(Kirk Stant) wrote:

What was the last piston-engined airplane (not aircraft - lets keep
the helo's out of this one) to employ weapons in A/A or A/G combat
(guns, bombs, rockets, nukes, whatever). Where and when?

Just being there doesn't count.

Oh, and it does have to have a pilot on board - so Predators don't
count either!

I'll open with T-28D's in the Phillippines - late 80's.

The piston-engined Siai Marchetti SF260 (of civilian "Air Combat
USA" mock dogfight fame) also flew combat in the Philippines
against the Moro National Liberation Front faction (MNLF) in late
2001. The SF260 was (and purportedly still is) used in combat by
many under-developed countries all over the world, esp. Africa.
A Libyan SF260 was downed by the Sudanese in 1987. British
Special Air Services (SAS) mercenarys trained in ultralight (or
"microlight") trikes at Boscombe Down (RAF test pilot school).
I had a fascinating discussion with an American mercenary last
April at Sun 'n Fun (annual EAA airshow held in Lakeland, FL)
whom had recently returned from Afghanistan with regards to
"other" ultralight type A/C currently employed in "cloak & dagger"
missions. You asked the question about piston-engined in the
past-tense, but at least in a limited role, piston-engine "combat"
A/C are here to stay.