- Yes
- No
Hello and welcome to my suggestion for the NDN Firecracker! An Armed Trainer that competed to become the RAFs next turboprop trainer, a competition the Shorts Tucano would win. I feel this could come to game as a niche light Ground attacker for the British tech tree at some point in the future.
History
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The Firecracker was designed by Nigel Desmond Norman (One of the Co-founders of Britten Norman) in 1976 in order to create a simplistic trainer suitable for license construction in third world countries, the first prototype flew in 1977 and promptly had an order for 3 Aircraft from ‘Specialist Flying Training’, a British commercial flying school with the aircraft being delivered before the decade was out.
Now, with the RAF looking for a Turboprop aircraft in the 80s to replace its ageing Jet Provost Trainers the Firecracker was put forward as one of the Four aircraft proposed (the other 3 being the Embraer Tucano, Pilatus PC-9, and the AAC A20 Wamira) and was evaluated by the RAF using one of the Airframes purchased by ‘Specialist Flying Training’ and was tested with a variety of underwing stores including practice bombs and most notably 80mm SURA rockets. However despite the promising nature of the Firecracker the RAF opted for the Larger and more complex Tucano heavily modified to RAF standards (dubbed the Shorts Tucano).
Photos
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A firecracker during RAF evaluations
A Firecracker at Farnbrough Circa 1980, 4 Lots of 4 SURA rockets on the wings
The Firecracker Display at Farnbrough in the mid 80s, SURA rockets, Chaff pods, 7.62mm and 12.7mm pods available
Cockpit of the Firecracker, its design follows that of other military trainers showing its intentions for Military use from the start
January 1984 copy of Aviation and space weekly with the Firecracker on the front cover
Diagram of the aircraft evaluated by the RAF
Specs/ Armament
Spoiler
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 8.33 m (27 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 7.92 m (26 ft 0 in)
- Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 11.89 m2 (128.0 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 5.28:1
- Airfoil): NACA 23012
- Empty weight: 1,117 kg (2,463 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,633 kg (3,600 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 405 L (89 imp gal; 107 US gal) internal fuel
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine, 533 kW (715 shp) equivalent
- Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell HC-B3TN-3/T10173K-1 constant speed propeller, 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 367 km/h (228 mph, 198 kn) at 4,600 m (15,000 ft)**
*** Cruise speed: 333 km/h (207 mph, 180 kn) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft) (econ. cruise)**
*** Stall speed: 111 km/h (69 mph, 60 kn) (EAS)**
*** Never exceed speed: 533 km/h (331 mph, 288 kn) (EAS)**
*** Range: 1,158 km (720 mi, 625 nmi) with maximum standard fuel**
*** Ferry range: 2,038 km (1,266 mi, 1,100 nmi) with external fuel**
*** Service ceiling: 8,260 m (27,100 ft)**
*** g limits: +6/-3**
*** Rate of climb: 10.5 m/s (2,060 ft/min)**
*** Take-off run to 15 m (50 ft): 500 m (1,600 ft)**
*** Landing distance from 15 m (50 ft): 677 m (2,221 ft)**
Armament
*** **Hardpoints: 4 with a capacity of 181 kg (400 lb) each
- 4 x 81mm SURA rockets
- 7.62mm Gun Pods
- 12.7mm Gun pods
Place in Game
Spoiler
I feel this would be a good addition to mid tier Britain if we get similar aircraft like the Tucanos as the RAF operated Tucanos were not capable of carrying armament and would thus leave Britain behind whilst most other nations could get one, personally I feel this would sit best around 4.7 - 5.7 as it has a good (although limited) selection of armament make it a potent CAS aircraft and with the gun pods being something that enemy fighters would have to be wary of when attacking this agile craft.
In conclusion i feel that if Gaijin goes down the route of adding other Turboprop Trainers then this should 100% be added to game and would be fairly potent on Mid-tier battlegrounds perhaps at a BR of 5.0
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