Next test question: What was the last piston-engined aircraft to be used in combat?

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.

Kirk

(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.

Several African air forces still use SOCATA Guerriers (Rallyes) in the
counter-insurgency/ground attack role today. I'm fairly sure some saw combat
use this year in Liberia and other west African nations.

It also wouldn't surprise me if Antonov An-2s are still used in Chechnya as
gunships.

Stephen "FPilot" Bierce/IPMS #35922
{Sig Quotes Removed on Request}

"Stephen "FPilot" Bierce" wrote in message
...
(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.

Several African air forces still use SOCATA Guerriers (Rallyes) in the
counter-insurgency/ground attack role today. I'm fairly sure some saw
combat
use this year in Liberia and other west African nations.

It also wouldn't surprise me if Antonov An-2s are still used in Chechnya
as
gunships.

Hell, if you're willing to be flexible someone firing a rifle out of a
Cessna 172 probably counts, and that could happen at any time.

tim gueguen 101867

"tim gueguen" wrote in message
news:aDpkb.124037$6C4.96274@pd7tw1no...

"Stephen "FPilot" Bierce" wrote in message
...
(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.

Several African air forces still use SOCATA Guerriers (Rallyes) in the
counter-insurgency/ground attack role today. I'm fairly sure some saw
combat
use this year in Liberia and other west African nations.

It also wouldn't surprise me if Antonov An-2s are still used in Chechnya
as
gunships.

Hell, if you're willing to be flexible someone firing a rifle out of a
Cessna 172 probably counts, and that could happen at any time.

The RAAF fly Caribous still so, I guess there is a possibility of something
falling or being thrown out of it at someone/something on the ground.


--
The Raven
http://www.80scartoons.co.uk/batfinkquote.mp3
** President of the ozemail.* and uunet.* NG's
** since August 15th 2000.

(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.

(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.

2 Killed in Va. Ultralight Crash After Fall Color Outing


By Jay Mathews
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 20, 2003; Page B04


[snipped for brevity]


Ultralights have been adapted to several uses, including aiding the
relocation of endangered birds and for warfare. During the Iraq war
in March, at least two Iraqi ultralights were spotted over U.S. Army
positions, the Army Times has reported.

(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?

That's hard to say... most nations have armed, prop-driven border patrol aircraft that are regularly used. How about those AC-130's used by Colombia to fight the drug cartels? Or those
things the Peruvians use to fight the Sgining Path?

"Garrison Hilliard" wrote in message
...

(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?

That's hard to say... most nations have armed, prop-driven border patrol
aircraft that are regularly used. How about those AC-130's used by Colombia
to fight the drug cartels? Or those
things the Peruvians use to fight the Sgining Path?

The OP specified piston engined not propellor driven.
AC-130's are turboprops.

Keith

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003, Keith Willshaw wrote:


"Garrison Hilliard" wrote in message
...


That's hard to say... most nations have armed, prop-driven border patrol
aircraft that are regularly used. How about those AC-130's used by Colombia
to fight the drug cartels? Or those
things the Peruvians use to fight the Sgining Path?

The OP specified piston engined not propellor driven.
AC-130's are turboprops.

How about those armed Cessna Skymasters they use?

(Kirk Stant) wrote in message . com...
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.

Kirk

Kirk,

This is an idiotic question since the inventories of many of the
world's poorest Air Forces still use piton-engined aircraft in a
combat role as of 2003. These Air Forces are largely African, South
American, and Asian.
For example you have the Brazilian Tucano/Super Tucano/ALX which still
flies drug interdiction and has fired on Columbian drug runners both
in the air and ground in recent years. The aircraft carry gun pods,
rockets, and home-made Piranha aams.
Second, helos are not aircraft... they are rotorcraft! Sheesh...

Rob