European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 05, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Warming up the Bronco for War l Bronco is first plane designed specifically to meet conditions in Vietnam fighting vast greenhouse gives pilots Superb visibility for ground support Ioc. By Mark Huet is Washington Bureau chief tie first american air plane specifically designed for the Vietnam War and counter insurgency operations is now being checked out by air Force and Marine corps pilots before it goes into combat some time this is called the ov-10a, or Bronco and according to the men who have built and flown the first models it is going to be one of the most versatile for use with ground troops. Typical mis Sions will include Battlefield surveil Lance helicopter escort close air sup port against Light enemy opposition gunfire spotting medical evacuation arid even the transport of five paratroopers six regular infantrymen or 3,200 pounds 16 of cargo in the Battle first of 271 ordered by the defense department for Tri service use Are being flown by marines at Camp Pendleton calif., and at the air Force s special air warfare Center Hurlburt Field Fla. The twin engine Turboprop Bronco i designed to fill the Gap Between jets which Are too fast for most of the need sol guerrilla warfare and helicopters which Are too slow or vulnerable Formant missions. According to the air Force and the Marine corps the Bronco will be Capa ble of operating from rough clearings primitive roads and Waterways in Addi Tion to prepared airfields and even air Craft carriers. Its Short take off and Landing capability it can Clear a 50-Footobstacle in less than goo feet with a 1,200-Pound Load of ordnance and three hours of fuel is vital to operations in the Battle zone. Bronco s fuselage is mounted under us wings to provide the Pilot and observer seated in tandem Well ahead of the propellers with unobstructed visibility that is better than that of most helicopters. Besides All this the Bronco in a typical attack Mission can be armed with 2,400 pounds of assorted trouble in eluding bombs napalm Rodu to and four machine guns. Two sub silo stations Are also Prosuk a. U armed reconnaissance or close sup � Mission the ov-10a can Fly 50 a 3miles to the target area loiter Foi Iii Iua us " two hours and then return to nit the new air plane has a top si244 knots at Soa level and an App Speed of Only 75 knots which is for Many purposes such As Jun in and helicopter escort. ,.with auxiliary fuel tanks Broncos c to flown anywhere in the to a that s just what the air for a " Marino corps will do with lion a Jungle fighters. The stars and stripes sunday May 5,
