Warbirds News is pleased to announce the completion of Bronco Demo Team’s latest North American OV-10B Bronco restoration. Known by its West German Luftwaffe serial, 99+18, the Bronco flew for the first time in more than twenty years in May, 2012, but sadly this was shortly followed by the loss of Bronco 99+32, and serious injuries to her pilot Tony De Bruyn that July. Thankfully Tony made a full recovery and he recently flew Bronco 99+18 on her first photo-sortie following a complete and accurate repaint in her original Luftwaffe markings. We bring you some of the gorgeous photographs from that flight here; all courtesy of the Bronco Demo Team.
North American Aviation produced the OV-10B variant exclusively for the West German Luftwaffe, delivering 18 of them during the early 1970s. The Luftwaffe used them solely in the target tug role, so consequently they had none of the armament sponsons nor weaponry of the other military versions. The German Broncos also had a plexiglas dome in place of the rear cargo doors to allow the target winch operator, sitting in his rearwards facing seat, a clear view for the task at hand. The Luftwaffe retired their Bronco fleet in 1990, replacing them with the Pilatus PC-9. A number of the surviving airframes made it into museums. 99+18 ended up on static display at the Manfred Pflumm International Aviation Museum in Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany from 1991 until her acquisition and restoration by the Bronco Demo Team. Warbirds News has been following the restoration for some time, and made a couple of brief reports over the last few months (HERE and HERE). It is terrific to see this beautiful aeroplane retake her place in the sky, albeit now as a fully-fledged display aircraft. She will be making visits to various air shows around Europe this summer. Tony De Bruyn and his group at Bronco Demo Team have much to be proud of.
The Bronco Demo Team’s mission is to preserve and perpetuate the history of the OV-10 Bronco and the people who designed, built, flew and maintained this unique machine. They also has another Bronco currently under restoration, the ex-Luftwaffe OV-10B 99+26, so hopefully the pair of them will soon be performing demos across Europe, and perhaps even the USA.
Check the team’s website for more information www.broncodemoteam.com
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
Great job !
Love the ov-10 broncos
They were still flying when I was on active duty in late 1966-69
Dear Gentlemen. I am interested in purchasing an OV-10 . Would you please advise me of your inventory and availability. Thank you. Glenn
Glenn, you should contact them directly. We are not related with the organization in the article.
Glenn, are you looking for a flier or a project? Please contact me
I have just seen the above air craft take off from Fair Oaks air field in Surrey.
It looked Brilliant.