OV-10 Bronco The OV-10A was a twin-turboprop short takeoff and landing aircraft conceived by the U.S. Marine Corps and developed under a U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps tri-service program. The first production OV-10A was ordered in 1966, and its initial flight took place in August 1967. The Bronco's missions included observation, forward air control, helicopter escort, armed reconnaissance, gunfire spotting, utility and limited ground attack. The USAF, however, acquired the Bronco primarily as a forward air control aircraft. Adding to its versatility is a rear fuselage compartment with a capacity of 3,200 pounds of cargo, five combat-equipped troops or two litter patients and a medical attendant. The first USAF OV-10As destined for combat arrived in Vietnam in July 1968. A total of 157 OV-10As were delivered to the USAF before production ended in April 1969. SPECIFICATIONS Span: 40 ft. Length: 41 ft. 7 in. Height: 15 ft. 1 in. Weight: 14,444 lbs. maximum Armament: Four M60C 7.62mm machine guns in fuselage sponsons, plus 3,600 lbs. of mixed ordnance or gun pods carried externally Engines: Two Garrett-AiResearch T76s (-G-10, left; -G-12 right) of 715 shaft hp each Cost: $480,000 PERFORMANCE Maximum speed: 281 mph Cruising speed: 223 mph Range: 1,240 miles Service ceiling: 26,000 ft OV-10 BRONCO TAIL #67-14626 HISTORY The aircraft was manufactured by North American Aviation and delivered to the Air Force on June 27, 1968. Almost immediately the aircraft was disassembled, crated, and shipped by sea to South Vietnam. Upon arrival, it was reassembled and painted with its gray war paint and assigned to the 504th Tactical Air Support Group, Bien Hoa Airbase, South Vietnam. In 1975 the aircraft left southeast Asia and was assigned to Germany. In 1984 the aircraft returned to the states with an assignment at George AFB, California. In 1988 the aircraft moved to the east coast with an assignment to Shaw AFB, South Carolina and eventually dropped from the inventory in August 1991. The aircraft arrived at Hurlburt in January 2000 from Kelly AFB, Texas where it was utilized as a maintenance trainer. On February 16, 2000 the aircraft was placed on display in the Air Park.