USA to use new A-67 in Iraq?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
USA to use new A-67 in Iraq?
A report on the Flight International website suggests the new A-67 two seat turbo prop aircraft being developed for the USA will (once in service) be deployed in Iraq. It also refers to the design requirements - 'The brief was to produce a simple, cheap to build and easy to operate aircraft for light attack...'.
With the way things are going in Iraq, would they also be looking for cheap expendable pilots to fly these planes as well? I'm not sure I'd want to be buzzing round Bagdad in a 'simple, cheap' two seater turbo prop.
This seems on the face of it like a dangerous prospect for pilots who will be flying these planes (although I'm sure it will keep the bean counters happy). Any thoughts?
With the way things are going in Iraq, would they also be looking for cheap expendable pilots to fly these planes as well? I'm not sure I'd want to be buzzing round Bagdad in a 'simple, cheap' two seater turbo prop.
This seems on the face of it like a dangerous prospect for pilots who will be flying these planes (although I'm sure it will keep the bean counters happy). Any thoughts?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Google is your friend:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...kes-first.html
But whilst it may called DRAGON it looks like a T-6 that's eaten too many Pringles... Anyone know what the Americans are planning to drop from it?
S41
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...kes-first.html
But whilst it may called DRAGON it looks like a T-6 that's eaten too many Pringles... Anyone know what the Americans are planning to drop from it?
S41
Guest
Posts: n/a
Google is your friend:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...kes-first.html
But whilst it may called DRAGON it looks like a T-6 that's eaten too many Pringles... Anyone know what the Americans are planning to drop from it?
S41
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...kes-first.html
But whilst it may called DRAGON it looks like a T-6 that's eaten too many Pringles... Anyone know what the Americans are planning to drop from it?
S41
Hopefully dropping pork sausages,flip-flops and porno mags.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sitting on the toilet of Europe.... the UK
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aaaaah, the Piper Enforcer. Cavalier Mustang airframe with a RR Dart up the front. Quite lovely piece of kit, even if it probably didn't sound quite right!! No, the PA-48 was never going to be loved by a military so fixated on Mach 2 (theoretical) fighters that it almost resented having the A10 forced on it. The USAF only, really, bought the A10 to stop the US Army engaging in a turf war with projects like the Cheyenne. Almost ever since it entered service the USAF have tried to kill it off in favour of more F16s, and only now is it getting the updates it's been crying out for.
Good luck to the A-67, but what we really need is to re-open the A10 line, or buy some SU-25s or, best of all, stick a dirty big turboprop onto a Skyraider airframe. I'd fly it!! (Come to think of it, I'd fly it "as is"!)
How about A-67 for MFTS, swing role anyone!?
Good luck to the A-67, but what we really need is to re-open the A10 line, or buy some SU-25s or, best of all, stick a dirty big turboprop onto a Skyraider airframe. I'd fly it!! (Come to think of it, I'd fly it "as is"!)
How about A-67 for MFTS, swing role anyone!?
Guest
Posts: n/a
By dropping hot, sticky napalm on them? Doubt it has 1553. Looks more like the future of the Iraqi Air force if you ask me. Not too sure the US administration would recommend supplying the current govt of iraq with F-16's.
Unfortunately, things have moved on since the days of the Super bulldog in tribal suppression fit.
http://www.warbirdalley.com/bulldog.htm
Unfortunately, the locals have moved on from throwing spears...
Unfortunately, things have moved on since the days of the Super bulldog in tribal suppression fit.
http://www.warbirdalley.com/bulldog.htm
Specifications:
Engine: One 200-hp Lycoming IO-360 flat-four piston engine.
Weight: Empty 1,428 lbs., Max Takeoff 2,345 lbs.
Wing Span: 33ft. 2in.
Length: 23ft. 3in.
Height: 8ft. 11.5in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 150 mph
Ceiling: 16,000 ft.
Range: 620 miles
Armament: Usually none, but can be fitted with four underwing 7.62 machine-gun pods, fourteen 75mm rockets, or eight Bofors wire-guided missiles
Engine: One 200-hp Lycoming IO-360 flat-four piston engine.
Weight: Empty 1,428 lbs., Max Takeoff 2,345 lbs.
Wing Span: 33ft. 2in.
Length: 23ft. 3in.
Height: 8ft. 11.5in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 150 mph
Ceiling: 16,000 ft.
Range: 620 miles
Armament: Usually none, but can be fitted with four underwing 7.62 machine-gun pods, fourteen 75mm rockets, or eight Bofors wire-guided missiles
Quote from the Flight article - "aiming the machine at the counter-insurgency market in the USA"
Blimey, I hadn't realised that the fight for law'n'order in the US had reached such a pitch.......................
Blimey, I hadn't realised that the fight for law'n'order in the US had reached such a pitch.......................
With tech specs as listed, I think a more suitable name would be the A-67 Target. Or may be even A-67 Coffin.
Send them to Baghdad - I'd love to see just how many senior officers go to Iraq to fly these. To quote Victor Meldrew........" I DON'T BELIEEEEEEEEEEEVE IT". It would be easier and cheaper to line the crews up in front of the hangars back home and shoot them there.
Now if you're after a simple and exceptionally rugged COIN platform, I think I have just the ticket:
Engine: 1× Napier Sabre IIB liquid-cooled H-24 sleeve-valve engine, 2,400 hp (1,625 kW)
Weight: 9,250 lb (4,195 kg); Max Takeoff 13,640 lb (6,190 kg)
Wing Span: 41 ft 0 in (12.49 m)
Length: 33 ft 8 in (10.26 m).
Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m) .
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 435 mph at 17,000 ft (700 km/h at 5,180 m)
Ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,125 m)
Range: 1,530 mi (2,465 km) with drop tanks
Armament: 4× 20 mm Mark II Hispano cannons, 150 rounds per gun, 2× 500 lb or 1,000 lb (227 kg or 454 kg) bombs, 8× 3 in (75 mm) RP-3 rockets
Sounds just about ideal to me for a COIN platform operating over Baghdad (or even NY or Texas should George W decide it is necessary). And in case you are wondering, it is the Hawker Tempest V. No gun position too tough, no insurgent hideout too far, cheap, rugged and reliable. And I'd rather fly one of these mid-1940s ac over Baghdad than the A-67 Target any day of the week. How much to fit modern avionics???
What on earth are they thinking
Send them to Baghdad - I'd love to see just how many senior officers go to Iraq to fly these. To quote Victor Meldrew........" I DON'T BELIEEEEEEEEEEEVE IT". It would be easier and cheaper to line the crews up in front of the hangars back home and shoot them there.
Now if you're after a simple and exceptionally rugged COIN platform, I think I have just the ticket:
Engine: 1× Napier Sabre IIB liquid-cooled H-24 sleeve-valve engine, 2,400 hp (1,625 kW)
Weight: 9,250 lb (4,195 kg); Max Takeoff 13,640 lb (6,190 kg)
Wing Span: 41 ft 0 in (12.49 m)
Length: 33 ft 8 in (10.26 m).
Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m) .
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 435 mph at 17,000 ft (700 km/h at 5,180 m)
Ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,125 m)
Range: 1,530 mi (2,465 km) with drop tanks
Armament: 4× 20 mm Mark II Hispano cannons, 150 rounds per gun, 2× 500 lb or 1,000 lb (227 kg or 454 kg) bombs, 8× 3 in (75 mm) RP-3 rockets
Sounds just about ideal to me for a COIN platform operating over Baghdad (or even NY or Texas should George W decide it is necessary). And in case you are wondering, it is the Hawker Tempest V. No gun position too tough, no insurgent hideout too far, cheap, rugged and reliable. And I'd rather fly one of these mid-1940s ac over Baghdad than the A-67 Target any day of the week. How much to fit modern avionics???
What on earth are they thinking
I vote for the A1 Skyraider with the huge turbine engine as Evalu8atr suggests....now that is an airplane. I know where you can fly one if you are interested? Plan to be in the USA in June and it can be done.
I vote for the A1 Skyraider with the huge turbine engine as Evalu8atr suggests
How much of the current hassles could we have cirumvented if we had looked back at how we dealt (or didn't) with these problems when they first cropped up? But then I guess history isn't particularly popular - especially amongst Tony and his mates.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Nigit
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Banzai!
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,576
Received 425 Likes
on
224 Posts
The only counter insurgency that looks fit for sorting out is the counter at "Walmart" (or maybe "Target"). 
Btw, if the Bulldog is a warbird, my name is Biggles 'cos I'm a fighter pilot.
I recall about twenty years ago there was a serious proposal to start building turbine engined Mustangs..... and I DON'T mean the new Cessna bizjet one... naughty but nice.
Btw, if the Bulldog is a warbird, my name is Biggles 'cos I'm a fighter pilot.
I recall about twenty years ago there was a serious proposal to start building turbine engined Mustangs..... and I DON'T mean the new Cessna bizjet one... naughty but nice.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NW FL
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know where you can fly one if you are interested?
I think the Skyraider would be a perfect platform - as-is even! Just wouldn't sound quite right with a turboprop, now would it?
There's been some talk of arming the T-6 & using it as a COIN platform...
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
or, best of all, stick a dirty big turboprop onto a Skyraider airframe.
As someone said above, this new toy (the most appropriate word, IMHO) looks to me to be destined for the Iraqi Air Force, not for graduates of any academy in Colorado - and I'd be guessing all such graduates are hoping and praying I'm right!!
The OV-10 Bronco, now there is a fixed wing worth hopping in! Great vis, fast, twin, big guns, rockets, missiles, and even the occasional explosive sticky target marker (napalm).
THere are plenty sitting in storage and a great corporate knowledge around to ramp up the capability fast. Where do I sign up.
THere are plenty sitting in storage and a great corporate knowledge around to ramp up the capability fast. Where do I sign up.