CAS, which stands for ‘close air support’, is an essential part of modern combat. Although CAS can be carried out by fighters and bombers, purpose build attack airplanes and helicopters accel at providing air support. An aircraft that is specialized in ground attack is truly a force to be reconned with.

What is a HVY CAS aircraft?
I challenge you to build your own CAS aircraft. However, not just any CAS aircraft; a heavy CAS aircraft. But… What does that mean?

An attack aircraft is a military aircraft capable of carrying out airstrikes with great precision, while being capable of enduring heavy air defences. The definition of a heavy attack aircraft is a little harder to pin down. Historically, heavy attack aircraft were light-bombers adapted to the ground attack role. Think of the A-26 or the IL-28Sh.

However, I propose to allow a lot more freedom than this historic HVY CAS aircraft. Your heavy attack aircraft should conform to the following requirements:

• Either an airplane or helicopter.
• A minimum of two engines, these can be any engine and even two different types of engines.
• Subsonic.
• Plenty of air to ground munitions.
• Plenty of countermeasures (for modern aircraft).
• At least some capacity to fight of enemy aircraft (Examples: AIM’s or turrets).
• A fuselage designed to withstand hits from small arms fire for an extended period of time.

Even with these requirements, what is and what isn’t a heavy attack aircraft is still a bit blurry. I would like to invite you to embrace this; it allows for more freedom.

Rules for this challenge:
- Must be a successor to this post!
- Please stick to the HVY CAS aircraft requirements.
- No more than 750 parts.
- Preferably no modded parts (XML modding is fine. Build that require me to download a mod will be ignored.)
- Feel free to submit up to 3 builds.
- In the description of your creation, please include the controls and the design philosophy / lore behind of aircraft.
- Please abstain from infinite fuel.

Factors that play a role on scooring:
- The looks of your creation.
- The flight model of your creation.
- The concept behind your creation; what is the lore behind your aircraft, in what way would it be used during combat, etc.
- How unique is your creation?
- The overall build quality (think of part efficiency, etc).
- How well does your aircraft perform as an attack aircraft?
- The description of your build.

Bonus points for:
- Non-replicas: custom creations will always be cooler than replicas in my eyes.
- The capability to take off and land on rough terrain is a plus.
- Realistic flight models.
- Realistic design: feel free to XML mod anything, but I personally value believable weight, speed, and weapons.

Deadline has passed, challenge is now closed.

Awards / After the deadline:
Once all builds have been submitted, I plan on livestreaming while I check out and comment on the submitted creations. I will do this on my YouTube channel.
At some point after this livestream, I will upload a video to my YouTube channel showcasing some of the best, coolest and most unique submissions. I will probably do this in a style similair to this video.

Ofcourse, all builds submitted will receive an upvote.