This is a Scale Model Kit, Paint and Glue are not included.
The Cessna O-2 Skymaster is a modern American production observation plane with a double-bar structure. The drive is provided by two coupled motors Continental-IO-360 with 213 HP each. The first flight of this machine took place in 1967. On the other hand, serial production continued in the years 1967-1975, ending with the production of about 530-540 aircraft of this type. The machine has the ability to carry weapons on four under-wing hooks.
The Cessna O-2 Skymaster was created as a successor to the O-1 Bird Dog aircraft, commissioned by the United States Air Force. The manufacturer, Cessna, in order to shorten the time of research and development works on the new aircraft, to a large extent used the components and elements of its own production machine - the 337 model. Only two versions of this successful aircraft were produced in the course of serial production. The first was called the O-2A, which was a classic reconnaissance and observation aircraft capable of attacking targets on the ground. The second version (O-2B) was adapted to the tasks of psychological warfare and spreading propaganda by installing megaphones and containers for the discharge of leaflets from the air. The Cessna O-2 Skymaster was heavily used during the Vietnam War (1964 / 1965-1975). Machines of this type were also widely used by foreign recipients, for example: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Iran or South Korea.
The Rockwell International OV-10 Bronco was the winner of the Light Armed Reconnaissance (LARA) competition for the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The first planes were delivered in 1969 and the OV-10 had already taken part in the Vietnam War. The plane was very versatile. It could operate from short runways as the length of the run-up run was approximately 225 meters. Moreover, if necessary, it was possible to install skids and even floats! The range of weapons that could be carried was also wide, although most often, however, equipment for air reconnaissance was installed. The D version was distinguished mainly by a modernized avionics, a laser target marking system and a 20mm cannon mounted in the nose. These aircraft were still in service during the 1991 Gulf War, although mainly in night missions and as the last version in service with the US Air Force, they were finally withdrawn in 1995, although it should be mentioned that they are still in service, among others Thailand, Venezuela or Indonesia. Although the OV-10 Bronco had an unusual shape and unusual for a modern combat aircraft, and generally rather average performance, the simple design and low price made it an attractive aircraft for many users. Technical data (OV-10A version): length: 12.67 m, wingspan: 12.19 m, height: 4.62 m, maximum speed: 452 km / h, maximum range: 920 km, practical ceiling: 7315 m, armament: fixed - 4 7.62m M60C machine guns, suspended - up to 1600 kg load.
The Vietnam War (1964 / 1965-1975) is a conflict fought between the government of South Vietnam, supported very intensively (economically, politically, militarily) by the United States, and North Vietnam, supported by the USSR and the PRC. On the American side, aviation played a huge role in this conflict - both helicopters and jets. The latter entered action as early as 1964, when it began bombing Laos, and a year later (1965) as part of Operation Rolling Thunder - it also began bombing North Vietnam. Initially, machines such as the F-105 D Thuderchief or the F-4 Phantom II participated in this operation. However, the B-52 strategic bombers were quickly put into action. The operation lasted until 1968. Aviation also played a huge role in 1972, when it launched the strategic bombing of Hanoi and Haifong, which was instrumental in accelerating the peace talks. During the Vietnam War, the American air force - both operating within the USAF and the US Navy - used many types of aircraft, including: A-7 Corsair II, A-6 Intruder, F-101 Voodoo or the aforementioned F-4 Phantom. It is worth adding that in the course of that war, the American armed forces had several fighter aces, including Captains Steven Ritchie, Jeffrey Feinstien and Colonel Charles DeBellevue.
The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War (called the Vietnam War), was fought from 1964 (events in the Gulf of Tonkin) or from 1965 (the landing of the first, larger American forces in Vietnam) until 1975, i.e. until the occupation of South Vietnam through North Vietnam. The opponents in this war were, on the one hand, the United States, supporting its ally, i.e. South Vietnam and North Vietnam, along with the communist Vietcong guerrillas, supported (in one way or another) by the PRC and the USSR. Assume that at one time, at the maximum, North Vietnam involved about 690,000 soldiers in the conflict, Vietcong - about 200,000 people, while the United States reached the peak of its involvement in 1969, when Vietnam had about 540,000 American soldiers. The immediate cause of the conflict was the claims and ambitions of North Vietnam to take power and control over its southern neighbor, which the United States could not and did not want to agree to. The Vietnam War was an excellent example of a guerrilla war, in which the highly advanced technological armed forces of the USA suffered considerable losses and finally lost in the clash with the armed forces incomparably worse. It is worth adding that from a purely military point of view, the US troops were able to inflict huge losses on their opponent (e.g. the Tet offensive of 1968), but on the so-called The "home front" completely lost it. It is often assumed that the Vietnam War was lost by the US primarily because of tensions in American society, its reluctance to do so, and the inability of the US establishment to provide a convincing justification for it. The Vietnam War finally ended in 1975 with a complete defeat of the United States, which was forced to withdraw from Vietnam and come to terms with the unification of Vietnam by the communist government in Hanoi. The prestige of this country in the international arena has also decreased significantly for some time.
