March 16, 2004 at 8:12 pm
Does anyone think that there are any aircraft that have went out of production that should be put on the assembly lines again. Are there any capabilities that were lost at the end of the production run. Personally i think that the Skyhawk, F5 Tiger, P3 Orion and OV10 Bronco should be returned to the production line. They all offer capabilities that aren’t matched today, mostly due to price in the first two choices.The Skyhawk is still a supreme ground attack plane and supremely cheap and already westernised which appeals to many.
The F5 was and is a phenomenal success story and was inexpensive the first time around. New build planes need minimal changes in electronics and will be capaable of providing the attack recon and A2A capabilities that many countries want and have to make do with obsolete Russian craft like the MiG21.
The P3 Orion has been out of production for sometime and all that fly are in various states of upgrade or are starting to reach retirement age. They have proved their excellent capabilities and the adaptability of the airframe.
The OV10 is an underestimated type and would be suited to todays world of anti-terrorism and anti-drug warfare. It provides capabilities superior to any helicopter when kitted out properly and also is able to carry a couple of Sidewinders and parachute in a few troops or small cargoes