The infantry are the most important branch of the military in existence. No armed force is complete without them, and every branch serves to make them more effective. The Air Force is no exception, despite what the fighter jocks want you to think. Ground attack planes are held in great esteem by the boys and girls on the ground. Now is your chance to make a plane just for that challenge.
The entries will be judged by low-speed handling and maneuvrability (below 450mph) with a full load, endurnace (no XML-modded fuel is allowed, aircraft must fly from Bandit to Tarpley with 25% fuel), takeoff distance with full load (shorter the better and must take off from Bandit), and must have 11 hardpoints, eight which must be able to carry rockets. If external tanks are to be used, 10 of these hard points must be open to ordnance. Cockpit visibility must be good enough for a pilot to manually aim and fire upon ground targets, and the pilot should be able to see the runway on takeoff and landing.
XML-modded and beta parts are allowed. External drop tanks are allowed, although aircraft must have 10 hardpoints open for munitions if they are to be used. Bonus if you have a good story. If you need XML-modded flaps, this aircraft has them on the inside. To enter, simply upvote. Aircraft must be linked in the comments or made a successor. To link an aircraft, use this format: [words in blue](URL link to plane). This is so I can enter both PC and Beta users. Due date is 5/24/2016. Or for the EU people, 24/5/2016.
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Predecessor Pummeler A-1B
- Successors 6 airplane(s) +140 bonus
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 32.5ft (9.9m)
- Length 25.8ft (7.9m)
- Height 12.0ft (3.6m)
- Empty Weight 7,567lbs (3,432kg)
- Loaded Weight 11,001lbs (4,990kg)
Performance
- Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.181
- Wing Loading 48.9lbs/ft2 (238.8kg/m2)
- Wing Area 225.0ft2 (20.9m2)
- Drag Points 2658
Parts
- Number of Parts 70
- Control Surfaces 7
- Performance Cost 481
Too late :(
Dang it!! I'm too late. Literally just built one today. Didn't know this challenge was going on lol
@HarperAstrionics Such is unfortunate.
@TheRemesy We called it ugly. However, as this is a ground attack plane, good looks are not necessary, and performance matters most. Based on our results, it performed better than the venerable Pummeler in some respects. When equipped with the Mk 2 propeller fitted to the Pummeler, it was faster than the Pummeler under similar loads. However, a huge issue was the relatively narrow landing gear and poor cockpit visibility that made landings substantially more difficult than the Pummeler.
The main issue that kept it from procurement was the fact it was so similar to an aircraft that we already had built tens of thousands of. Why buy a large number of new planes and go through the hassle of training new pilots and ground crew, when we have an excess of airframes, parts, and experienced pilots and ground crew for a plane similar to it. As these trials are performance trials, no official orders are to be expected. While all branches present were no doubt impressed by the type, they felt that continuing to field a system which they have plenty of experience and parts with is better than spending millions of dollars on procurement, spares, and training for a system that is marginally better.
Because the Pilotmario Armed Forces were quite impressed, we may have you tied with DragonAerotech's entry (Drag A-8) if it was not for the fact that the type impressed the Army and Coast Guard. The Army sought a two-seat observation airplane to supplant helicopters and the Coast Guard wanted a twin-engine two-seat aircraft that could replace the venerable Twin Pummeler Mk 2. They saw potential in this machine and had to go through political loopholes in order to obtain them.
To be honest, the version (or the Bandit Aerospace variant) of his machine that was procured, known as the Aerotech-Bandit Surveyor Mk 2, features significant changes to the airframe. But as it was the original Drag A-8 Carnivore that impressed the Army and Coast Guard observers sufficiently to warrant further development and local production, your machine lost to his in any sort of ranking.
I never intended for a winner, but as Geekpride asked for a winner, I decided to pick one. Your design was not bad (it was one of the best). However, DragonAerotech's design was the only one that led to a procurement contract in what are supposed to be performance trial (trials done in order to compare the equipment of other countries to yours without intent of procurement of tested equipment).
You did come
Your plane, as reviewed, was very good. It was very similar to the well-regarded Pummeler, and unsurprisingly received very high marks. It came second place because no procurement contract was established, unlike DragonAerotech's entry. Ironically, the very reason it received such high marks was the reason why nobody was interested in procurement. We have large numbers of Pummelers in reserve and the Pummeler was still produced in not insignificant numbers. It would not make sense to buy an entirely new plane when we already have excess of a plane like it. @TheRemesy
W00t! :-D My first challenge victory! lol
@CaptainRod If you wish to have me declare a winner, it would be @DragonAerotech. Nobody's designs impressed the Pilotmario Air Force enough to result in any orders. However, his design impressed the Pilotmario Army and Pilotmario Coast Guard sufficiently that they ordered a variant of the aircraft under license production from Bandit Aircraft Group.
So who won?
My final entry as today is the judging day here. Good luck to all
@Liquidfox Your report, sir. Report here.
@ElGatoVolador Your report, sir. Report here.
@Liquidfox Your aircraft is disqualified until the following modifications are made:
Removal of modded fuel tank.
@Pilotmario alright sorry for bothering you.
I will. Reports are time consuming and my schedule is busy. @ElGatoVolador
@Pilotmario ,will you be reviewing my plane or not? I would really like to know.
My Entrie
Did you get my latest entry? Or did the link not work?
@Pilotmario Okay I already did "Walrus 5"
@TehNewDucky Yes.
@TheMajesticWalrus Yep.
Also can I make a second entry?
Now, when you say they must be able to carry rockets do they necessarily have to at this time? If so, I have a jet for you.
@Pilotmario
I've put my Onager up as a successor. That's going to be my last entry unless you highlight a need for some minor changes.
I've also got a load of planes that didn't make the grade. I'd like to wait until after the challenge closes and upload them with comments about why I rejected them. They were all made as successors, so do you mind getting a load of random notifications, or would you rather I changed them to not being successors?
Well Heres my entry