Sep 162013
A new ground attack plane is actually being built in the US:
Seems like a reasonable design for a subsonic bushfighter, though the decision to have the engines in nacelles *that* close to the wings, but not faired into them, seems odd. That area looks draggy. At first glance it would seem that fairing that spot over wouldn’t increase drag but would decrease weight.
It has six underwing hardpoints and an internal payload bay. first flight is by the end of the year, pretty quick by normal aerospace standards (development began in early 2012). With the DoD buy a combat aircraft that was not developed to their specifications?
| Aircraft Length | 43 ft 6 in |
| Wingspan | 47 ft 4 in |
| Height | 14 ft 0 in |
| Standard Empty Weight | 11,800 lbs |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 21,250 lbs |
| Max Internal Fuel Load | 6,000 lbs |
| Max Internal Payload Bay | 3,000 lbs |
| Thrust | ~8,000 lbs |
| Max Speed | 450 KTAS |
| Service Ceiling | 45,000 ft |
| Ferry Range | 2,400 NM |
