Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Profiles and Pixels => Topic started by: Acree on June 09, 2016, 03:06:37 PM

Title: LARA Competition
Post by: Acree 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

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: Tophe on June 09, 2016, 11:20:54 PM

Thanks!
Of course, my favourite is Martin's twin-boomer :-*

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: Old Wombat on June 10, 2016, 12:52:31 AM

My tastes trend towards the Beech, the Douglas & the Grumman. :)

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: AXOR on June 10, 2016, 02:45:35 AM

Interesting....I prefer OV-1 F,looks really great. :)

Alex

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 10, 2016, 05:07:48 AM

 :)

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: apophenia on June 11, 2016, 12:17:16 PM

Great stuff ... but that Goodyear Goblin really takes the cake!  :)

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 12, 2016, 03:33:22 AM

It was something:

(http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/AI/AI64-9/20-2.jpg)
(http://www.combatreform.org/GA39LARA.jpg)

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: Acree 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. 

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: Tophe 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...

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: dy031101 on June 12, 2016, 01:19:57 PM

Is the GA-39 a seaplane?

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: Acree 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). 

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: Brian da Basher 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

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: apophenia 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

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: elmayerle 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.

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: Acree 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.

Title: Re: LARA Competition
Post by: Gingie 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!