Garrett turboprop engine, because that’s much lighter in weight than a piston gasoline engine circa 1970’s and 80’s. Hershey-bar wings. Very low stall speed being roughly 60MPH with a load, and about 50MPH empty.
It sounds like 1/2 of a King Air 90.
forget it... I just followed the link to the article and seen other angles of this plane... I dont like it anymore. it looks mickey mouse!!
thats what I thought, but where is the air intake?
"Permissive airspace" isn’t a formally defined term in standard aviation regulations like those from the FAA or ICAO, but it’s a phrase sometimes used informally—especially in military or strategic contexts—to describe airspace where aircraft can operate with minimal restrictions or threats. Think of it as the opposite of contested or prohibited airspace. It’s where you’ve got freedom to fly without worrying about enemy defenses, strict no-fly zones, or heavy air traffic control breathing down your neck.
In practical terms, permissive airspace might refer to areas where:
For example, in military lingo, you might hear it tossed around in discussions about “permissive environments” versus “contested environments.” A 2014 Brookings piece on air power talks about “permissive airspace” as where U.S. forces can loiter for ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) without range or refueling headaches—think drones humming over a quiet desert with no SAMs in sight. Contrast that with “contested airspace,” where you’re dodging missiles or enemy jets.
It’s not on sectional charts or in the Pilot’s Handbook, though. Closest official terms would be “uncontrolled airspace” or “special use airspace” when it’s reserved but not restricted—like a Military Operations Area (MOA) when it’s cold. Context matters: if you heard it somewhere specific, like a news article or X post, it might carry a narrower spin.
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