Warbird Information Exchange

Contemplating viable options for concerned private citizens with "skills" to put a stop to this nonsense. Paused to recall the AVG. In retrospect, a vaguely similar situation. While we won't need air superiority, per se, we'll definitely need a multi-role ground attack a/c. Realistically, what's out there these days, that could be purchased in quantity on the black market, that could do the job? For all you super-serious folks, this is meant for entertainment purposes only (unless somebody wants to fund this bad boy, then all bets are off). Please consider purchase price, operating costs, less-than-optimal field conditions, limited re-supply of POL's and replacement parts, fuel consumption, ammo availability, etc. Would especially appreciate input from vets who have experience "in theater". Let's hear it...

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"There's nothing new under the sun. It's only new to you."

"Deserve's got nothing to do with it."

L-39s have some history of use as attack and COIN aircraft, don't they? Really this is a job for the Diemert Defender, but thanks to the short-sighted Canadian government, we don't have any of those.

August

That is ok about the Diemert - soon we will have A-10s thanks to the current Pentagon attitude.

Maybe an AVG team could get a few upgraded T-6 IIs or Super Tucanos.

Tom P.

My initial thought was the AT-802. Don't know what's on offer for armament, though. Whatever it is, it will need guns. And LOTS of ammo.
Any news on the A-67 program? Any wild, out-of-the-box ideas?
Given the proliferation of stolen Stingers, a jet might not be the best idea...

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"There's nothing new under the sun. It's only new to you."

"Deserve's got nothing to do with it."

Not sure if AVG is a good parallel, given that they were a covert US government operation equipped with state of the art frontline equipment.
The modern equivalent would be if a couple dozen F-16 E block 60's "just happened to fall off a truck"

That said, the AT802 would be my choice for immediately available, with updated OV-10s being next.

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.

Maybe its time to dust off this design…



… a kid can dream can't he?

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

A P-51 w/o a brace of M2's is crime against nature.

_________________
"There's nothing new under the sun. It's only new to you."

"Deserve's got nothing to do with it."

Good thing it isn't a P-51 then.

_________________
Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

I'm aware that it's a PA-48 Enforcer, derived from the Cavalier Mustang, which was derived from the P-51D. Kissing cousins. As I said, this is just for fun. No need to split hairs.

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"There's nothing new under the sun. It's only new to you."

"Deserve's got nothing to do with it."

Well, if you knock off a hard point under each wing you could stuff a few .50s in there. Someone with photoshop skills should put a desert camo tint on that photo and we are off to the races!

Tom P.

Don't forget the shark mouth...

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"There's nothing new under the sun. It's only new to you."

"Deserve's got nothing to do with it."

This is all that is required:

Can you say "ark light"

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GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Press "1" for English.
Press "2" to disconnect until you have learned to speak English.

A jeep-mounted M-29 "Davy Crockett" would have plausible deniability. Anyone know where we stashed those?
On second thought, those underwing pylons might come in handy after all...

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"There's nothing new under the sun. It's only new to you."

"Deserve's got nothing to do with it."

I have been "over there" and what would be ideal is lots of cheap , easier to fly used aircraft that if wrecked or lost are no big deal.
Ideally they would have 1) a turbofan or turboprop engine for fuel economy and long loitering times, 2) Two engines, 3) protection for the pilots, self sealing fuel tanks, chaffe, etc.
3) Extremely easy to fly, and 4) easy to support with spares and also possible to upgrade systems as needed.

A few to think about
1) BAC Strikemaster
2) Cessna A-37's or upgraded T-37's.
3) Grumman OV-1 Mohawks
4) L-39's and L-29s
5) Up armored Basler conversion, AC-47's
6) T-28D's converted to Turbo prop, and modern chaffe systems
My choice , but more expensive to operate;
7) Grumman A-6's with tons of ordnance and fuel tanks
LTV A-7 Corsair II's.

There are hundreds of some of these aircraft types available in storage at this time.