OV-10 Bronco

[JayBee]

Just for interest people, I took these slides (with a Kodak Instamatic) sometime in the late 1960's.
The two OV-10's were on their way back to the USA from the Paris air show and they staged through Prestwick.
It is interesting to note that in picture three there are no machine guns in the fuselage sponsons.

JimB

[Jschmus]

I went to the Air & Space site yesterday looking for one thing, and found out about this instead:

http://www.ov10film.com/

It's a documentary about the creation of the OV-10, and includes interviews with K.P Rice and the late Bill Beckett.  I watched a clip yesterday about how they tested the rough field capability by conducting taxi tests on a runway that was built with sine wave running the length of it.  The aircraft could handle it no prob, but the pilots got sick.

This is rare Super 8 footage shot by members of VAL-4, The Black Ponies, the only Navy unit to operate the Bronco.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijI3Zf2RvZw

There's no sound, but the video's neat anyway.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Just for interest people, I took these slides (with a Kodak Instamatic) sometime in the late 1960's.
The two OV-10's were on their way back to the USA from the Paris air show and they staged through Prestwick.  It is interesting to note that in picture three there are no machine guns in the fuselage sponsons.

Re: Missing M60 machine guns.  It was normal to leave these items off the aircraft during peace time operations.  In later years they were removed due to a change in mission requirements and to reduce weight that was allocated to other things such as avionics.

[DarrenP]

Anybody seen heard anything more about the Bronco's for the Lebanonese Airforce?

[Green Dragon]

Last I heard they rejected the offer because they would be supplied completely stripped of weapons systems. Think Lebannon is looking at Embraer Super Tucano's instead.

Forgot to say thanks to Jschmus for ID-ing weapons earlier, thanks!

Paul Harrison

[slackjack]

Wow, this whole competition looks interesting! OV-10X, Piper Enforcer? See the possibilities:
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2009/09/photo-boeing-pitches-ov-10x-br.html

Just reading the comments about the Bronco, I'm sure the scimitar bladed props would help with the cabin acoustics, and I'm sure some of the other ideas like the ventral turret and other such stuff would make for a really interesting whiffer. Camo it up in the digital scheme, and you could have one fascinating piece!

I have an OV-10 in 1/72 from Airfix, IIRC, but I recall Hasegawa's kit builds up nicer - might need to kitbash the Airfix nose onto the Hasegawa kit...

[Shasper]

But, as with all asymmetric warfare a/c, mission adaptability is a big plus. . . And I'm sure the Bronc's ability to provide limited cargo carrying & paratrooper-insertion won't be lost on the USAF (somethings that the ALX & AT-6B cannot do)

[rickshaw]

But, as with all asymmetric warfare a/c, mission adaptability is a big plus. . . And I'm sure the Bronc's ability to provide limited cargo carrying & paratrooper-insertion won't be lost on the USAF (somethings that the ALX & AT-6B cannot do)

I'd question the value of that.  Made the Bronco rather a "jack of all trades but master of none".  One wonders how often it was actually used to transport troops, drop paras or anything else except act as a light strike/patrol aircraft.

[Shasper]

I dunno about operationally, but back when the USMC still had their OV-10s they would practice para-drops.

[Gunbird]

Hello gents, I want to mod a OV-10A Bronco for Blackwater in Iraq, but not 100% sure which mods I can do to update the airframe. I'd like to keep the same engines, but add FLIR, 2 cannons (fixed or pods) and bombs/rockets or whatever is suitable for convoy protection. And yes, it is for a game.  (Don't want to get a D cause I can only see A's getting onto the public market so it would be something Blackwater could get their hands on)

[Maverick]

Have to agree with Rickshaw's comments regarding the OV-10.  Great light strike, but never used as anything other than that. 

I really wonder if the NOGS concept (M197 rotary cannon & associated kit in the rear) tied in with the D's FLIR isn't a good choice for the rear area of the OV-10 or even redesigning the central nacelle to something smaller.

Gunbird,

Given the suggestions of the OV-10X, perhaps one could realistically see OV-10Ds to a paramilitary force like Blackwater.  Given the mods, it's realistically turning an A into a D anyway.

Regards,

Mav

[Weaver]

Re the previous discussion about the Revell OV-10B, it apparently does NOT use stickers to replicate the glazed rear fuselage, but has a proper clear moulding. I've yet to find a picture of it though.

Some excellent reference material on the real thing on this thread:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?65214-OV-10-Bronco-commercial-catalog-(issue-1964)

[Jschmus]

Weaver, thanks for that last post.  There were some bits in there I didn't know, as well as some photos I haven't seen before.

[Stargazer]

Weaver, thanks for that last post.  There were some bits in there I didn't know, as well as some photos I haven't seen before.

Ditto! This link really made my day yesterday, as the Bronco is one of my top ten favorite aircraft ever!!! 

[Mossie]

Me too.  You know, it had escaped me that the Bronco had a small cargo cabin.  I vaguely remember it being mentioned, but I thought it was a proposed variant.  Maybe something I can add to my Academy OV-10, I'd thought about doing it in one of the Aussie schemes Coops profiled.  I could maybe pop it in a diorama with SAS troops inserting???  Couldn't be too comfortable though!