Zephyr the best close air support aircraft the RAF never had, or the A-10 in RAF

[Big Bird]

Coming along nicely, BB - going to whif any changes on her aside from the paint?  I'm curious to see if you venture off the path any, she's a beautiful bird so far.

I wasn't going to but.....

[Big Bird]

Here is a little defect, isn't it? (See photo).

Thanks that was the smallish bit of flash that I could hardly see with the naked eye, all smooth now.

[Big Bird]

Coming along nicely, BB - going to whif any changes on her aside from the paint?  I'm curious to see if you venture off the path any, she's a beautiful bird so far.

You could try for something like posed in this thread:  http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,160.html

Regards,

Greg

Hmmm interesting....

[Big Bird]

I see you've already stuck the Pave Penny on, so this suggestion is maybe a bit late, but:

As I see it , the RAF's principle objection to the A-10 would be it's lack of all-weather avionics, so how about:

1a. Harrier-style FLIR in place of the redundant refuelling receptacle ahead of the windscreen.

1b. Lightning-style fixed refuelling probe under one wing instead of the receptacle (you can't have it next to the cockpit because spillage would go straight down the intakes).

2. Tornado-style chisel-nosed LRMTS fairing, either behind the nosewheel bay, on a modified Pave Penny pylon, or on the front of one mainwheel fairing. Obviously, the first one is easiest (nick it off a Tornado kit) IF it'll fit.

3. Terrain-following radar on the front of one mainwheel fairing.

Now there's some ideas.....

Refuelling I was going to keep the USAF port and add another on one side of the nose, but completely forgot about the spray that comes at disconnect from the drogue. So going to have to address that one.
Yes I think it might need a sniper pod or similar on it somewhere.
Looks like I'm going to have to think some more on this one.
Thanks for the tips guys.

[nev]

Mish, there are only 2 options for this.

1)  Wraparound grey/green

2)  The above, but with temp arctic camo

k thx bye

[Big Bird]

Mish, there are only 2 options for this.

1)  Wraparound grey/green

2)  The above, but with temp arctic camo

k thx bye

Hi Nev,
I have the 'camo' sorted, but I agree there are loads that could be done.

[Weaver]

I see you've already stuck the Pave Penny on, so this suggestion is maybe a bit late, but:

As I see it , the RAF's principle objection to the A-10 would be it's lack of all-weather avionics, so how about:

1a. Harrier-style FLIR in place of the redundant refuelling receptacle ahead of the windscreen.

1b. Lightning-style fixed refuelling probe under one wing instead of the receptacle (you can't have it next to the cockpit because spillage would go straight down the intakes).

2. Tornado-style chisel-nosed LRMTS fairing, either behind the nosewheel bay, on a modified Pave Penny pylon, or on the front of one mainwheel fairing. Obviously, the first one is easiest (nick it off a Tornado kit) IF it'll fit.

3. Terrain-following radar on the front of one mainwheel fairing.

Now there's some ideas.....

Refuelling I was going to keep the USAF port and add another on one side of the nose, but completely forgot about the spray that comes at disconnect from the drogue. So going to have to address that one.
Yes I think it might need a sniper pod or similar on it somewhere.
Looks like I'm going to have to think some more on this one.
Thanks for the tips guys.

You're welcome.

Since your back story has them entering service in the late 1970s, Sniper, TIALD etc... wouldn't have been around at the time. Granted, those things could have been added later, as they were to Tornado, Jaguar etc., but the RAF would have wanted something on them to start with. Given that Tornado, Jaguar and Harrier ALL had LRMTS, and that it's particularly useful for CAS work, I can't see the RAF being very happy to take on a dedicated CAS platform without it.

[Big Bird]

Well taken onboard some of the suggestions and this is what I've come up with:
I've put a harrier style optical dohicky on the nose and probe style A2A on the port MLG nacelle.



And I trying to fashion a Sniper pod



Now what does the panel feel about her carrying a 'Boz Pod'?

More later

[Weaver]

BOZ pod sounds like a fine idea to me! 

[Big Bird]

I thought it was a good idea, but I've since learned that the A-10 has chaff/flare dispensers in the wingtips and in the MLG nacelles?

[Scooterman]

A bit late now, but that defect in the starboard wing leading edge is where the pitot tube goes.........

[Big Bird]

There was some flash there, not a problem.

[nev]

I like the little mods you've done Mish, but a word about the refuelling probe - its well behind the pilots eyeline.  Not sure how safe that would be (or even if possible).  I'd go for a longer, thinner one like on the Lightning, or a bolt-on jobbie by the cockpit like for the Harrier/Tornado etc.  I wouldn't even bother making it retractable - its not like the A-10 needs to reduce drag

[Big Bird]

Nev, the probe is level with the pilots eye line, I deliberately made it so 

[Weaver]

I thought it was a good idea, but I've since learned that the A-10 has chaff/flare dispensers in the wingtips and in the MLG nacelles?

Don't hold me to this, but I think those are a later addition, so maybe the Brits went down the BOZ pod route for their own reasons (different decoys?) or maybe they have both: can't have too many flares!