Some Air Force pilots will leave the service with a tailwheel endorsement. The Air Force expects to get its first (of 75) OA-1K Skyraider II light attack fighter in the next couple of months and its nickname pays homage to what was likely the last taildragger to actively serve. The original A-1 Skyraider was a much beloved machine gun and missile platform that was designed in the Second World War and flew in active duty until the 1980s. The OA-1K is not your grandfather's Skyraider, however.
Looks like a helluva fine machine to hone stick and rudder skills alongside being affordable, capable, and versatile for a myriad of low speed, endurance and surveillance roles. It looks like the time has come to acquire the basics of airmanship together with what is probably a whole pile of technology acumen. Cool, really cool.
This isnât a new idea. Over 40 years ago, the USAF tested two very similar Piper PA-48 âEnforcerâ aircraft at Edwards AFB and Eglin AFB. These airplanes were built at (then) Piperâs Lakeland, FL plant and were follow on designs of airplanes first built in the 70âs by Cavalier Aircraft. They were very similar to a P-51 with a PT-6 turbine engine albeit slightly larger. The Air Force never really wanted them but begrudgingly tested them because Congress appropriated the funds and ordered them tested. At Edwards, the job of testing them fell to pilots at the Test Pilot school vs. forming a dedicated Combined Test Force as was the custom. The test pilots loved them but the Air Force didnât so ⌠that was that despite them meeting all the test criteria.
NOW, here we are four decades later and the Air Force is claiming a ânewâ idea with the nearly similar OA-1K. Not. And, simultaneously, theyâre trying to kill the A-10 ⌠perhaps the finest CAS airplane ever developed. The problem is that the USAF doesnât really like the CAS mission ⌠it isnât âsexyâ like flying the F-22 or F-35 but they donât want the Army to take that job on. That said, the CAS / COIN mission IS important and they ought to be taking this mission more seriously. Hopefully, this airplane will make it into full production and deployment? I have my doubts although 75 airplanes is a more serious stab at that Mission.
The two PA-48âs still exist ⌠one is at Edwards AFB and the other has been moved to the Pima Air museum in Tucson.
Finally a plane slower and significantly less survivable than an A-10. It can only be used in a very permissive environment. The problem is intel reports on a permissive environment can be wrong and American blood gets spilled.
They will be asked to do something with too little too late, bring back the A-10!
Jet jockeys will learn that those arenât foot rests under their feet either.
Just like I did in the 90âs
Sparky
Are you kidding ?? NO drone can ever compete with the GAU-8A 30mm cannon in the A-10. I even met an Army grunt who had an A-10 tattooed on his arm. When asked why ⌠he retorted, âAn A-10 saved my life.â No OA-1K will ever be able to compete with that, either.
The Russians are not even flying their ground attack or other aircraft over Ukraine because if they do they get shot down. I donât think the Warthog is more maneuverable than those Russian jets.
The forces these things could fight against would be irregulars with rifles or really poorly equipped soldiers. I think the day of low altitude close air support is over against any near-peer enemy.
I think I would rather fly a P-47, those things at least can get run away at twice the speed.
Still think this is the perfect plane to show up with, at your next Sunday Breakfast Pancake thingy⌠It would be nice to have the cannon active in case someone wants to have a political argument.