Characteristics:
Initial order: 1965
First flight: 1967
Number built: 271
Built from: 1965 to 1969
Operated from: 1968-1994
Crew: 2
Flight time: 5.5 hours (with droptanks)
Service ceiling: 26,000 ft
Engine: Two T76-G-10/12 turboprops of 715 shaft horsepower each
Top Speed: 281 mph
Range: 1,240 miles
Takeoff roll: 700 ft
Width: 40ft
Length: 41ft
Height: 15ft
Electronics:
- No notable electronics
Internal armament:
- 4xM60C 7.62mm MG (500 RPG)
External stores (source is declassified)
I tried to type all of this out, but eventually decided that it was easier and more accurate to just use this screenshot of the US NAVY SAC for the OV-10A, a link for the website containing that will be located in sources.
History:
The OV-10A Bronco was an observation aircraft created in the early 1960s. The Marines, Navy, and Air Force all needed a plane that could fight on new kinds of battlefields. They wanted something tough and simple that could take off and land at small dirt airfields. This plane had a unique design for its time, with two tails and a big windowed cockpit, giving the pilot a great view. It used propeller engines, which meant it could fly slowly and stay in the air for a long time, perfect for finding hidden enemies. The Bronco first flew in 1967.
During the Vietnam War, the OV-10A proved its usefulness. While it wasn’t a fast aircraft, it was perfect for providing support for soldiers on the ground. Pilots used it to fly low and slow, allowing the crew to point out the position of targets for other aircraft to attack. The Marines used it for many jobs, like searching for threats and even attacking enemies when the opportunity arose. The Navy even used it from land to support their PBR’s (patrol boat riverine). The Bronco could carry guns and rockets, and its ability to fly at low speeds and see everything made it a legend in the jungles of vietnam. (This was unusual for the Navy.)
Even after Vietnam, the OV-10A kept serving. The Marines used it until 1994, even in the Gulf War. While the military eventually stopped using them, many Broncos found new jobs. Today, you might see them fighting wildfires. They fly over fires, helping direct planes that drop water. The OV-10A Bronco is remembered as a versatile plane that could do many different things, from fighting wars to saving forests.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: While the OV-10A does have an arresting hook, the aircraft did not use it for carrier landings, as it was capable of landing on a carrier due to its design.
TYPO: should say OV-10A not OV-1A
- Yes
- No
Sources
AAHS Members Area - U.S. Navy SAC Records
https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196062/north-american-rockwell-ov-10a-bronco/
OV-10A Bronco (Marine) - Fort Worth Aviation Museum
https://www.hurlburt.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheets/Article/204576/ov-10-bronco/