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The
Charger was awarded a 100-hour joint service flight test contract where the prototype would be flown by representatives of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force. If orders followed, it was planned to build the production aircraft with a deeper and longer fuselage allowing full dual
228:
Pilot and observer sat in tandem under a sliding canopy, while the rear fuselage held a cargo bay with a hinged tail cone capable of carrying 2,000 lb (910 kg) of cargo, which could include a complete PT6 engine, or five paratroopers, in extremely cramped conditions, with a sixth
149:
to the U.S. Marines, capable of operating from roads close to the battlefield, the concept being known as the Light Light Marine Attack
Aircraft (L2VMA). As interest in such an aircraft grew, with interest from the US Army for a similar type, the Convair Division of
253:) as the winner of the LARA competition. The U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force favored the Charger, however, and protested against the U.S. Navy's decision, and Convair continued construction of their prototype, which made its maiden flight on 25 November 1964.
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capability, taking off over a 50 ft (15 m) obstacle in 485 ft (148 m) with a normal payload. This was better both than the LARA specifications requirement of 800 ft (244 m), and the Bronco.
225:
which attached to the vertical fins located at the ends of the tailboom(s), with the tailplane having somewhat greater span (20 ft (6.1 m)) than the distance between the tailbooms.
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controls to be fitted. The prototype crashed on its 196th test flight on 19 October 1965, owing to pilot error by its U.S. Navy test pilot, however, and further development was abandoned.
1305:
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After initial flight tests, the
Charger was modified with an increased wingspan and modified tail to improve low-speed control. The Charger demonstrated excellent
233:
were mounted in pods on the side of the fuselage, while 2,000 lb (910 kg) of external stores, including bombs, rockets and gun pods, could be carried on
177:
The specification produced responses from nine manufacturers, including
Convair, who submitted its Model 48 Charger in March 1964. The Model 48 was a twin-boom
245:
Convair started construction of a prototype as a private venture before a winner of the LARA competition was announced. In August 1964, the US Navy announced
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of similar layout. Only the single prototype Model 48 was built, and this turned out to be the last complete aircraft constructed by
Convair.
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under the wings and fuselage. To meet the specification's requirements for amphibious operations, it could be fitted with two large floats.
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162:(LARA), to be used not just by the U.S. Marines and Army, but also by the United States Air Force for counter-insurgency and
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nose, rear fuselage and wingtips, with a retractable nosewheel undercarriage. It was powered by two
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in 1961. In 1963, the various requirements were merged into a tri-service specification for a
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inboard of the engines, which together acted to deflect the slipstream, giving a form of
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of the propellers, increasing the effectiveness of the full-span trailing-edge slotted
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officers developed the concept of a small low cost aircraft capable of providing
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490:"San Diego Air & Space Museum - Historical Balboa Park, San Diego"
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3-bladed
Hamilton Standard, 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) diameter
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at low speed. The aircraft was fitted with a large, all-moving
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of the 1960s, developed to meet a requirement for a dedicated
679:, Vol. 38, No. 1, January 2010, pp. 59–76. London: IPC.
638:
Naval
Fighters Number Thirty-Nine: Convair Model 48 Charger
257:
27:
Prototype light attack and observation aircraft built 1964
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640:. Simi Valley, California, USA: Naval Fighters, 1997.
388:
319 mph (513 km/h, 277 kn) at sea level
229:
paratrooper in the observer's seat. Four 7.62 mm
1306:
1960s United States military reconnaissance aircraft
531:
447:
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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698:in the San Diego Air and Space Museum Yt channel.
675:Willis, David. "Database:North American Bronco".
193:(military designation T74), driving three bladed
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662:General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors
277:General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors
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594:
592:
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465:List of military aircraft of the United States
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394:3,000 mi (4,800 km, 2,600 nmi)
173:Frontal view of the Convair Model 48 Charger.
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437:5 with a capacity of 2,000 lb (910 kg) total
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249:'s design, the NA-300 (later to become the
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655:Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66
166:roles, and to be available for export.
14:
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362:Pratt & Whitney Canada T74-CP-8/10
240:
705:
657:. London: Sampson Low, Marston, 1965.
50:Light attack and observation aircraft
453:North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco
304:34 ft 10 in (10.62 m)
131:North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco
1301:1960s United States attack aircraft
160:Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft
24:
633:, 14 January 1965. pp. 54–55.
330:13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
119:counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft
25:
1337:
691:Photo of Convair Model 48 Charger
684:
367:, 650 hp (480 kW) each
336:216 sq ft (20.1 m)
298:6 paratroops in utility/cargo bay
269:Specifications (Long-span wings)
38:
1326:Twin-turboprop tractor aircraft
616:
482:
354:258 US Gallon (977 L) internal
348:10,460 lb (4,745 kg)
191:Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6
129:engines which lost out to the
13:
1:
470:
400:21,300 ft (6,500 m)
342:4,457 lb (2,022 kg)
217:, which were supplemented by
1316:Aircraft first flown in 1964
696:Corporate video presentation
7:
540:14 January 1965, pp. 54–55.
441:
156:counter-insurgency aircraft
10:
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753:(numbering continued from
410:Landing from 50 ft (15 m):
181:, constructed mainly from
143:United States Marine Corps
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600:Taylor 1965, pp. 231–232.
404:Take-off to 50 ft (15 m):
37:
32:
664:. London: Putnam, 1990.
475:
412:Less than 500 ft (152 m)
406:Less than 500 ft (152 m)
107:Convair Model 48 Charger
582:Ginter 1997, pp. 30–32.
561:Ginter 1997, pp. 14–15.
502:Willis 2010, pp. 60–63.
283:General characteristics
247:North American Aviation
1321:Shoulder-wing aircraft
324: in (9.18 m)
174:
137:Design and development
1182:Experimental aircraft
172:
154:started studies into
121:. It was a two-seat,
630:Flight International
538:Flight International
115:observation aircraft
1156:Military transports
1075:Civilian transports
609:Ginter 1997, p. 44.
573:Willis 2010, p. 63.
241:Operational history
164:forward air control
1311:Twin-boom aircraft
1168:C-131 / R4Y / T-29
652:Taylor, John W. R.
552:Ginter 1997, p.10.
528:Wegg 1990, p. 219.
207:leading edge slats
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123:twin-boom aircraft
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625:Convair's Charger
147:close air support
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81:25 November 1964
16:(Redirected from
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251:OV-10 Bronco
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231:machine guns
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111:light attack
106:
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95:Number built
1245:AFTI/F-111A
435:Hardpoints:
428:4 Ă— 7.62mm
379:Performance
371:Propellers:
358:Powerplant:
310:30 ft
1290:Categories
1270:Model 1600
1260:X-62 VISTA
471:References
334:Wing area:
235:hardpoints
199:slipstream
195:propellers
187:fiberglass
89:Prototype
1265:Model 100
677:Aeroplane
365:turboprop
308:Wingspan:
296:Capacity:
274:Data from
223:tailplane
183:aluminium
179:monoplane
127:turboprop
1189:Kingfish
739:aircraft
442:See also
418:Armament
219:spoilers
215:ailerons
33:Charger
1240:EF-111A
1066:Charger
986:Bombers
733:Convair
328:Height:
319:⁄
302:Length:
185:, with
86:Status
72:Convair
1255:F-16XL
1235:F-111K
1230:F-111C
1225:F-111B
1215:RB-57F
1194:NB-36H
755:Vultee
668:
644:
1275:YF-22
1220:F-111
1163:XC-99
1061:F-106
1051:F-102
1041:XF-92
1036:XP-81
1018:YB-60
1008:XB-53
1003:XB-46
998:XA-44
476:Notes
426:Guns:
290:Crew:
203:flaps
47:Role
1250:F-16
1147:5800
1087:58-9
1013:B-58
993:B-36
885:8-24
735:and
666:ISBN
642:ISBN
360:2 Ă—
258:STOL
205:and
113:and
105:The
1199:X-6
1173:R3Y
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