Geoff Jones reports from the UK.
The North American OV-10 Bronco G-ONAA registered to Invicta Aviation Ltd and owned by Tony de Bruyn arrived at Manston, Kent on 29th May 2013 from its base at Schwenningen-am-Neckar in the Black Forest region of southern Germany via Wevelgem (Belgium). The complete restoration has been completed by Invicta Aircraft Engineering Ltd., which is co-located in the TG Aviation hangar.
As the Bronco Demo Team website’s reports Bronco “99+18”, civil registered as G-ONAA (dedicated to the aircraft manufacturer, GO North American Aviation), successfully completed its maiden flight on Saturday May 26, 2012 at Schwenningen-am-Neckar Airfield in Germany. The Bronco had been on static display at the International Aviation Museum – Manfred Pflumm since 1991. A large part of the restoration work was done at the museum location in Schwenningen before the aircraft was flown over to Manston, UK for further restoration work.
Many of the aircraft’s outer skin panels have been replaced – on Tuesday 10th December the Bronco departed Manston for Holland (Midden Zeeland) for a complete new paint job.
The OV-10 Bronco, a rugged, maneuverable, twin-turboprop, multimission aircraft, served with the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps (OV-10A). The U.S. Navy also used the OV-10. The Navy squadron VAL-4 “Black Ponies” flew them with much success in the Vietnam War. Internationally, the OV-10 served with the military services of West Germany (OV-10B), Thailand (OV-10C), Venezuela (OV-10E) and Indonesia (OV-10F). Designed and built by North American at Columbus, Ohio, the Bronco complemented the performance requirements between jets and helicopters. Faster and more tactically versatile than helicopters, yet slower and more maneuverable than jets, the Bronco utilized tactics not possible with either.
Bronco “99+18” is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2014, ready for the upcoming airshow season.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
glad my local airport manston helped refinish the bronco nice plane watched its display glad that tony is back flying now hope that more ov10s are airworthy soon
Thanks for writing in. Tony’s team is indeed working on another Bronco, so hopefully there will be two of them touring together in Europe before too long.
Which company done the painting of the Bronco whilst at Manston Airport??
What a great ariel display on Monday by the Bronco, and what a noise. I was very impressed. (And yes I do live on the flightpath!)