L2VMA and LARA (Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft) designs

[overscan (PaulMM)]

The Douglas proposal for the U.S.Navy requirement for COIN (1963), the D-855, envisages an aircraft of relatively conventional configuration powered by two T74 or T76 turboprops underslung on a shoulder-mounted wing, a retractable nose-wheel undercarriage, and two crew members seated in tandem ahead of the wing. Six fully-equipped troops or a 6,000-lb. (2,722-kg) payload may be accommodated by the fuselage, and weapons loads will be carried on five hard points, a 1,400-lb. (635-kg) capacity hard point being provided on the fuselage centreline, a 1,200-lb. (544-kg) hard point being situated beneath each wing root, and two 600-lb. (272-kg) points being positioned just in- board of the wingtips. A maximum speed of approximately 230 m.p.h. (370 km/h) is anticipated, minimum speed being 75 m.p.h. (121 km/h), and a 50-ft. (15.2-m) obstacle will be cleared on take-off within 750 ft. (229 m).

Flying Review International, 1963 via Ton Meynders, http://www.airwarfareforum.com

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

The counter-insurgency proposal put forward by Beech Aircraft for the U.S.Navy (1963), the PD-183, is rather orthodox in appearance and is a clean, mid-wing monoplane with two PT6A turboprops underslung on the wing, and tandem seating for the two crew members. Empty and loaded weights are 5,255 lb. (2,370 kg) and 9,800 lb. (4,445 kg) respectively, estimated maximum speed with full armament will be 276 m.p.h. (444 km/h), cruise speeds vary from 193 a m.p.h. (310 km/h) to 232 m.p.h. (373 km/h) depending on mission, and minimum 15 flying speed will be of the order of 60-70 m.p.h. (96-113 km/h). All fuel is carried in fuselage tanks, and the aircraft will be capable of operating from LPH-type in carriers without arrester gear or catapult. There are six underwing attachment points for weapons, and in addition to the two-man crew, three paratroops or stretcher casualties may be carried.

Flying Review International, 1963 via Ton Meynders, http://www.airwarfareforum.com

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Designated Model 48, the General Dynamics COIN proposal (U.S. Navy 1963) is for a twin-boom aircraft with a shoulder- mounted wing, a retractable nose-wheel undercarriage and two Canadian Pratt and Whitney T-74 (PT6A) turboprops with Garrett AiResearch T76 turboprops as alternatives. The two crew members are seated in tandem ground-level ejector seats, and external armament hard points are provided on the fuselage centreline, on the port and starboard lower fuselage edges, and beneath the wingtips, these carrying Mk.4 20-mm. cannon pods, Mk.81 or Mk.83 bombs, Mk.77 fire bombs, LAU 10/A, 3A/A or 32A/A rocket pods, M60C machine guns, or Sidewinder missiles. A personnel pod may accommodate six paratroops, three casualty stretchers, or a 2,000-Ib. (907 kg) cargo load. Estimated performance includes maximum and maxi- mum cruise speeds of 288 m.p.h. (463 km/h) and 230 m.p.h. (370 km/h).

Flying Review International, 1963 via Ton Meynders, http://www.airwarfareforum.com

 

[hesham]

Hi,

Also for LARA program,the Grumman G-340,a tandem two
seat Mohawk.

 

[hesham]

By the way,

The Hiller project for LARA which was displayed before by
the member Dronte ,was called K16.

 

[SmithW6079]

I'm still fairly new at posting here and thought I would try to contribute something. I would not want to infringe on anyone's copyright, but I thought many of you would be interested in reading about the development of the OV-10 Bronco. The article itself is fascinating, with some great photos. Enjoy! If there are problems with the link, please let me know.

http://www.volanteaircraft.com/ov-10.htm

 

[Rickshaw]

Just found a very interesting account of the development of the OV-10 here. Interesting, alternative armament proposals included a 106mm recoilless rifle with automatic loading:

With this image from the China Lake test facility:

 

[joncarrfarrelly]

Lockheed Cl-760 images from the May 25, 1964 Aviation Week & Space Technology.
The article on the CL-760 is fairly long and gives extensive details of the proposed aircraft.

More LARA info from 1964 AWSTs to follow. ;D

Cheers, Jon

 

[yasotay]

At the risk of derailing the tread, it strikes me that replacing the wing and dynamic components with those of a BA-609 would make a rather smart multi-role airframe by today's standards. Interesting...what goes around, comes around.

 

[Just call me Ray]

I find it interesting that the Convair proposal was named "Charger." It, along with the Bronco, makes you think if someone on the naming committee was a big fan of the American AFC West

 

[joncarrfarrelly]

I find it interesting that the Convair proposal was named "Charger." It, along with the Bronco, makes you think if someone on the naming committee was a big fan of the American AFC West

The Broncos and Chargers were still AFL teams in the early sixties.

Cheers, Jon

 

[Just call me Ray]

I find it interesting that the Convair proposal was named "Charger." It, along with the Bronco, makes you think if someone on the naming committee was a big fan of the American AFC West

The Broncos and Chargers were still AFL teams in the early sixties.

Cheers, Jon

Oh yeah, forgot that

 

[Pioneer]

I think I once read somewhere (? Sorry I can not remember the source) that Beech with the French aviation company ‘Sud’ offered a variant of its Sud SE-117 Voltigeur (‘Skirmisher’) to the LARA competition.
Can anyone confirm this?

Regards
Pioneer

 

[weirc]

Hi, NASA flight test report on the prototype Charger NASA TN D-4141

(Cant seem to post a url link sorry)

Colin

 

[blackkite]

Hi! You copy url here then set cursor at the top of url and press 'Insert Hyperlink' bottom.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

ntrs.nasa.gov

 

[blackkite]

Sorry! Press 'Insert Hyperlink' button.

 

[hesham]

Hi,

the Kaman K-16A,which later submitted by Hiller for LARA;

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%200617.html

 

[hesham]

Hi,

I think the Vought V.458 and V.472 were submitted to this tender.

 

[fightingirish]

Lockheed CL-760
[...]

Picture of the Lockheed CL-760 in colour or recoloured.
Source: Ares Blog - COIN Then and Now - LARA vs LAAR - by Graham Warwick (9/22/2009)

 

[Pioneer]

Hi,

I think the Vought V.458 and V.472 were submitted to this tender.

Interesting!!! ???

If so it would be very interesting to see what they would have come up with!!!!!

Do you have drawings of these designs?

Regards
Pioneer

 

[hesham]

Sorry Pioneer,

I have not.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Know what guys? I have a rollout coin for the Charger...I wonder how much that would fetch.

 

[Stargazer]

Know what guys? I have a rollout coin for the Charger...I wonder how much that would fetch.

Pun intended?? ;D

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

It actually says "FIRST COIN AIRCRAFT" on the other side.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Hi All -

Thanks to a friend, I have some scans of the Convair Model 48 Charger from the San Diego Air & Space Museum archives.

Enjoy! Mark

 

[Mark Nankivil]

...and a few more....

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[Stargazer]

Great pics, thanks!

Anyone with some interest with COIN programs in general, and the Charger in particular, really ought to get hold of this treasure:

Don't know if it's still available, but some aviation bookshops probably still store it.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

You can order it direct:

http://www.ginterbooks.com/Order/Order.htm

 

[Skyraider3D]

Great post!

Does anybody know if there are any books dedicated to the LARA projects as a whole (rather than individual aircraft)?

 

[Sundog]

Great post!

Does anybody know if there are any books dedicated to the LARA projects as a whole (rather than individual aircraft)?

Not that I'm aware of, but I think Scott Lowther had a manual for the Lockheed variant, but I don't recall. Search here and you will find many of the LARA submissions.

 

[AeroFranz]

Actually it's the Martin proposal. Good stuff

 

[Skyraider3D]

Yes I have Scott's excellent Martin COIN proposal document, it's awesome. I had seen it on eBay at the time and badly wanted it, but couldn't justify buying it then. I'm glad it landed in good hands
The Naval Fighters book on the Charger is great too and this originally sparked my interest in the LARA program.

 

[Stargazer]

I would love to see a book on the COIN/LARA programs... with the Lockheed, Martin, Beechcraft, Douglas and Goodyear projects...

 

[Abraham Gubler]

It would be a very interesting book as the LARA project was basically devised by two USMC aviators at China Lake - Col. K.P. Rice (who designed the triple ejector rack) and Maj. William Beckett - who even started building their own prototype before the project was turned into a major quad service acquisition. Of course USAF managed to destroy the projects intent from inside as it would have undermined much of their air concept and perceived monopoly. The main idea of the LARA being a short wingspan and highly simple to fly and maintain aircraft that can be attached to infantry battalions and other units like a jeep or a small boat. The OV-10 is a great plane but it’s no LARA.

 

[AeroFranz]

Some very nice background info here

http://www.volanteaircraft.com/l2vma.htm

 

[Pioneer]

Has anyone got a 3-view drawing of the Grumman Model 134R????

Regards
Pioneer

 

[Mark Nankivil]

An interesting article from the defunct Air Progress, August 1966 on LARA.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[AeroFranz]

Good stuff - thanks Mark.

 

[Skyraider3D]

Nice one!

 

[elmayerle]

An interesting article from the defunct Air Progress, August 1966 on LARA.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

Very interesting article; I especially aprpeciated it for the 3-view of the transport version which I definitely want to model.