The Enforcer had the worlds record for weight of ordinance held back when Piper developed it. I’m sure it would carry more that that turkey vulture pictured in the article. Plus it was armored up for fighting in Vietnam.

The P-51 airframe may be obsolete, but it survived a lot of flak and fighter interference, and it was a tested design. I only offer it as an example of an historic attempt to come up with the best in CAS. Maybe we should revisit that history for the reasons I’ve already stated. Your right, that it needs an on board cannon, but they have chain guns that compare to the GAU-8 now-a-days. Also, I’m reading that the new telescopic ammo is doing so well, they even have an M-4 adapted to it! This could save a butt load on weight for the new platform.

And unless it is a big turbo-prop, I don’t think your getting the weapons load or 30mm GAU-8/A. I like the prospect or a true attack aircraft. But for all this effort we might as well build a true successor to the A-10.

Using a turbo prop would pay for itself in fuel usage alone, in not too many mission hours!! You would get the same airspeed, and weapons load capacity, so no sacrifice there. We need to think smarter not harder, if we are going to bring the boys home alive.

With today’s modern composite bath tub armor, I think it could be a contender!

Saying they’re aren’t as tough because they don’t weigh as much, sorry, just isn’t valid.

These things will be flying low and slow, and when they get close I imagine the Taliban will unload their AKs, RPKs, PKMs, and whatever else they have at the aircraft. If your fighting against a large Taliban force, that is a lot of lead flying you way and you could easily take some hits. Ideally this COIN aircraft would be well protected from hits by rifle caliber ammuntion, and able to survive a hit from HMG calibers in key areas. (The enemy does occasionally use DSHKs and 14.5mm ZPUs)

- “…the big difference between these COIN aircraft and the old A-1 Skyraider is survivability.”

- “I don’t know about the EMB-314 and AT-6B…”

So there’s a difference between these aircraft that you don’t know about…

…ok.

We’re not exactly re-fighting the Wehrmacht in Afghanistan, y’know. But yes, it’s good when airplanes can take some hits. I expect the manufacturers have considered that.

I think the best solution is an Army COIN. The ugly, slow, but cheaper Air Tractor. On the realistic, political side, if this is going to happen it will be an Air Force AT-6B.

I’ve always wondered what happened to the PA-48. This was supposedly the prop plane that held the record in ordinance tonnage, but Piper didn’t have the political backing to fund it any further.

You can’t tell me the P-51, which this plane was designed after, couldn’t take ground fire, or was not a maneuverable design! And with today’s modern composite armor, it could be a minor kit up job to get it up to snuff. I like that idea better than this new turbo prop; but it would need a new turbo power unit, to get it up to fuel usage requirements — I’m sure.