Author Topic: LARA Competition  (Read 6349 times)

Offline Acree

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LARA Competition
« on: June 09, 2016, 03:06:37 PM »
The Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft competition was a US Tri-service (USAF, US Navy, and US Army) competition to what would be termed a counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft.  The competition ended in August, 1964 with North American Aviation being declared the winner with their NA-300 that became the OV-10 Bronco.  No competitor actually built a prototype until the competition was over, when North American began production of 7 YOV-10s. Convair did build a prototype of their Model 47 Charger whilst they protested the competition results.

I decided to do a little WHIF exercise along the lines of "What if one of the other competitors had actually won?"  The profiles below show my take on this idea.  Each of the profiles represents one of the seven competitor that made it past the first round of elimination (plus the Goodyear proposal which, though it was eliminated early was too fascinating not to show).  Hope you enjoy my wild imaginings! 

Chuck

Offline Tophe

  • He sees things in double...
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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2016, 11:20:54 PM »
Thanks!
Of course, my favourite is Martin's twin-boomer :-*

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2016, 12:52:31 AM »
My tastes trend towards the Beech, the Douglas & the Grumman. :)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline AXOR

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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2016, 02:45:35 AM »
Interesting....I prefer OV-1 F,looks really great. :)

Alex
Alex

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2016, 05:07:48 AM »
 :)
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline apophenia

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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2016, 12:17:16 PM »
Great stuff ... but that Goodyear Goblin really takes the cake!  :)
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2016, 03:33:22 AM »
It was something:


All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Acree

  • That will teach you to frustrate the powers that be...won't it comrade?
  • Sentenced to time in the BTS Gulag...
Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2016, 12:04:02 PM »
Thanks guys.  I agree that the Goodyear was quite unique - Goodyear seemed to be constantly on the fringe of practical aircraft.  BTW, the names I have given these aircraft (e.g., "Goblin") were just my personal picks (with the exception of the Charger). 

I agree with AXOR that the OV-1F is also my favorite, in terms of what's "realistic,"  but I think the Helio is a very sexy-looking plane. 

Offline Tophe

  • He sees things in double...
  • twin-boom & asymmetric fan
    • my models
Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2016, 12:47:32 PM »
It is funny that, from such a multiple gallery, so many favourites have been elected by different judges. But this is wonderful: no design is classified as uninteresting, bad...

Offline dy031101

  • Yuri Fanboy and making cute stuff practical- at least that's the plan anyway
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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2016, 01:19:57 PM »
Is the GA-39 a seaplane?
Forget about his bow and arrows- why wait until that sparrow has done his deed when I can just bury him right now 'cause I'm sick and tired of hearing why he wants to have his way with the cock robin!?

Offline Acree

  • That will teach you to frustrate the powers that be...won't it comrade?
  • Sentenced to time in the BTS Gulag...
Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2016, 01:26:22 PM »
The GA-39 was to be an amphibian with a single retractable hydro-ski and non-planing hull.  The entire airframe was to be made of "plastic" (whatever THAT means, specifically). 

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #11 on: June 13, 2016, 01:57:06 AM »
Great stuff, Acree! I'll be a bit contrarian and admit that my favorite is the USMC OV-10A. That canopy really makes it look sleek & dangerous!

Brian da Basher

Offline apophenia

  • Perversely enjoys removing backgrounds.
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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #12 on: June 13, 2016, 09:03:59 AM »
Thanks for posting the extra Goodyear stuff, Greg. I hadn't twigged that the Goblin was twin-engined! Definitely "on the fringe of practical"  :-\  But great fun anyway  :D
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline elmayerle

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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #13 on: June 13, 2016, 11:26:01 AM »
My taste would be the Grumman design, followed by the Martin one.  I think the Grumman one could be modeled using a Mohawk kit and a Pucara kit.

Offline Acree

  • That will teach you to frustrate the powers that be...won't it comrade?
  • Sentenced to time in the BTS Gulag...
Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2016, 02:31:41 PM »
I think you're right, Elmayerle, but I used the A10 N/AW two-seater as my model for the nose (sans gun, obviously). Might not scale properly, though.

Offline Gingie

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Re: LARA Competition
« Reply #15 on: June 13, 2016, 11:07:55 PM »
I really like the Lockheed design. Its like a Su-25 and a Pucara had a baby!