Bronco Flies Again

[B0ikat]

You can't keep a good bird down...

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/11/politics/ ... index.html

"
(CNN)—A pair of nearly 50-year-old planes has been brought out of retirement to fight ISIS.

The Vietnam-era OV-10 Bronco turbo-propeller planes are part of an experiment to see if "light turbo-prop aircraft" are more effective in conducting counterinsurgency operations, a U.S. military representative told CNN this week..."

Though it's for FS9, it also works in FSX

http://simviation.com/1/search?submit=1 ... &x=23&y=14

[Hawkeye07]

Now there's a "No Brainer" if I ever heard one! That was a primary mission of the Bronco's. Slow,maneuverable and lots of loiter time, plus it could carry an array of weapons tailored to the mission.
The Dept of Defense should look at getting them back into production just as they were, steam gauges and all. With tree top flying you don't have time to interpret multi faceted displays or even read gauges you glance at needle positions and get your head back out of the cockpit before you smack into something. A great book on the Bronco is Tom Yarborough's "Da Nang Diary". I'm not much on Vietnam era stuff but this book is great.

[Roypcox]

I flew these in Nam for the Army as a recon and artillery spotter. It can carry some pretty good ordinance. If stoked out right it can be a pretty good little old bad a-- plane. Really loud on the ground but can tip toe through the tulips when need be. Its a real rough rider though!!!

[Flacke]

I flew these in Nam for the Army as a recon and artillery spotter.

Hello Roypcox, its a pleasure to have you here with us. Glad you made it back home after flying combat missions on behalf of your country. Also glad that you enjoy flight-simming, as we all do here. <S>

[Hawkeye07]

I flew these in Nam for the Army as a recon and artillery spotter. It can carry some pretty good ordinance. If stoked out right it can be a pretty good little old bad a-- plane. Really loud on the ground but can tip toe through the tulips when need be. Its a real rough rider though!!!

That's short & stiff wings for you.

[Roypcox]

Thanks Flacke for the welcome, I am glad to be here I have much to learn about flight sims though. This is a wonderful site for learning and having fun. A lot of other site have too much bickering for me. Thanks to Pete and you guys this is perfect for my needs !

[Roypcox]

The OV-10 was very versatile aircraft. It was a STOL aircraft for observation, such a artillery spotting but was a small cargo or paratrooper carrier. Here is an interesting story about a paratroopers mission with a dilemma you guys might enjoy. http://home.hiwaay.net/~magro/phildaub.html.

[Jean Loup]

Thanks Flacke for the welcome, I am glad to be here I have much to learn about flight sims though. This is a wonderful site for learning and having fun. A lot of other site have too much bickering for me. Thanks to Pete and you guys this is perfect for my needs !

WELCOME Roypcox, same feeling about other sites.

The OV-10 was very versatile aircraft. It was a STOL aircraft for observation, such a artillery spotting but was a small cargo or paratrooper carrier. Here is an interesting story about a paratroopers mission with a dilemma you guys might enjoy. http://home.hiwaay.net/~magro/phildaub.html.

In 1989 I trained in Skydive & had 30 official jumps (with squares, not circular cupolas), no expert but I can imagine the GOiNG VERTiCAL experience... my worst jump was out of a Black Hawk of the Mexican Air Force. They invited our civilian sport group in Puerto Escondido & I was curious to fly in a Black Hawk. NOiSY & SHAKEY was that mission, but leaving the aircraft... SURPRiSE!! On 4 place Cessnas (tricycle or tail dragger) you are moving forward and gradually you start falling, a parabola from horizontal to vertical. NOT SO iN WiNDMiLL aircraft: the air outside is not still but descending FAST, allowing the aircraft to be stationary: too fast for my surprise. Feels like some gigantic hand has tossed you downward with abnormal force!! No, windmills NOT MY PREFERENCE. Never flew an Aurogyro though... but so far, its FiXED WiNGS for me.
My stomach still flies in that Black Hawk...

[Roypcox]

In Hawkeyes piece about DOD looking in to using these again I believe that would be a smart move for our country. These are similar being mini Wart Hogs it had huge loiter time, very fuel efficient and very easy to maintain. The VC on the ground would hardly ever mess with them because we could call in a mountain of fire power on them in a blink of an eye. We could also take care of our self if need be. A side story about the way it was named the North American test pilots who flew these things would come back and lament about how rough they rode with short wing span etc. That thing rides like a Bronc. Whether that's true or not who knows. Any way its good that DOD is looking at another 50y/o aircraft that can be used to fight Isis or what ever. I read a story not long ago about a 24y/o Marine who was calling in airstrikes for the Navy. One day he got bored and saw VC walking across a dam, he came in low and slow his backseat was having a fit about it and on the third pass all the VC did was moon them because they knew if they drew fire they would bring stuff that soap and water wouldn't wash off.

[Hawkeye07]

In Hawkeyes piece about DOD looking in to using these again I believe that would be a smart move for our country.

But watch the *#!@+_*()#%^ politicians screw it up again!

Go NAVY!!!

[ViperPilot]

Seems to me that $5K per airplane, per Mission to fly the Bronco is a much better deal than $45K per Hour to use the F-35.

If the airframes are available, then why not bring them out of mothballs and use them? the Bronco is one hell of a good airplane.

I'm sorry, but I just don't believe in the Lightning Bug; it's like the old story of the TFX program of the 60's, trying to force feed the F-111B down the Navy's throat, and "One Plane for ALL the Services". Glad Tom Connelly got the F-14 built...

Alan