Super Tucano Dropping 2 Mark 82 Bombs
Super Tucano Dropping 2 Mark 82 Bombs
AT-6 launching LGBThese planes are going to be for the Afghan Air Force. They’ll be flying low and slow to provide ground support, so I think one of the main considerations would be how much damage they can take from ground fire and still get the job done. This article doesn’t really address that issue. Obviously, there’s politics involved in awarding the contract to an American company.
Ah that there were a way to economically begin producing the Skyraider, P-47, or F4U Corsair. All excellent for this mission.
Droooling over the AT-6 - wouldn’t it be something to own one????? Have flown the WWII version, cannot imagine the performance with a turboprop/modern fuselage......
Hawker Beechcraft is hurting right now and rumor has it that they'll go Chapter 11 if they don't score this contract. Obama is trying to get reelected and another bankruptcy or bailout shreds the fiction that the economy is improving.
Meanwhile, there is trouble in Afghanistan. Anti-American sentiment runs high because of the Koran-burning incident, with riots and US soldiers being killed. Christians in general don't seem to be very welcome there. I have been asking myself two questions:
1) Why should US taxpayers be giving the Afghans anything at all, much less combat aircraft? They don't appear to be trustworthy allies...2) Exactly who would these combat aircraft be deployed against? Would they be used to strafe Christian villages?
We all know Obama's #1 priority is the get reelected, so the AF (and Hawker Beechcraft) will just have to wait.
Droooling over the AT-6 - wouldn’t it be something to own one????? Have flown the WWII version, cannot imagine the performance with a turboprop/modern fuselage......
Any idea why the AT-800 was eliminated? They are currently in use.