Boeing restarting OV-10 Production

Trip_Wire

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Apparently Boeing aircraft is considering bringing back the OV-10 for use in currant COIN operations. especially in Afghanistan. Of course, it will be updated with the latest electronic gadgets, etc.

IMHO, I think it is a great idea! It is a great weapons platform and can linger over the AO for much longer than jets, etc. It can also insert a covert team if required by parachute.

What do you think?



http://www.flightglobal.com/article...estarting-ov-10-production-after-23-year.html
 

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Its a weird jump. Sit down, face to the rear, nose up and out you go. Good a/c. So's the ol Sandy. See Pardus' link.
 
Sounds like a great idea to me. If they do start production again, hopefully the nitwits up here will jump on board and buy a few or a hundred or so. :D I'd be happy to have one of those birds come swooping in after calling in for support.


Found a good document on the Boeing site about it.

OV-10 Bronco
ov-10_n.jpg




The OV-10 Bronco, a rugged, maneuverable, twin-turboprop, multimission aircraft, served with the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps (OV-10A). The U.S. Navy also used the OV-10. The Navy squadron VAL-4 "Black Ponies" flew them with much success in the Vietnam War. Internationally, the OV-10 served with the military services of West Germany (OV-10B), Thailand (OV-10C), Venezuela (OV-10E) and Indonesia (OV-10F). Designed and built by North American at Columbus, Ohio, the Bronco complemented the performance requirements between jets and helicopters. Faster and more tactically versatile than helicopters, yet slower and more maneuverable than jets, the Bronco utilized tactics not possible with either.
The OV-10D night observation system (NOS) featured a unique night observation and target marking system that included forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and laser designator/ranger. With uprated 1040 SHP turboprop engines and fiberglass propellers, NOS provided greater range, improved performance and greater survivability.
In military operations, the Bronco's outstanding capability to find and hit battlefield targets close to friendly troops made this an aircraft effective against conventional and guerrilla forces. The effective application of the Bronco's versatility, however, did not end with purely military functions. Civil action applications added significantly to the cost-effectiveness of this economical aircraft.
Military applications for which the Bronco was particularly suited include anti-guerrilla operations, helicopter escort, close air support, armed reconnaissance and forward air control. In addition, it could be used for utility missions such as cargo paradrop, delivery of up to six paratroops, medical evacuation, smoke screening and psychological warfare with leaflets and loudspeakers.
For peacetime operations, the guns, bomb racks and armor could be removed quickly, and the aircraft became a high-performance STOL utility vehicle. Potential applications included aerial mapping, geological survey, spraying, disaster relief and patrol work.
Ruggedness and simplicity of operation were emphasized in the design of the Bronco. The fuselage was mounted under the wing and provided tandem seating for pilot and observer. The canopy design afforded better visibility than that of most helicopters. Each crewman was equipped with an LW-3B ejection seat system, also designed and built at Columbus, which was capable of zero-speed, zero-altitude ejections.
Armor protection, a bullet-resistant windshield and self-sealing fuel cells were provided for operations in a hostile environment. Twin engines, dual manual flight controls and rugged and simple construction also contributed to survivability and safety.
The OV-10 was equipped with seven external store stations and four 7.62 mm guns installed in the sponsons. A variety of conventional ordnance could be delivered in addition to 2,000 rounds of ammunition. The seven external store stations consisted of four sponson store stations, one centerline station and two external wing stations. Sponson accessibility provided rapid loading of stores and ammunition. The wing stations could carry the LAU-7/A launcher for mounting either rocket packages or missiles. The centerline store station also had the capability of carrying either a 20 mm gun pod or a 150-, 230- or 300-gallon (568-, 871- or 1136-liter) external fuel tank.
Removal of the armament sponsons and the back seat with its associated armor enabled a quick and simple conversion to a civil action configuration, which permitted the carrying of 3,200 pounds (1,452 kilograms) of cargo in the aft fuselage.
For operation in remote areas, the Bronco had a specially designed rough field landing gear, required no ground equipment for starting and could be maintained with simple handtools. In the event of an emergency, the Bronco could use high-octane or automotive fuel in place of jet fuel with only a slight degradation of power.

Specifications
First flight: July 16, 1965 Span: 40 feet (12.2 meters) Length: 41 feet 7 inches (12.7 meters) Height: 15 feet 1 inch (4.6 meters) Weight: Empty: 7,190 pounds (3,261 kilograms); maximum take-off gross weight: 14,444 pounds (6,552 kilograms) Power plant: Two Garrett-AiResearch turboprop engines, T76-G-412 and T76-G-413, 715 shaft horsepower each Maximum speed at sea level: 244 knots (452 kilometers/hour) Range: 700 nautical miles (1,297 kilometers) with internal fuel; 1200 nautical miles (2224 kilometers) with 150-gallon (568-liter) drop tank Service ceiling: 28,800 feet (8,778 meters) Fuel: Five self-sealing fuel tanks in wing: 252-gallon capacity (954 liters); 150-, 230- or 300-gallon (568-, 871-, or 1,136-liter) external tank Crew: One pilot and one observer (removable rear seat for greater fuselage cargo capacity) Armament: Centerline station for 20 mm gun pod, or stores; four 7.62 mm M60C machine guns in sponsons; four sponson stations for rockets, miniguns or stores; two wing stations for rockets or missiles Mission performance: 5.5 hours loiter time with 150-gallon (568-liter) drop tank; 50 nautical miles (93 kilometers) and 2 hours loiter time with full ordnance load Equipment: Zero-speed, zero-altitude escape seats; air-to-air and air-to-ground communication systems Landing gear: Trailing arm articulating with two-stage air-oil telescoping shock absorbing struts Cargo bay: 75 cubic feet (2.1 cubic meters) with rear seat; 110 cubic feet (3.1 cubic meters) with rear seat removed
 
It will provide a more versatile aircraft to an asymmetric warfare environment. It is a good idea and I hope the OV-10 will be brought back into service...
 
Great a/c for Asymmetric/COIN Warfare and the GWOT-and should be cheaper than other "hi-tech"solutions. (...now thats a reason NOT to get in the inventory;)

IMO (who gives a shit, I know) would be great for the US armed forces. If the Air Force doesnt want it, then the Army ( I think SF would be glad to have it in support) and the Marines ( did not check the specifics but seems that it could provide cover for Ospreys much better than the Cobras) should get some.
 
A bad idea. Yeah, it sounds great on paper, the reality would be much different. We aren't talking about a plane that will be in service next year, you're looking at maybe 5 years at the earliest. The fighter pilot mafia would reject it. It can't carry the ordnance other a/c can. The "low cost" will be bloated by avionics upgrades.

The A-1 would be a better fit, but again, it isn't an airframe that you would see in service for another 5-10 years plus what I've mentioned above (less the ordnance comment).

We'd be much better off with more A-10C's or even refurbing the A-6E's in the boneyard.
 
...Yeah, it sounds great on paper, the reality would be much different. We aren't talking about a plane that will be in service next year, you're looking at maybe 5 years at the earliest.
Yes, there is always that sticky procurement bureaucracy to muck things up, isn't there...
 
All depends on plane mission. If you want a bird that can loiter for hours in an AO the OV-10 would be a prime candidate. For all the other things that it could be used for there would probably be better platforms for the mission.

Loved the A-10. That bird was getting retired and now look at it getting second shot at an extended life. Great bird.
 
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