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| The North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is a turboprop-driven light attack and cargo aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for COIN (counter insurgency) combat. Although it is a fixed-wing aircraft, its mission capabilities resemble a fast, long-range, inexpensive and reliable ultra-heavy attack helicopter. It flies at 350 mph (560 km/h), carries 3 tons of external munitions, and easily loiters for 3 or more hours. It is prized for its versatility, redundancy, load, wide field of view, short-field ability, low operational costs and ease of maintenance. In most cases, it flies acceptably on a single engine. In service, it was used primarily as a light attack and Forward Air Controller aircraft, and rarely if ever as a transport. The Bronco began with a specification approved by the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army, a "tri-service" specification called "LARA" (the Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft), issued at the end of 1963. Operation as forward air controllers in the U.S. Marines continued through July 1994, when the Broncos were decommissioned in large part to two Broncos being shot down during the Gulf War due to a lack of effective infared countermeasures equipment. The Air-Force generally disliked the Bronco because it flew low and slow compared to a jet, and when acting as a forward air control, it was vulnerable to anti-aircraft artillery. It therefore did not fit any of the perceived U.S. Air Force missions of the 1980s, and was removed from service. The U.S. Navy formed VAL-4, in January 3, 1969, and operated in Vietnam from April through April, 1972. The Navy used the Bronco OV-10A as a light ground attack aircraft, for interdiction of enemy logistics, and fire-support of Marines, SEALs and river boats. It succeeded in this role. Although the United States military no longer flies the Bronco, other countries continue to operate it. It is in the active inventory of the Philippines, Colombia, Indonesia, Thailand and Venezuela, where it is used primarily for light attack counterinsurgent (COIN) missions, and utility missions such as border patrols, anti-piracy patrols, forward air control, surveillance, defense mapping and search-and-rescue. SPECIFICATIONS: Wing Span- 40 ft, O in (12.19 m) Length- 41 ft, 7 in (12.67 m) Height- 15 ft, 2 in (4.62 m) Wing Area 290.95 ft2 (27.03 m2) Tailplane Span- 14 ft, 7 in (4.45 m) Weight Empty- 6,969 lb (3,161 kg) Normal Takeoff Weight- 9,908 lb (4,494 kg) Overload Takeoff Weight- 14,466 lb (6,563 kg) Powerplant- Two Garrett-AiResearch turboprop engines, T76-G-412 and T76-G-413, 715 shaft horsepower each PERFORMANCE: (A: OV-10A/C/E/F; B: OV-10B; C: OV-10B; D: OV-10D, with internal 20 mm ammnunition only): Max level speed at sea level, no weapons: A: 244 knots (452 km/h; 281 mph) D: 240 knots (444 km/h; 276 mph) Max level speed at 10,000 ft (3,050 m) at Normal T-O weight (10,000 lb/4,536 kg): B: 241 knots (447 km/h; 278 mph) C: 341 knots (632 km/h; 393 mph) Range (with max weapon load, no loiter): 228 miles (198 nm; 367 km) Ferry range (with aux. fuel): 1, 428 miles (1,240 nm; 2,298 km) Takeoff Run: A, at normal weight: 740 ft (226 m) B, at 12,000 lb (5,443 kg): 1,130 ft (344 m) C, at 12,000 lb (5,443 kg): 550 ft (168 m) D, at 13,284 lb (6,025 kg): 1,110 ft (338 m) Landing Run: A, at normal weight: 740 ft (226m) A, at overload weight: 1,250 ft (381 m) D, at landing weight: 800 ft (244 m) |
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| Bibliography: Wikipedia |
| Links: OV-10 Bronco Association |