(1-7) release underwing stores. The Dragon Aerospace A-9A and trainer variant, T-5A, Guardian Angel, is a Paternian-made single-seat turboprop-powered basic trainer and light attack aircraft, designed to supplant, and eventually replace, the A-1 Pummeler series that has been in production since 1940.
The Pummeler series was perhaps one of Paternia's most successful aircraft designs of all time. With over 140,000 made, serving in numerous major air forces and fulfilling a plethora to tasks, the Pummeler was an unquestionable success. It was the primary aircraft of the Paternian Air Force's numerous attack and trainer squadrons. However, by 1985, the Paternian Air Force realized the Pummeler was a dated design, and a new aircraft was needed.
Initially, the PDI A-2 Boar project sought to replace the Pummeler, but instead became a heavy attacker that supplanted, rather than than replace it. The Liberty Systems AT-12 Anvil, produced under license by Bandit and designated A-6A Anvil, seemed a likely candidate. However, a war between Paternia and Awwam broke out, and under wartime stress, the large number of Pummelers available, and the need to standardize on one type, resulted in the early demise of the Anvil.
While the Pummeler gave surprisingly effective service during the conflict, it was realized that it was Awwam's lack of effective short-mid range air defense assets as well as the dominance of the Paternian Air Force over the Awwami Royal Air Force that allowed the Pummeler to survive. The type was due for retirement, to be replaced by the A-8 Hawk II.
However, in overseas operations to suppress the TGLA in North Africa, the Pummeler proved to be an effective counter-insurgency aircraft. However, the design still showed its age; the use of traditional landing gear made training new pilots for the type made it challenging to take off and land, the high-performance radial engines were beginning to wear out from extensive use, and older aircraft with over 150,000 flight hours were encountering structural issues. This was not helped by the fact that much of the fleet by now were what is known as "Frankenplanes"; aircraft whose major assemblies came from other aircraft, often built in the field.
A limited modernization in the form of the A-1I was undertaken, improving strength with new alloys and composites, employing refurbished engines from a recently-discovered cache, new flying surfaces, and a glass, fully electronic cockpit. The A-1K was a far more serious uprade, featuring tricycle landing gear. However, it was clear that the Pummeler has reach the pinnacle of its development, and a new type was needed.
It was decided that any replacement for the type must be a comparable machine, with the A-8 Hawk II taking the role of close air support in environments where the Pummeler could not survive, while the new aircraft would serve as a counter-insurgency aircraft.
Thus, an evaluative study was put forth in order to find a replacement, whether locally or foreign-made. After some trials, the Dragon Aerospace design was chosen, entering service as the A-9A and the T-5A. It was given the name "Guardian Angel", a homage to the Pummeler's service.
The type was well-liked on introduction, the Paternian Air Force envisions the type will finally replace the Pummeler in active service, and will be exported widely and see many future upgrades.
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Successors 2 airplane(s)
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 35.5ft (10.8m)
- Length 28.8ft (8.8m)
- Height 13.1ft (4.0m)
- Empty Weight 6,233lbs (2,827kg)
- Loaded Weight 9,975lbs (4,524kg)
Performance
- Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.3
- Wing Loading 20.1lbs/ft2 (98.1kg/m2)
- Wing Area 496.3ft2 (46.1m2)
- Drag Points 3408
Parts
- Number of Parts 139
- Control Surfaces 13
- Performance Cost 791
@JakeTheDogg The aircraft, of course, had an Awwami IFF transponder onboard, in order to keep it from getting shot down. This was because Awwami forces had a tendency to shoot down any Pummeler, regardless of operator. Because to the average Awwami soldier, Pummeler = Azrael (angel of death in Islam). As a result, a standing order was given that any captured aircraft be fitted with two transponders at all times in case one malfunctions due to misrepair or damage.
Awwami air defense had difficulty bringing it down due to this; the IFF system tells the anti-aircraft systems not to shoot it down. This of course can be overridden manually, but that takes some time and is not a procedure frequently done. Some units have even disabled this feature in order to prevent accidental blue-on-blue.
Also, then-Lt. Vickers is a very skilled pilot. She knows how to fly in such a way to make it very difficult to shoot down with a fighter.
The air-cooled T2000 has a relatively low engine heat compared to the hot jet exhaust it was designed to track, and flying at treetop level (or in some cases, beneath treetop level) makes it very difficult to track with radar. Flying under the radar is a very common tactic among Pummeler pilots, a technique taught in training.
@MemeKingIndustriesAndMegaCorporation That is odd that they would paint Awwami aircraft in Paternian markings. Although we do use captured equipment simply because it's easier to replenish your stock of weapons by taking it from your enemies than by sending it from a base far away, aircraft such as fighters are not used.
@MemeKingIndustriesAndMegaCorporation That is probable. However, Col. Vickers remembers escaping from an Awwami POW camp with two others by stealing a guard's uniform and having one of them escort the other two outside for "special treatment".
The ruse nearly worked until an alert was sounded. They made their way to the airfield, where they found to their surprise, an Echo Pummeler in Awwami Air Force markings. They commandeered the aircraft and refuelled it and with her in the cockpit and the other two in the fuselage, they flew away, reaching her unit.
@Pilotmario Most likely TGLA trying to copy us, like they always do, And we have seen our own aircraft with Paternian markings flying near our Airspace usually, Despite not having recorded those aircraft.
@MemeKingIndustriesAndMegaCorporation Now it seems to us that the aircraft they were referring to was a Golf Pummeler, which is a twin-seat version of the Echo.
@MemeKingIndustriesAndMegaCorporation Let's call it dated.
The main reason why we are replacing the Pummeler is because it uses the T2000 engine, which no other airplane in our inventory uses, it uses taildragger than tricycle landing gear, and a lot of the fleet is aging.
Not that we haven't tried to remedy the issues. T3000 engines have been tested experimentally and were successful, but it was deemed not worth the cost of converting the rest of the fleet. The Kilo Pummeler uses tricycle landing gear, but the narrow track makes it less suited to rough fields that the taildragger-geared India could easily use. And we've continued to build the Pummeler (and still do), although on a lesser scale. Older aircraft also received numerous refurbishments.
The Paternian Air Force does record several instances where they encountered "rogue" Pummelers with contradictory markings regarding the unit origin or of a particular unit that was not flying in the area that day. It is believed that some Paternian Air Force Pummelers were retained in their original markings and used to infiltrate Paternian Air Force Pummeler formations in order to report their positions and altitudes.
The practice was initially successful, but soon developed and established procedures to warn off, and then shoot down, "strangers" attempting to join the formation. The "wild card" aircraft of the flights were responsible for this task.
It seems the type has also been used in liaison and reconnaissance roles, of course painted in full Awwami Air Force colors. A report from your TF6 noted the following:
"On [Date Redacted], we have mounted a raid on [Redacted] Valley, near the town of [Redacted] in Turkey. The raid was highly successful, and yielded great intelligence. However, our most interesting find was a two-seat Pummeler of the Echo variant. The type was in full Awwami markings, and there was no indication that it was painted on recently. It seems to have been constructed from the parts of two different airframes near Pakistan."
@Pilotmario long ago, yeah lol it somewhat is technologically.
@Liquidfox Thanks!
@MemeKingIndustriesAndMegaCorporation lol didn't you call the Pummeler a "pile of junk?"
@MemeKingIndustriesAndMegaCorporation Lol
Nooooooo Pummeler >.< 😞 Rip
Thanks! @Treadmill103
@XxcreedexX Nice!