PHOTO: Boeing pitches OV-10X Bronco for USAF light attack

Flight Global ^ | September 11, 2009 | Stephen Trimble

[sukhoi-30mki]

PHOTO: Boeing pitches OV-10X Bronco for USAF light attack

By Stephen Trimble on September 11, 2009

Boeing confirms it has proposed building new OV-10s with upgraded avionics and weapons for the US Air Force light attack contract.

Subscription-only Inside the Air Force broke the news this morning.

Boeing provided the photo above, providing a glimpse of the new OV-10 concept. The image will surely be embraced by the Bronco's devoted following, who remember the aircraft's notably effective service in the Vietnam War.

The OV-10 could face competition from other Vietnam-era light attack aircraft, such as the Piper Aircraft PA-48 Enforcer. A new class of turboprop fighter-trainers, such as the AT-6 and the Embraer Super Tucano are also vying for the contract. Alenia, meanwhile, plans to offer the jet-powered M346 trainer.

Boeing inherits the OV-10 Bronco's design rights from its purchase in the 1980s of North American Rockwell, the aircraft's original manufacturer.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

deathtrap? After a few were shot down this became the most protected plane that ever flew. It seems the enemy learned if they shot one down, the next airstrike was going to be right on their head. They found out that it’s not a good idea to shoot down the people who select the targets.

[ONEBYEONE]

OV-10 goes way back for me in 1967 at Nakhon Phanom.

[chainsaw]

ear piercing crowd control suppressor.

It sound like this could result in a class action suit for permanent hearing damage.

[myknowledge]

[A.A. Cunningham]

[SampleMan]

Concur, the Skyraider would be the perfect fit. Update it with better armor and an ejection seat and it would beat all comers.

[dljordan]

Damn! Got Hard Points?

[Yo-Yo]

They would have to change the designation. "OV" may have originally meant observation, but in today's nomenclature, it is "Observation, Vertical." If an Observation version of the Osprey were created, it would be "OV-22."

Since OA-10 is already taken by the Warthog, it'd have to be given a new number.

[JudgemAll]

Well, it is safer than the Kiowa set up. Using helicopters to dive bomb like German Stukas is not the best set up. A standoff and raproachable Bronko can do much better, imo.

[calex59]

The military has gone bat sh** crazy with Bozo at the helm. Why not just build a newer version of the A10, it flies slow enough, has a long loiter time and does one he** of a job for us.

[JudgemAll]

The problem is liberal lawyers. They are not in the streets getting shot at like cops do and nor are they like soldiers who have no civilian life nor bone in it.

Liberals sit, whine and try to impress with cerealbox degrees and bad drama imitations of daddy and mommy. They cannot achieve nor defend witnesses because they abhor the courage it takes to be one. All they do is moralize and babble and betray.

[Feckless]

It's fore-runner, the OV-1 Mohawk was nicknamed the "Widowmaker". Loose an engine on takeoff and adios.

On a good note, the wheel bearings of the OV-1 fit the M151 series jeep so if you were prepared to spend $100+ in Class IX funds you could keep it off the 2406 report.

[Bender2]

Bump

[BuffaloJack]

The OV-10 is a Vietnam-era aircraft. Money would be better used on unmanned attack aircraft like the Predator.

[DNME]

It’s asking a lot, but the Air Force generals need to break their addiction to very fast movers and accept that anything with wings is better than nothing in the air. They hated the A-10 from the start.

And Pittsburgh: They can aim anything they like at us, but it’s our guys behind the triggers. And that makes a ton of difference.

[Yo-Yo]

They would have to change the designation. "OV" may have originally meant observation, but in today's nomenclature, it is "Observation, Vertical." If an Observation version of the Osprey were created, it would be "OV-22."

Since OA-10 is already taken by the Warthog, it'd have to be given a new number.

Nope. Wrong again as usual. The designation "V" is for STOL/VTOL, so the Bronco could retain it's OV-10 designation thanks to a generous interpretation of STOL.

[real saxophonist]

We got to watch them do the same thing on Parris Island in ‘89. Followed by a simulated strike from a couple of F/A-18s.

[dcwusmc]

You went to PI? I was there in ‘67... Fun place! NOT! Saw my first OV10 that November at New River.

[smokingfrog]

One of my favorite airplanes. If I were filthy rich, I would own one.

[smokingfrog]

Cool pictures of OV-10B at link.

http://www.germanwing.de/Start.htm