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Second pilot ejected and survived, and the crash is under investigation.
On June 22, an A-29 Super Tucano participating in the US Air Force's Light Attack Experiment (OA-X) program crashed while flying over the Red Rio Bombing Range—part of the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. US Navy Lt. Christopher Carey Short, from Canandaigua, New York, died in the crash. Another pilot ejected and suffered only minor injuries.
The Super Tucano, a joint entry into the OA-X program by Brazil's Embraer and Sierra Nevada Corporation, is one of two aircraft designs being tested as part of the second phase of OA-X by pilots attached to the Air Force's 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base. The goal of the testing is to determine whether the aircraft matches the Air Force's needs for flying close air support and reconnaissance missions for combat and counterinsurgency in "uncontested environments" (that is, operational areas where the enemy lacks air defenses). Such a niche is currently occupied by the A-10 and other more advanced aircraft.
The flight over the Red Rio range was one of multiple scenario test missions, including close air support, combat search and rescue, and "armed overwatch" (combat reconnaissance). Both the A-29 and the other aircraft being flown in the OA-X tests—the Textron Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine—are turboprop aircraft based on similar versions of Pratt & Whitney's PT6A-68 engine.
[...] The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and no preliminary findings have been released. In a statement, an Embraer spokesperson said, "The SNC/Embraer team is fully cooperating with the USAF in its investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available."
Related: Air Force Tests Two Turboprops as Potential A-10 "Replacements"
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday June 27 2018, @09:43PM (3 children)
Everything you are talking about is PARTS. Re-engines, new gear, new avionics.
You solve that by an fixing all the design and operational issues with the parts and maintenance issues with the A-10,
and run them all though the referb line again. Worst case you start the production line.
We'got more A10s sitting in bone yards than most countries have in their entire air fleet.
The big problem with A10s is they don't travel well. You can't slap 5 of them in a C5 Galaxy and fly them where you need them.
Most aren't equipped for air refuel, and its so slow the trans-ocean flight is grueling.
So you end up sending by surface ship.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by IndigoFreak on Thursday June 28 2018, @12:20AM (2 children)
I came in to ask this question. And it's slightly related to this particular thread.
Why do we spend so much money making a new type of aircraft? Did the plans for the A-10 burn up in some warehouse fire? Why when planes start to age and maintenance becomes too costly do we not just make a brand new one instead of going back through craptons of testing a new plane model that has never flown before? I have a hard time believing we can't just start throwing together brand new A-10's and have to absolutely design and build a new different one.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 28 2018, @02:08AM
military industrial complex pork barrel
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday June 28 2018, @05:18AM
The Air Force has been trying to kill the A-10 almost since the day it was released.
They hate it because its not fast and sexy and it makes their pilots fly low and slow instead of streaking across the sky above 40,000 feet. The only reason it is still in the inventory is because the Army and the Marines raise a shitstorm of protest (including 4 star generals calling the Air Force cowards to their face behind closed doors).
The last thing the Air Force wants is that production line restarted.
They want their shiny new F-35s But if they can't get them fast enough they will try to split Close Air Support off and maybe hand it to the Marines (but not the Army) at the end of this OA-X competition.
They will try to keep tank busting as their private bailiwick (from 30,000 feet).
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.