June 2015 13 The ‘Bronc’ The OV-10 Bronco was armed, highly maneuverable—and very tough by Michael Lombard i It was built to take punishment, but it also could dish it out. The OV-10, which served with distinction during the Vietnam War, certainly lived up to its tough-sounding name—Bronco. The innovative twin-boom, high-wing Bronco was North American’s offering for a U.S. military competition to develop an observation aircraft that also could provide close support for ground troops and be used in anti-guerrilla and counterinsurgency operations. North American Aviation, a Boeing heritage company, was selected from a field of nine competitors, and the Bronco made its first flight at the company’s plant in Columbus, Ohio, on July 16, 1965—50 years ago next month. The OV-10 was designed to be survivable. It was highly maneuverable and had excellent all-around visibility due to a large, bulbous canopy and bullet-resistant windshield. It also had self-sealing fuel cells, twin turboprop engines, dual manual flight controls and simple construction, all features that contributed to survivability. And if things went bad, the Bronco’s pilot and observer were seated in tandem ejection seats that were capable of zero-speed, zero-altitude ejections. Armament consisted of a mix of AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, 2.75-inch and 5-inch rockets and bombs, and gun pods loaded on the Bronco’s twin sponsons that also housed four 7.62mm machine guns. Designed for versatility, the Bronco was equipped with a compartment in the rear fuselage to carry up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of cargo, stretchers or even six very cramped paratroopers. The Bronco served in Vietnam with the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps, its main mission being forward air control. The OV-10 crew would fly low and slow, and often under heavy antiaircraft fire, to locate enemy positions and direct pilots in faster-moving fighter-bombers to those targets. The U.S. Navy also flew the Bronco in Vietnam, borrowing 19 from the Marine Corps to equip its VAL-4 “Black Ponies” squadron that supported U.S. Navy counterinsurgency operations in the Mekong Delta. Seventeen OV-10As were upgraded to OV-10Ds, which featured a unique night observation and target-marking system that included forward-looking infrared and laser designator/ranger. To accommodate the added weight, the OV-10D was equipped with more powerful turboprop engines and fiberglass propellers. Other improvements increased the Bronco’s range and survivability. In 1988, Rockwell, which previously had merged with North American Aviation, received a contract to update 14 D models and convert 23 OV-10As with new avionics, a new electrical system and structural improvements. The upgraded aircraft were re-designated OV-10D+ and, along with the Marines’ OV-10As, were the last Broncos to see combat, serving in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. A total of 271 OV-10As were built, with 157 going to the Air Force and 114 to the Marine Corps. Internationally, 18 OV-10s were delivered to West Germany, 32 to Thailand, and 16 each to Venezuela and Indonesia. Broncos also were transferred from the U.S. military to the air forces of Morocco, Colombia and the Philippines. In all, North American—and, later, North American Rockwell—built 360 Broncos before production ended in 1977. The U.S. Air Force retired its last Broncos in 1991. The aircraft served with the Marine Corps until 1995. Broncos continue to be used for civilian roles. Thirteen are operated by California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention as forward air controllers directing other firefighting aircraft. NASA also has operated three Broncos for a variety of research projects including acoustics and wake vortex turbulence. Underscoring the quality of the Bronco’s original design and engineering, Boeing several years ago offered an updated version with a glass cockpit, called the OV-10X, in response to the U.S. Air Force’s laterterminated OA-X Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance competition. n michael.j.lombard i@boeing.com Photos: (Far left) A U.S. Marine Corps OV-10D+ model is shown in flight, following upgrade from OV-10A configuration. Boeing Arc hives (Above) North American Aviation delivered a total of 157 OV-10As to the U.S. Air Force. Boeing
Frontiers June 2015 Issue
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