OV 10A Bronco

Specifications OV 10A Bronco blueprint

The OV 10A Bronco is a multi-role aircraft that was developed jointly by North American Rockwell and Lockheed in the 1960s. This rugged and reliable twin-engine turboprop is most noted for its distinguished service in counter-insurgency operations during the Vietnam War. In addition to its role as a forward air controller, the versatile Bronco can serve a variety of mission objectives including: reconnaissance, forward air control, aerial observation, airborne command and control, and search and rescue. It was the first aircraft to be fitted with the CVD-2 Flare Countermeasure Dispenser, which gave the Bronco an impressive self-defense capability. The Bronco is unique in its airframe design, with a high wing and mid-mounted engines that provide good forward visibility, blind spot reduction, shorter landing and takeoff roll, and improved agility. Its excellent maneuverability makes it ideal for the close-support mission, in which it frequently excelled in jungle terrain. Its performance is further enhanced by wing-mounted rudders and two five-bladed propellers. The fuel is carried in two wing-mounted tanks which provide the Bronco a longer range and better center of gravity balance. The Bronco is blessed with ruggedness and simplicity. Its air frame is composed of aluminum and steel, giving it tremendous strength and durability even in the worst conditions. The fuselage is constructed of a monocoque design, which is resistance to strain in turbulent air and impacts. The cockpit is situated in the front of the aircraft, and is equipped with two or three crew member seats, depending on the mission requirements. The Bronco is powered by two Garrett T76-G-420/421 turboprop engines which are known for their superior power output, reliability, and fuel-efficiency. The Bronco is a highly capable and adaptable aircraft capable of carrying up to 4,000 lbs of ordnance or a mixture of fuel and passengers. Its powerful armaments consist of up to six external hardpoints, allowing it to carry up to eight rocket pods, two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, two LAU-117 missile launchers, two bomb chutes, two flares, and two cluster bombs. The Bronco's impressive firepower is a testament to its true multipurpose capabilities. Overall, the OV 10A Bronco is an incredibly versatile yet reliable aircraft that has been a staple of many air forces across the world since its first flight in the 1960s and continues to be a potent aerial force even today.