If they could make a pilot-less OV-10...with beefed up engines and a dozen cameras onboard...it’d probably sell like hotcakes. Otherwise, with a pilot...it’s mostly a slow A-10 and a deathtrap for any pilot who flies it. I don’t see this deal ever happening unless they make it a remote-controlled vehicle.
SInce the USAF seems to be refighting the late war in the RVN (OV10 is so 60s)
How about a real classic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_PA-48_Enforcer (P-51 remake)
or even the
(gasp)
SPAD!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-1_Skyraider
A turboprop and some composite armor..... who knows?
The first time I saw one of these back in the late 70’s when I was a young Marine, was at an air show @ MCAS New River , it came over, went virtcal and 4 Recon Marines came out the back from 800ft. Damn impressive.
Why go light?
Saudi Air forces and the U.S. got a looked at the armed version (mock up) at the recent Paris Air Show. Saudis have proposed to buy 100 and the same for the U.S. Counterinsurgency use. Made by Air Tractor of Olney, TexasOV-10 goes way back for me in 1967 at Nakhon Phanom.
Since OA-10 is already taken by the Warthog, it'd have to be given a new number.
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 Why not just build a newer version of the A10, it flies slow enough, has a long loiter time and does one he** of a job for us.
Bump
The OV-10 is a Vietnam-era aircraft. Money would be better used on unmanned attack aircraft like the Predator.
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.
One of my favorite airplanes. If I were filthy rich, I would own one.