Cessna builds a tactical jet
05-23-2010, 08:52 AM
#21
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05-25-2010, 08:53 AM
#22
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Well it's not dead yet. Disagreement is nothing new between branches of the Armed Forces. Hawker Beechcraft could really benefit from making a couple hundred of these machines. Of course, if they give the contract to Embraer for Super Tucanos, then it won't help anyone here.
09-15-2010, 08:11 AM
#23
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LAAR update...
Hawker Beechcraft Reveals Details About AT-6 Fighter.
Flight International (9/14, Trimble) reported, "Hawker Beechcraft has revealed new details about its plans for the AT-6 light attack and armed reconnaissance (LAAR) fighter, including the possibility of integrating a 25mm cannon." The article notes that "A derivative of the General Dynamics GAU-12 Equalizer, a five-barrel cannon developed for the Lockheed Martin F-35, is among the weapons in consideration for the turboprop-powered aircraft," according to Derek Hess, the company's director of AT-6 development programs. Hess notes, "A French 20mm gun is another option under review to either replace or augment the .50cal gun pod that is integrated on the twin-seat fighter," and that integrating either option remains "an indication of an ongoing debate about how such an aircraft could be operated in service by the US Air Force."
Irregular warfare offers new role for propeller driven aircraft
Flight International (10/27, Trimble) Bringing back the propeller-driven fighter in the age of counterinsurgency may seem to some a belated no-brainer or to others a wasteful diversion with potentially suicidal risk to the pilot. As late as early 2008, the leadership of the US Air Force sided firmly with the sceptics. Lt Gen Donald Hoffman, then the USAF's top-ranking acquisition official, implied to a group of reporters in April of that year that the idea of deploying propeller-driven aircraft in modern combat is too risky. "We can rebuild the [North American] P-51 - great airplane," said Hoffman, citing the propeller-driven Second World War fighter. Then, however, the former Lockheed Martin F-16 pilot pointed at each of the journalists. "All we need is you, you, you and you to go fly it into the threat zone," he said.
Flight International (9/14, Trimble) reported, "Hawker Beechcraft has revealed new details about its plans for the AT-6 light attack and armed reconnaissance (LAAR) fighter, including the possibility of integrating a 25mm cannon." The article notes that "A derivative of the General Dynamics GAU-12 Equalizer, a five-barrel cannon developed for the Lockheed Martin F-35, is among the weapons in consideration for the turboprop-powered aircraft," according to Derek Hess, the company's director of AT-6 development programs. Hess notes, "A French 20mm gun is another option under review to either replace or augment the .50cal gun pod that is integrated on the twin-seat fighter," and that integrating either option remains "an indication of an ongoing debate about how such an aircraft could be operated in service by the US Air Force."
Irregular warfare offers new role for propeller driven aircraft
Flight International (10/27, Trimble) Bringing back the propeller-driven fighter in the age of counterinsurgency may seem to some a belated no-brainer or to others a wasteful diversion with potentially suicidal risk to the pilot. As late as early 2008, the leadership of the US Air Force sided firmly with the sceptics. Lt Gen Donald Hoffman, then the USAF's top-ranking acquisition official, implied to a group of reporters in April of that year that the idea of deploying propeller-driven aircraft in modern combat is too risky. "We can rebuild the [North American] P-51 - great airplane," said Hoffman, citing the propeller-driven Second World War fighter. Then, however, the former Lockheed Martin F-16 pilot pointed at each of the journalists. "All we need is you, you, you and you to go fly it into the threat zone," he said.
11-23-2011, 10:22 AM
#24
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End of the line for the AT-6...
Sorry to hear, and no reason given. Maybe the development costs were eating them up, I know HBC is not doing too well these days (paid quite a bit to know that, by the way.) The Super Tucano would have to get the contract by default now if it is awarded, which is still undecided.
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Hawker Beechcraft dropped from light attack competition
(A. Marsh, AOPA Online, 11/23) Hawker Beechcraft officials say their Beechcraft AT–6 single-engine turboprop has been excluded from lucrative competition by the U.S. Air Force for a light attack/armed reconnaissance aircraft. The letter gave no explanation, and the Air Force refused a subsequent request from Hawker Beechcraft officials for a debrief on its reasons, Hawker Beechcraft said. The prize sought is a five-year, nearly $1 billion contract. The Wichita Eagle quoted analysts as saying the contract was not critical to the company’s future, but would have helped in retaining employees. Hawker Beechcraft had worked on the program two years and, along with five partners, had invested a total for all the partners of $100 million to meet Air Force requirements. The partners are Lockheed Martin, CMC Esterline, Pratt and Whitney Canada, L-3 Wescam, and CAE...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hawker Beechcraft dropped from light attack competition
(A. Marsh, AOPA Online, 11/23) Hawker Beechcraft officials say their Beechcraft AT–6 single-engine turboprop has been excluded from lucrative competition by the U.S. Air Force for a light attack/armed reconnaissance aircraft. The letter gave no explanation, and the Air Force refused a subsequent request from Hawker Beechcraft officials for a debrief on its reasons, Hawker Beechcraft said. The prize sought is a five-year, nearly $1 billion contract. The Wichita Eagle quoted analysts as saying the contract was not critical to the company’s future, but would have helped in retaining employees. Hawker Beechcraft had worked on the program two years and, along with five partners, had invested a total for all the partners of $100 million to meet Air Force requirements. The partners are Lockheed Martin, CMC Esterline, Pratt and Whitney Canada, L-3 Wescam, and CAE...
09-19-2013, 03:29 PM
#25
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Cessna builds a tactical jet
Courtesy of Avweb.
I'm glad to see them do this and really hope this somehow pays off for them. The last real American effort of this kind was the F-20, IIRC.
The exorbitant cost of hardware and the political structure of the military industrial complex absolutely stifle innovation.
I'm glad to see them do this and really hope this somehow pays off for them. The last real American effort of this kind was the F-20, IIRC.
The exorbitant cost of hardware and the political structure of the military industrial complex absolutely stifle innovation.
09-20-2013, 05:50 AM
#28
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Thread revival. I knew they were doing a secret military aircraft from the ads for engineers with military, but I admit I thought it was a UAV. Cessna has known for a long time they need more government business.
http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/A...-scorpion.aspx
http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/A...-scorpion.aspx
09-20-2013, 07:55 AM
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Here's the already established thread (below). As a former engineer in Wichita, it was obvious that such an airplane was needed to guard against recessions, but I thought Cessna's was going to be a UAV this time. Delighted to see they are doing this instead. It needs more guns though 
LAAR Proposal: Cessna 526
LAAR Proposal: Cessna 526
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