User manual
Bronco X
Aerosoft GmbH 2012
6 7
Introduction
Almost all aircraft designed for a COIN (counter-insurgency) are great
fun to fly. They have to be sturdy and have loads of power to get out
of trouble and they also have got to be agile and easy to fly low to the
ground. So they are all the opposite of airliners that draw straight lines
high in the sky, they feel most at ease when the hug the ground and
pull G. The OV-10 Bronco is perhaps the finest example of this class of
aircraft.
The Bronco has its roots deep in the 1960s when most military aircraft
were getting bigger, more complex and way faster. These aircraft did
not work well in harsh conditions found in jungles and even on carrier
decks. The concept of a rugged close air support aircraft that would
be ideal to operate in limited scale conflicts and operate from impro-
vised airfields was proven by the Cambodia and Vietnam conflicts that
were developing at the time. The North American (later Rockwell)
developed the concept into prototypes that were soon in service with
the U.S. Marines Corps, U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. In Vietnam
the aircraft was introduced in a Forward Air Control role, guiding large
attack aircraft onto targets but soon the Bronco’s went into battle with
a large array of ground attack weapons. Medium bombs, rocket and
gun pods all proven to be effective and even Sidewinders against air
targets were used. To increase loiter time over ‘Indian’ country external
fuel tanks were added. All this additional weight and drag caused the
aircraft to feel underpowered, even though it has ample power when
it is flown without external stores.
The Bronco has a small fuselage but if comfort was not important and
the backseat removed it could carry 5 passengers. In fact the Bronco
was soon used in every possible role. It was one of those aircraft that
seemed to grow in potential over time, and as can be seen with other
aircraft (the A10 Warthog for example) it seems hard to find a modern
replacement. That’s why there are still plans to build a updated version
using the same basic design. When the Bronco was pulled from front
line duty it was still in demand in military and civil roles.