Posted on 01/07/2018 9:31:23 PM PST by Kartographer
In order to test potential A-10 Warthog replacements in rugged conditions, the US Air Force has flown Sierra Nevada A-29 Super Tucano and Hawker Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine light attack planes from a dirt runway.
The planes took off and landed on the uneven dirt airstrip located in the Melrose Air Force Range training area, a part of Cannon Air Force Base, in New Mexico. The whole event, the takeoff as well as the dusty landing, was captured and shared on YouTube by AiirSource on Wednesday, 3 January.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibtimes.co.uk ...
More A-10s. Lots more.
“It’s just a flesh wound.”
I like the idea of closer partnership between the drone pilot and the forward air controller on the ground with the troops. Give the FAC a virtual reality headset where he can see a 4K panoramic view of the battlefield from the drone cameras, so that he can mark where the good guys and bad guys are, and then let the drone unleash hell on the enemy, both from the drone, and by designating the enemy for weapons launched from other aircraft.
What a joke....why not a Piper Cub..Sarc/on
The A-10 is pretty simple technology...it could be replicated in a heartbeat. Politicians however could not steal sufficient amounts!!!
At least they know it can take off and land.
Great photo for those threads that include, “You know your over the target.” quotes.
A crop duster with some weapon pods, great..../s
Ibelieve there were multiple builders.
BFL
If they won’t build new Warthogs, then build a CAS drone with similar capabilities, including the big gun.
Thank you. The armchair aviators on this forum are insufferable.
Shack!
The dirty little secret is that the AT-6 doesn’t have a U.S. airworthiness certification. The USAF decided in 2013 that there was too much technical risk. The Philippines just turned down the AT-6 in favor of the A-29 for the same reason.
On the other hand, the AT -6 does have the advantage of already being in the system which is nice from the cost and logistics side, but not so nice if it is an inferior combat aircraft
My personal solution would be an upgraded and re engined version of the OV-10 Bronco for forward deployed , fast response COIN operation
The Bronco was perfect for the COIN mission, battle proven beyond any shadow of a doubt, had short, unimproved field capabilities, a suspension system off a monster truck and much better survivability than either the AT-6 or the A-29.
The Bronco could also transport 6 people or deliver useful load of supplies off the kind of roads and fields we see in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is capable of emergency field evacuation and faster that a helo
The repurposed crop duster is also a surprisingly good option for modern COIN operations
No, this thing will never be a replacement. Just silly.
Actually the A-29 (EMB-314) is a clean sheet aircraft. You are mistaking it for the EMB-312 Tucano. The AT-6 is not “in the system” as it does not have an airworthiness certification. The OV-10 did return to combat recently under COMBAT DRAGON 2 and did well but bringing it back into service was deemed impractical.
“.... but probably 1/500th as costly as developing a new plane from scratch.”
Well, not exactly from scratch since you have the actual planes to look at and all the parts to look at, and all the plans, diagrams, schematics, and on and on, to help you.
Then just add all the latest tech and VOILA! SUCCESS!
Hard to say because it's not yet fully operational- which kind of proves your point.
In an ideal world, or even a 1960s world, restarting production on a MKII Bronco would be ideal.
In today's world , starting a new program is just not doable for 200 airframes and the remaining Bronco airframes are at the ends of their fatigue lives and not a good airframe for overhaul.
That pretty much leaves us with the A-29. It's in production and it's a well done aircrafts
It's a little to biased to the CAS side and not enough to the COIN for Afghanistan IMHO, but in reality the USAF is never going operate from anything but smooth runways at a prepared air field in an Afghanistan anyway.
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