How About the Spad?

Super Tucano, proposed replacement for the A-10

A-29s are turboprop planes armed with one 20mm cannon below the fuselage able to shoot 650 rounds per minute, one 12.7mm machine gun (FN Herstal) under each wing and up to four 7.62mm Dillion Aero M134 Miniguns able to shoot up to 3,000 rounds per minute.

Super Tucanos are also equipped with 70mm rockets, air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9L Sidewinder, air-to-ground weapons such as the AGM-65 Maverick and precision-guided bombs. It can also use a laser rangefinder and laser-guided weapons.

The Super Tucano is a highly maneuverable light attack aircraft able to operate in high temperatures and rugged terrain. It is 11.38 meters long and has a wingspan of 11.14 meters; its maximum take-off weight is 5,400 kilograms. The aircraft has a combat radius of 300 nautical miles, can reach speeds up to 367 mph and hits ranges up to 720 nautical miles.

Douglas A-1, Sky Raider

Data from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920[26]General characteristics

Performance

This is one of those stories where I am clearly out of my league. The only defense I can offer is, I follow history and I can read. The Air Force wants a new close attack aircraft. The parallel can be drawn between the Military and their toys and the average five year old and their toys. It doesn’t matter what is on the shelf at home. It’s what is on display in the store that matters.

On paper, it appears that the Sky Raider meets or exceeds the performance of the Super Tucano. It has the added benefit of being combat proven in two wars, Korea and Viet Nam. I found one for sale. http://www.shermanaircraft.com/douglas/1952-douglas-as4-na-skyraider-plus-spares/

How about a fly off, Super Tucano and the A-1 with seventy year old technology. Imagine what it could be with new technology. I am not being nostalgic. Good design is timeless. Do an Internet search on the DC-3 (another Douglas product). They are still flying and still in demand. I can recall a couple of different articles where individuals proposed to start manufacturing DC-3 aircraft. http://www.baslerturbo.com/manufacturing.html

Is it cost effective? I don’t know, but it sure would be interesting.