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North American (Rockwell) OV-10D 'Bronco'

Description
  Manufacturer:North American (Rockwell)


  Base model:V-10
  Designation:OV-10
  Version:D
  Nickname:Bronco
  Designation System:U.S. Air Force
  Designation Period:1956-Present
  Basic role:V/STOL
  Modified Mission:Observation

Specifications
  Length: 44' 0" 13.4 m
  Height:15' 2" 4.6 m
  Wingspan: 40' 12.1 m
  Wingarea: 291.0 sq ft 27.0 sq m
  Empty Weight: 6,893 lb 3,126 kg
  Max Weight: 14,444 lb 6,550 kg

Propulsion
  No. of Engines: 2
  Powerplant: Garrett-AiResearch T76-G-420/421
  Horsepower (each): 1040

Performance
  Max Speed: 288 mph 463 km/h 250 kt
  Climb: 3,020 ft/min 920 m/min
  Ceiling: 30,000 ft 9,143 m

Operators (Past and Present)
USMC MALS-36 Futemma Okinawa
USMC VMO-1 New River NC
USMC VMO-2 MCAS Camp Pendleton CA
USMC VMO-4 Atlanta GA
USN VX-5 China Lake CA

Examples of this type may be found at
MuseumCityState
MCAS El Toro Historical FoundationIrvineCalifornia
Pima Air & Space MuseumTucsonArizona

OV-10D on display

MCAS El Toro Historical Foundation

Pima Air & Space Museum
   


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 Kevin Landolina
 , CT
The fiberglass propellers were difficult to put together. Oven cures of foam or fiberglass repairs in one area could cause delaminations in another. Aluminum spar. Separately bonded fiberglass shell (with +/- 45° ply orientation for strength). Lead and trail cavities filled with foam. Nickel plate sheath hand fitted and bonded to outboard lead edge. Body filler used on the trail edge. Stress cut-outs on inboard edge of shell over the spar. Never thought I'd miss those propeller blades, but I do now. All of our blades are being shipped out to France for production.
09/23/2008 @ 07:11 [ref: 22720]
 Fred I.
 Manila, OTH
The Philippines is the only country to my knowledge who uses the OV-10 'intensively' in actual combat (Colombia?). It is is being used for COIN operations to both Islamic seperatist (MILF) and the leftist rebels (CPP/NPA) as well as the Al Qaeda backed terrorist group Abu Sayaff. The Phil. Air Force (PAF) has about 10 remaining OV-10As out of the original 24 that were procured from the USA and Thailand. The mere sound of the Broncos approaching send shivers to the spines of these rebel groups as witnesses attests. Comprised of 2 Tactical Strike Wing of the PAF, they straff, rocket and bomb rebel positions with devastating effect, it is the primary strike aircraft of the PAF... a truly remarkable and potent aircraft for COIN operations.
09/03/2008 @ 16:53 [ref: 22606]
 ben wallace
 westwood, CA
Re operators, past and present, of the Bronco. China Lake is listed as one of the operators, past, VX-5. Unless I'm really off base, the Naval Air Facility at China Lake was operating an OV-10 long before VX-5, as early as 1968/9. I know because I was a plane captain on it, also Aircrew. And VX-5 did not have one at that time. Correct me if I'm wrong, otherwise correst the history.

B wallace
08/27/2006 @ 18:59 [ref: 14009]
 Ed Clayman
 , TX
My daughter is producing the documentary..."OV-10 Bronco, The Life and Death Of A Warbird". In the can by Dec. 2006 with in the seat, personal experiences with what has to be the last "seat of the pants" down amongst the giggle weeds warbirds.

Before 155395 became an "agri-tractor" was one mean S.O.B. loaded for whatever raised its foolish head...back in the day :^) Here's another look at what you guys are in love with: http://www.scaleaero.com/OV-10D_155395_FB_3a.jpg
08/17/2006 @ 18:21 [ref: 13915]
 Gordon MacCalla
 , FL
I flew Ov-10Ds for agricultural missions south of here, and completely agree it was primarily designed for recon, with coin and forward support also, I have flown FLIR missions, along with other recon. and can say it was a very interesting aircraft to fly, Its great down low in turbulence if not overloaded to 16,000 pounds which makes it manuever poorly!!! NO WAY a tank buster, even with armour plate somewhat vulnerable to small arms fire, no armament for this anyway. leaks a lot in rain!!! A great airplane, but could bite the unwary. Designed and produced quickly to fill a need, it is still being used actively altho no talked about in small numbers for interesting things!!
06/21/2006 @ 17:08 [ref: 13565]
 Ron Ashby
 Phoeniz, AZ
Just to add to the A-10 vs. OV-10 debate. Both have their merits, but to say that the A-10 is vastly superior is some what short sited as to what the OV-10 did in its time.
A case in point during Vietnam, American troops were separated by about 25 feet from enemy troops in a fire fight. An OV-10 delivered accurate firepower on the opposing force, saving the American's lives and not loosing one American to stray bullets.
One other thing, an A-10 cannot carry and delivery 5 paratroopers to a forward location like on OV-10. So it is more of an apples and oranges comparison.
I think is best to applaud and celebrate what both aircraft and their crews have been able to accomplish.

06/02/2005 @ 14:09 [ref: 10376]
 Glenn Danzig
 , NC
It was called the OV-10 NOG. See http://www.ov-10bronco.net/usmc.cfm for info on it. I also just uploaded a picture of it onto this site.
05/13/2005 @ 20:49 [ref: 10213]
 james
 , CA
oh yeah, didn't the OV-10 have a turreted 20MM on the belly on some models? Anyone know the specs or where some pics of this are?
05/05/2005 @ 12:45 [ref: 10119]
 James
 , CA
I'd like to ask a few ingorant questions if I may concerning the posts I've seen here. Is there any reason that an OV-10 could not be bought (for whatever amount of cash) and be flown around as an experimental private aircraft? Also, what was the Max Range and Max Endurance airspeeds and what was the fuel consumption on average for these speeds. Also want to find out the fully loaded take off distance and landing. Anybody got any good info, please email at:

gunner00_13@yahoo.com

Thanks
05/05/2005 @ 12:23 [ref: 10118]
 Rk
 Rosamond, CA
TK GUNNER,
Your whole problem my friend beside what has all ready been spoken so eliquintly is that you know nothing about the A-10, Its the roughest toughest meanest damned attack aircraft ever been conceived buy the human mind, I work on these things and have removed parts that took sam missiles through them and continued to hold together not just to get them selves ond there crew home safe, but to go out and fight again, some times the next day with there rapid turn time on components. i have also owned two OV-10's and there just is no comparison between the two. It like comparing a ferrari with a horse and cart. Stick to what you know and do make retarded statements like that.

10/03/2004 @ 02:43 [ref: 8390]

 

Recent photos uploaded by our visitors