SAI Combat Stallion

[comrade harps]

SAI Combat Stallion
a/c 302/D, 130 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)
Operation Half Back Flanker, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, June, 1972



The SAi Stallion story dates back to Temco TT-1 Pinto jet trainer. First flown in 1959, 14 TT-1s were built for a US Navy competitive evaluation, but lost the production contract to North American Aviation's T2J-1 Buckeye. Retired from service in 1960, 10 Pintos were acquired as surplus by Lockheed Air Services (LAS) in 1961, which also purchased the all TT-1 rights, jigs and blueprints from Temco. 8 Pintos were subsequently sold to the newly independent Singapore in 1962.




In that same year LAS and the Singapore government formed a joint-venture company, Singapore Aviation Industries (SAI - later, Singapore Aerospace, SAe). In 1965 SAI rolled out their first new type, the J-85 powered SAI Super Pinto trainer; basically a re-engined TT-1 with modern equipment. Although publically promoted as being "made in Singapore" the planes were actually assembled in Singapore from knock-down construction kits produced under subcontract (ironically) by Ling Temco Vought (LTV) in America. 40 Super Pintos were produced, 32 for Singapore and 8 for Brunei. Of Singapore's 32, 2 were of the single-seat light attack Pave Pinto version.




Despite the paucity of orders, SAI were already working on a replacement for the Super Pinto. Using the familiar layout of the Pinto, a larger airframe was designed around the new Australian-Canadian Rolls Royce Commonwealth Murray turbofan. With this much more powerful engine, the resultant SAI Stallion was from the outset intended to be available in both two-seat trainer and single-seat combat versions. First flown in 1969, SAI went on to manufacture 80 Stallions, divided equally between Stallion Trainer and Combat Stallion versions. All the Combat Stallions were delivered to the RSAF and 12 combat-capable two-seaters, dubbed Golden Stallions, to Brunei.



RSAF 130 Squadron was active with their Combat Stallions throughout the UN's invasion of (and subsequent retreat from) North Vietnam: Operation Half Back Flanker. Operating mostly into Laos, but also flying into North and South Vietnam and down to Cambodia, the planes were used for close air support, trail interdiction armed reconnaissance and strike. The Combat Stallions were valued for their accuracy, but proved vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire, despite the addition of AWA Peacock III ECM (visible as a black dorsal fairing) and pylon-mounted chaff-flare dispensers. 5 were lost during the campaign flying into murderous walls of flak, with another 2 downed by SAMs; another three were written-off due to combat damage from ground fire. Another 2 were lost in bad weather, 1 to pilot disorientation on a night mission and 1 was shot down by a Chinese J-6.



With such a high rate of attrition (over the course of 3 months) the Combat Stallion was withdrawn from frontline service in early September, 1972. The survivors were retained until 1989 as trainers, going on to establish a solid reputation as dissimilar air combat adversaries.



a/c 302 is seen here with a typical combat load of drop tanks with LAU-3 and LAU-68 rocket pods. Mk.82 bombs in slick, FE and Snakeye versions and SUU-14A bomblet dispensers were also common ordnance. The internal gun was a 7.62mm Minigun.

[Captain Canada]

I like it. I've always been a fan of straight wings and tip tanks. Weapons load and camo look great as well.

[McColm]

Good job

[DogfighterZen]

Very nice camo!

[zenrat]

Woah! Wyld Stallyn dude!
Most bodacious.