Rutan Firebird U/MCAV: U.S. Army CAS-MAS Candidate

[ricglos]

Looks like a pusher version of the OV-10 Bronco, with extended wings-minus one motor....... You can remote control ALMOST any aircraft! Just imagine being a kamakaze pilot with 50 missions, sorta wonder if they would give out medals for this type of warfare.

[trottheblackdog]

I understand your need to talk about the need for your a/c, but to use the word "murder" is wrong. Murder implies intentional motive. i.e., you are saying that the US intentionally meant to murder civilians. I know you don't really mean that but words DO mean things.

[dynmicpara]

@trottheblackdog 1. This ISN"T MY AIRCRAFT. 2. YES, the CIA and other Nazi Neocons running AFPAK INTEND TO MURDER CIVILIANS who they deem as "ragheads". I'm fed up with their war crimes smearing the formerly good name of America--as you should be, too.

[FrapsYou]

looks like A10's son.

[MultiIPwnage]

You guys and your morals.

You all are weak

[komagically]

thats a sweet plane

[djcahill4]

So what happened?

[ChicaWolverina]

Beautiful plane!

[Jcthor96]

U should be jealous lol thats my uncles dad :D

[tbilisicentral]

there is something A-10ish about its fuselage design. its an interesting concept though, perfect for monitoring taliban supply routes. raises a notch in the notion of a "man-in-the-loop". although limiting civilian casualties would be hard without having boots on the ground. and even with that, there is always a chance of civs getting caught up in a crossfire. especialy when the enemy is not uniformed.

[Ag3nt0fCha0s]

Interesting.

However, where it may be acceptable for a point defense interceptor, or even a fighter to have a single engine, I'd say that Murphy's law has that much more time to apply itself in a 40 hour flight (not to mention that the enemy may forcibly object to the aircraft's presence) and so this plane should be twin engined.

But that's just my opinion, and I'm no aerospace engineer.

[dynmicpara]

@Ag3nt0fCha0s Your thoughtful remarks are always welcome; you are asking the right questions and pay attention to the facts.

[IWannabeJew]

Add weapons and you've got the OV-10 Bronco again! Revisiting old tech, as with the M-14 battle rifle.

[Richard5sf]

Bring back the OV-10 Bronco.

[dynmicpara]

@Richard5sf Boeing is offering an OV-10X; but there has to be a BUREAUCRACY and community of military pilots to fight for fixed-wing O/A planes; why do you think the fighter-bomber jocks and rotorheads forced out O/A planes since they are a threat to their rackets? You can remind them THEY will be the ones flying the O/A til you are blue in their face. Their weak egos cannot tolerate the thought that their fighters or helos are not the answer to everything. UAVs are work-arounds to pilot egos

[rcvideogamer]

this looks promising