Flightline: 63/TBD

"user314" (user314) 10/19/2020 at 13:35 • Filed to: flightline, Planelopnik, planelopnik history

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Eight of the 11 LARA proposals

In 1963, the DOD released a specification for a new Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft (LARA) for the Army, Navy and USAF. The requirement was in response to an expected need for a new light Counter Insurgency/Close Air Support (COIN/CAS) aircraft, replacing the existing !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . The specification called for a two-man aircraft powered by two turboprops that could carry at least 2,400 pounds of cargo, six paratroopers or stretchers, and be stressed for +8 and 3 g s. It also had to be able to operate from an aircraft carrier, fly at least 350 miles per hour, take off in 800 feet and convert to an amphibian. Various armaments had to be carried, including four 7.62 mm machine guns with 2,000 rounds, and external weapons including a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with 20 mm (0.79 in) !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!   !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Eleven proposals were submitted, including: the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Model 134R tandem-seat version of the already-fielded U.S. Army’s !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (the U.S. Marine Corps dropped out of the Mohawk program in 1958), !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! GA 39, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! PD-183, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! D-855, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! 1320, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! CL-760, a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! design (the model number, if any, has been lost to history), and the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! / !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! NA-300.

Exploded diagram of the Grumman Model 134R

Hiller K16

Beech PD-183

Lockheed CL-760

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Douglas D-855

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In August 1964, the NA-300 was selected, and designated the OV-10 Bronco. A contract for seven prototype aircraft was issued in October 1964. Convair contested the decision, citing the Charger’s somewhat better performance. The company built a prototype, with first flight on 29 November 1964. The prototype crashed on 19 October 1965, ending Convair’s program, and was the last aircraft to wear the Convair nameplate.

The first YOV-10A flew on 16 July 1965, flying on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! turboprops. The airframe had a central gondola holding the pilot and backseater in tandem, although the back seat could be removed, allowing the carriage of three thousand pounds of cargo, five paratroopers or two litters and an attendant. Two sponsons on either side of the lower fuselage could house 2 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!   !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! each, as well as two racks for drop tanks, bombs or rocket pods. An additional hard point was provided on the wings outboard of the engines. The OV-10 was designed with operations from austere forward bases in mind. The Bronco was able to land and take-off from short, rough fields as well as aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ships, without the use of catapults or arresting wires. Maintenance could be done with ordinary tools, and no ground equipment was needed to start the engines, which could run on high-octane automobile fuel, if needed.

Engine installation on OV-10B Bronco

Broncos served in Vietnam with the USMC, Navy and USAF, acting as a forward air-controller (FAC), day and night strike direction, gunship direction, bomb damage assessment, visual reconnaissance, aerial artillery direction, and as escorts for helicopters. Racked armament in the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! was usually seven-shot 2.75 in (70 mm) rocket pods with white phosphorus marker rounds or high-explosive rockets, or 5 in (127 mm) four-shot !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! pods. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! air-delivered/para-dropped unattended seismic sensors (Operation !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ), Mk-6 battlefield illumination !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and other stores were also carried.

OV-10A acting as FAC for two F-100C Super Sabre fighter/bombers over Vietnam, circa 1969

In 1971, the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ’s OV-10A Broncos received modifications under project !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Carried out by LTV Electrosystems during 1970, these modifications primarily included the addition of and AN/AVQ-12 PAVE SPOT pod, which contained a stabilized periscopic night vision sight and laser designator, as well as LORAN equipment. The call sign Nail was the radio handle of this squadron. These aircraft supported interdiction of troops and supplies on the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! by illuminating targets for !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! dropped by !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!   !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

A PAVE NAIL modified OV-10 over Vietnam

The OV-10 was found to be underpowered, with several crashes attributed to pilots being unable to pull out of dives. These experiences, as well as those of earlier USMC and USAF programs to equip the Bronco with night vision systems resulted in the OV-10D variant, which were powered by uprated Garrett T76-G-420/421 turboprops driving larger fiberglass props. The OV-10D also had a redesigned nose housing an IR turret, as well as IR suppressors on the engine exhaust and chaff/flare dispensers on the engine booms. Seventeen OV-10As were modified to the OV-10D standard.

A USMC OV-10D taxing clear of the landing area on the carrier USS Saratoga in 1985

OV-10S were exported to several other countries:

West Germany acquired 18 OV-10B target tugs in the late 1960s. These aircraft were modified with a plexiglass dome over the aft cargo bay for the target operator. The Bronco was retired in 1990.

Thailand obtained 32 OV-10C in the 1970s for COIN missions. Three aircraft have been placed on display, with the balance going to the Philippine Air Force in 2011.

Venezuela purchased 16 OV-10Es, which were reinforced by ex-USAF OV-10As over the years. Due to souring relations with the US, the initial plan to replace them with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! s has been dropped, and Mil !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! attack helicopters are being purchased in their place.

Indonesia purchased a dozen OV-10F, modified with .50 M2 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in place of the 7.62mm mounted on OV-10As. These aircraft were further modified to carry Russian munitions in place of NATO/US made bombs. After a fatal accident in 2013, the decision was made to retire the Bronco in favor of the Super Tucano.

The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! acquired six former-U.S. Marine Corps OV-10As in 1981. Based in Marrakesh Menara Airport, these were employed in counter-insurgency operations against Polisario forces in the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! using rocket pods and gun pods.

The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (PAF) received 24 OV-10As from U.S. stocks in 1991, later followed by a further nine from the United States, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and eight ex-Thai Air Force OV-10Cs in 2003–2004. The PAF flies Broncos on search-and-rescue and COIN operations in various parts of the Philippines. PAF OV-10 Broncos have been repeatedly used in air strikes against !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! positions during ongoing fighting in 2011, and two were used in an air strike on February 2012 which resulted in the death of three Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah commanders, among others. Philippine Air Force OV-10s have been reportedly modified in order to employ modern !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . As with other forces, the PAF anticipates retiring their OV-10s in the near future for Super Tucanos.

USMC Broncos were sent to Iraq during Operation DESERT SHIELD/ STORM in 1990/1, acting as FAC aircraft. The USAF did not deploy their remaining Broncos, as they were feared to be vulnerable to Iraqi AAA and SAMs. The Gulf War marked the last deployment of US Broncos, with the type retiring in the middle 1990s in favor of F/A -18 and OA-10 for the FAC role.

A USMC OV-10D launching from the carrier USS Roosevelt in support of Operation DESERT STORM in 1991

Retired Broncos have wound up flying for NASA in wake turbulence and noise studies, for the US Department of State in drug interdiction missions, and for the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! as well as with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! as spotter and coordination aircraft for aerial firefighting missions.

NASA OV-10 Bronco at the Langley Research Center

CALFIRE OV-10 Bronco air attack aircraft

A modified OV-10D used by Beaufort County, SC for mosquito control

Chariotoflove > user314 10/19/2020 at 13:39

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If I haven’t mentioned it, I really appreciate what you and ttyymmnn collectively do here. Between you, I get to learn lots of aviation stuff I didn’t know in a well-written, easy to read format that allows me to waste my time at work but doesn’t take up my whole day.

Carry on, please.

user314 > Chariotoflove 10/19/2020 at 13:48

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TY!

ttyymmnn was my inspiration for doing these; that and it makes it look like I’m doing work, even when I’m not...

ttyymmnn > user314 10/19/2020 at 14:04

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Good stuff. The Bronco has always been a favorite of mine. I wrote a piece about the Charger last year.

ttyymmnn > user314 10/19/2020 at 14:05

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Thanks, and I second what Chariotoflove said. I have plenty of time to write, but since my wife is WFH, I have to do other things instead!

VincentMalamute-Kim > user314 10/19/2020 at 14:07

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I agree with Chariot’s sentiment. I usually don’t comment on these posts because these show I don’t know as much about planes as I like to think I do.

The variety of non-automotive posts are what I really like about Opp.

user314 > ttyymmnn 10/19/2020 at 14:21

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I remembered your post (was it only last year? Feels like more than that... ) when I started on the Bronco, but when I started digging into the other LARA concepts I had to go with it.

Seriously, the Martin concept is sexy AF, and I want a model of it.

ttyymmnn > user314 10/19/2020 at 14:27

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July 2019, I think. When I first saw a photo of the Charger, I though it had to be a Photoshop. I find it interesting that so many different companies came to the same conclusion on the basic design.

user314 > ttyymmnn 10/19/2020 at 14:48

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I think part of that is due to the requirements of the program: twin turboprops, narrow wings, STOL from rough conditions or carrier/’phib decks, low, slow but maneuverable performance . I’m kinda surprised that as many went with a mid- or low wing as did, but I guess that makes sense from a maintenance standpoint. 

Darkbrador > ttyymmnn 10/19/2020 at 15:45

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ttyymmnn > Darkbrador 10/19/2020 at 15:48

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The operative word here being work . I can’t just sit and write all day while she works her tail off.

user314 > VincentMalamute-Kim 10/19/2020 at 19:31

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Neither do I, really. When I was grabbing random pics and then researching them I expected to be learning new things, but even when I’m picking a plane and doing a write up about it , I’m still learning  stuff.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > user314 10/20/2020 at 00:00

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I never realized how stubby the wings are.

user314 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 10/20/2020 at 10:11

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The original concept was going to have a 20' wingspan so that it could operate from roads.