How long would Aviation units be effective.

[Sanjuro]

There is scope for adventures in not only the big aircraft factories, or the established light aircraft manufacturers like Piper in Vero Beach, FL, but in tracking down the many kit manufacturers around the US and worldwide.
Given that they specialise in designing aircraft that can be built in a garage, using only the sort of tools any competent mechanic will already own, they would seem an ideal solution to the requirement for at least light recon aircraft, possibly usable as COIN at a push.
For a good example of the sort of aeroplane that can be built from kits, look at www.vansaircraft.com .
For recon, gliders and sailplanes (which can be launched using a bungee system if nothing else is available) would be better than nothing- a sailplane at high altitude is almost invisible, leaves no vapour trail, silent, and can at least carry a camera...

[helbent4]

Originally Posted by Sanjuro

There is scope for adventures in not only the big aircraft factories, or the established light aircraft manufacturers like Piper in Vero Beach, FL, but in tracking down the many kit manufacturers around the US and worldwide.
Given that they specialise in designing aircraft that can be built in a garage, using only the sort of tools any competent mechanic will already own, they would seem an ideal solution to the requirement for at least light recon aircraft, possibly usable as COIN at a push.
For a good example of the sort of aeroplane that can be built from kits, look at www.vansaircraft.com .
For recon, gliders and sailplanes (which can be launched using a bungee system if nothing else is available) would be better than nothing- a sailplane at high altitude is almost invisible, leaves no vapour trail, silent, and can at least carry a camera...

Sanjuro,

I think this is very plausible, something that should have been covered long ago for T2K. These "mini-COIN" aircraft have long been used. See "Operation Biafra Babies" for an example from the late 60's for a successful application of converted civilian aircraft. (MFI-9B single-engine trainer aircraft armed with ground attack rockets were piloted by Swedish mercenaries and trained Biafrans during the Biafran War.)

Statistics from the first 29 attacks (5 abandoned for different reasons) May-Aug:

432 rockets fired, more than 50% hitting targets. No own aircraft
or pilots lost.

Destroyed damaged
MiG-17 3 2
Il-28 1
Canberra 1 1
Intruder 1
2 eng.transport 1
Helicopters 2 1
Trucks 7
Radar 1
ATC tower 1 1
Terminal bldgs 2
Power plant 1
Amm. storage 1
Headquarters 3
AAA 2
Oil pump station 1
Enemy losses: 300 men at airports, 200 men at the front

Culled from the book _Gerillapilot i Biafra_ [1988]

http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/oa...fra_babies.htm

Mini-COIN aircraft are not nearly as well-suited to the mission as purpose-built ones, but lacking anything else are effective enough.

Tony

[helbent4]

Group,

This aircraft was included in Challenge #76:

The Sadler A-22 Piranha Light Air Support Aircraft, basically an armed ground-attack ultralight powered by a Chevy V-6 engine.

http://www.morrow-industries.com/TheSadlerPiranha.pdf





Tony

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Sorry for the thread-o-mancy but those Sadler Piranhas are too cool to not put in my game.

[helbent4]

Originally Posted by raketenjagdpanzer

Sorry for the thread-o-mancy but those Sadler Piranhas are too cool to not put in my game.

RakJPz,

They're canon, go crazy!

Tony

[Legbreaker]

Don't know how common they are, but the timeline for them works great. There's bound to be at least a handful being used by somebody somewhere.