Posted on 06/08/2009 7:00:24 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
PHOTOS: New gunship flies to Paris Air Show debut
By Stephen Trimble on June 6, 2009
The Air Tractor AT-802U is now en route from Olney, Texas, to Le Bourget, France, to be unveiled at the Paris Air Show, said Lee Jackson, design engineer.
Featuring an armoured fuselage, a 10hr loiter time and the ability to haul more than 8,000lb of payload, unarmed AT-802Us have been operated by the US State Department in South America since 2002 eradicating drug crops, Jackson said.
Air Tractor is now offering the weaponized AT-802U Air Truck to the US Air Force and other militaries to serve as a a trainer/light attack fighter. After its international debut in Paris, the PT6A-67F-powered turboprop will return to Olney for a series of wepaons and sensor integration trials, he said.
The AT-802U must overcome its stigma as an old-fashioned tail-dragger, but Jackson sees its lack of a tricycle landing gear as an advatange in the irregular warfare role. For lighly trained pilots forced to make hard landings on remote strips, the two main gears offer a great advantage, he said.
The aircraft may find its true niche in an operational setting like Afghanistan, he said. It's an interesting idea. The Afghans need a sturdy trainer and attack fighter. The ability to spray the Taliban's poppy fields might also come in handy.
Say what?
I’m sure it’s stable and performs as promised, but that photo of takeoff or landing does not give me a “warm fuzzy” feeling.
Not exactly a “wart hog.” ;-)
It’s a fregin crop duster!
That’s not a gun ship. That’s a crop duster. Did somebody post the wrong photo?
Air Tractors are cool,I see a lot of them here. Either towing gliders or spraying fields.
They appear real maneuverable and over powered.
Watching them, the pilots are having way too much fun !
It.. uhhh.. looks like an IL2 or IL10 cross bred with a Stuka.
What is that?
Welcome to the future, this IS the New 0bama Air Force.
We’re so f@#ked.
...and now for a photo of a real gunship...
As the prop isn't turning.....
Armor plated cropduster! Why not?
I’ve watched them spray a field back and forth, then hop quickly to go over a power line. Agility, thy name is Air Tractor.
I’m sure it’s great for civilian jobs, but they are touting it for a military role. I pray for our military men who may fly these against any enemy in a day when our ragtag enemies have weapons that can kill an Abrams tank.
8000 lb payload, sure beats 1300 lb with a beaver.
So, this...is it?
Looks like it’s designed to spray crops and such.
propeller driven ARMORED aircraft that has an 8000 lb payload?????
Single Engine????
maybe 8000 max gross
It looks like the A-10 Warthog’s little brother. I dub thee “Wart Piglet”.
I heard a Tiger Cub Scout brought one down with a .22 with a single shot when it buzzed his farm house ...
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