North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco

The OV-10 Bronco is a turboprop-driven, versatile, relatively inexpensive light cargo and attack aircraft. It is prized for its versatility, survivability, ruggedness, good handling, wide field of view, cargo handling, short-field ability, low operational costs and ease of maintenance.

It can perform short take-offs and landings on aircraft carriers without using catapults. The cockpit has extremely good visibility for a tandem pilot and co-pilot provided by a wrap-around 'greenhouse.' With the second seat removed, it can carry 3,200 pounds of cargo, five paratroopers or two litter patients and an attendant. Its rear fuselage compartment can carry 3,200 pounds of cargo, five combat-equipped troops, or two litter patients and a medical attendant. The bottom of the fuselage contains a rail with four hard points to carry bombs, pods or fuel. The wings outboard of the engines contain two additional hard points.

A number of Broncos are in civilian use, as air-ambulances, bush aircraft, fire-fighting platforms, and camera platforms.

Visually, it has a central nacelle containing pilots and cargo, and twin booms containing twin turboprop engines. The visually-distinctive item of the aircraft is the combination of the twin booms, with the horizontal stabilizer that connects them.

It was first acquired by the U.S. Marine Corps. The Bronco performed observation, forward air control, helicopter escort, armed reconnaissance, gunfire spotting, utility light air transport and limited ground attack.

The USAF acquired the Bronco primarily as a forward air control (FAC) aircraft.

The Bronco has also performed aerial radiological reconnaissance, tactical air observation, artillery and naval gunfire spotting and airborne control of tactical air support operations, and front line, low-level aerial photography.

The first USAF OV-10As for combat arrived in Vietnam on July 31, 1968. At least 157 OV-10As were delivered to the USAF before production ended in April 1969.

Each of the Marine Corps' two observation squadrons had 18 aircraft, 9 OV-10As and 9 OV-10Ds night observation aircraft. There was also a Marine Air Reserve squadron. The OV-10 was phased out of the Marine Corps in 1995.

The OV-10 Night Observation Gunship (NOGS) was an OV-10A modified by the U.S. Marine Corps to include a turreted forward-looking infra-red (FLIR) sensor and turreted M-197 20-mm gun slaved to the FLIR aimpoint. NOGS succeeded in Vietnam. NOGS evolved into the NOS OV-10D, which included a laser designator.

Although the United States no longer flies the Bronco, other countries continue to operate it. It is in the active inventory of the Philippines, Colombia and Thailand.