Shipbucket

Super Étendard 3-A-202, Armada Argentina via Wikimedia Commons

Argentina occupied South Georgia and the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) in April 1982. By mid-June, the islands were British once again. 907 people were killed over the course of 74 days. The 40th anniversary of the Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas) passed earlier this year. To commemorate the occasion, this challenge will focus on lightweight naval attack aircraft. The Super Étendard, Skyhawk, and Harrier all played prominent roles in the conflict despite their small size. Your objective is to draw a fictional aircraft similar to these famous types which would have been in active service in 1982. Remember that each participant is allowed a single drawing and that specifications can no longer be listed in that drawing.

Design Requirements

1. Your submission must depict a fictional naval* attack aircraft.
2. The empty weight of your design must not exceed 15,000 lbs (6,804 kg).
3. The aircraft should be in active service in 1982.

*The aircraft you submit must be carrier-capable, but it may be operated by a land-based force.

Challenge Rules

1. Each participant may submit one drawing.
2. The image must be an FD template modified to include the participant’s system and, optionally, crew figures at their stations within the system and/or one of the following: unit insignia, manufacturer logo, national flag. Other elements are no longer permitted.
3. No more than three views are allowed in each image.
4. If two or three views are included, they must depict the same example of the system, in the same configuration, at the same point in time.
5. All art must be in FD scale and conform to the same drawing and shading rules as official Shipbucket styles.
6. A textual description accompanying each submission is permitted, but not necessary.
7. Non-serious entries, or entries substantially deviate from the challenge requirements, are not allowed.
8. Off-topic posts will be reported to the relevant authorities.

This challenge will run until Sunday the 1st of January 2023, ending at 23:59 UTC-12 (International Date Line West).
A countdown timer can be found at this link.

Two polls will be held after this date, one to determine topic next challenge topic and another to decide the winner. In the latter, members of the Shipbucket community will have an opportunity to rate each submission. Please provide honest and meaningful scores for each entry. Responses which grant maximum scores to a select group of entries, and minimum scores to all other entries, will be deleted. Members of the community who manipulate the results in such a fashion may also be subject to a permanent ban. Scores will be allocated in two categories, each with a scale of 1 to 10:

• Drawing Quality - The overall quality of the drawing. One might consider detailing, shading, and accuracy.
• Design Quality -The quality of the design presented, irrespective of drawing quality. One could consider feasibility, practicality, and realism.

Defining 'Naval'
A clarification for all those interested in the Falklands War Commemorative Challenge.
Regarding the meaning of naval in "naval attack aircraft", the aircraft you submit must be carrier-capable. However, it may be operated by a land-based force.

Hi. This will be a very interesting (and tought) challenge! I am eager to see the drawings! Cheers.

-



The North American OA-28G Super Trojan is a light attack/forward air control variant of the T-28F Super Trojan jet trainer. Developed by North American in the early 1950s, the T-28F was designed in response to OS-141 and intended to be a replacement for aging WWII-vintage piston trainers like North American's own T-28 in the basic trainer role. In order to fit into restrictive Truman-era DoD procurement, the new design utilized much of the T-28 Trojan's heritage and was thusly designated T-28F in order to secure greater funding. Serving as the US Navy's primary trainer throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the T-28F was chosen as a platform for conversion to a light attack and fast forward air control (FAC) platform for the US Marine Corps. The T-28F was heavily modified, adding tip fuel tanks, aerial refueling capability, and an integral GAU-2B/A minigun in the nose. The resultant aircraft, designated OA-28G, entered service with the USMC in 1968 and served through the Vietnam War and beyond, with the last squadrons (VMO-7 and VMO-10) retiring the type in the late 1980s. While widely considered a decent aircraft in the fast FAC role, mostly thanks to its rear seat and excellent visibility, the aircraft's performance as an attack aircraft was somewhat lacking thanks to a relatively small payload capacity and low speed compared to aircraft like the A-7 Corsair.

General Characteristics:

Crew: 2
Length: 12.58 m (41.27 ft) including refueling probe
Wingspan: 13.62 m (44.69 ft) including tip tanks
Height: 3.89 m (12.76 ft) including beacon
Empty Weight: 3,554 kg (7,835 lbs)
Max takeoff weight: 5,851 kg (12,900 lbs)
Fuel capacity: 691 US gal (2,620 L) total with tip tanks
Powerplant: 1x General Electric J85-GE-21 afterburning turbojet, 3,500 lbf (16 kN) thrust dry, 5,000 lbf (22 kN) with afterburner

Performance:

Maximum speed: 439 kn (505 mph, 813 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
Stall speed: 85 kn (97 mph, 157 km/h)
Range: 993 nmi (1,142 mi, 1,839 km)
Service ceiling: 38,500 ft (11,734 m)
Rate of climb: 5,900 ft/min (29,97 m/s)

Armament:

Guns:
- 1x 7.62 mm (0.300 in) GAU-2B/A minigun in nose
- Provision for SUU-11/A gun pods under wings
Hardpoints: 8
Rockets:
- LAU-3/A rocket pods
Bombs:
- Various

Challenge Rule 2 Updated and a Note About Gyroplanes and Convertiplanes
You may include a pilot inside the cockpit of your aircraft in addition to a unit insignia, manufacturer logo, or national flag. This was not clear in the original version of Challenge Rule 2 and for that I apologise. The rule now reads "The image must be an FD template modified to include the participant’s system and, optionally, crew figures at their stations within the system and/or one of the following: unit insignia, manufacturer logo, national flag. Other elements are no longer permitted." Also, for those still considering ideas for the challenge, you may be interested to hear that I have said yes to gyroplanes and something based on Sikorsky's Telescoping Rotor Aircraft convertiplane. If you wish to pursue something along those lines for the challenge, you can.

Norr Flugvél Hlutafélag A.38S Sjávardreki


80-A13, an NFHF A.38S assigned to the Konunglegi Samveldisfloti depicted with its loadout during Operation Paraquet.

The NFHF A.38S is an all-weather attack naval attack variant of the Model 38 Attacker designed by Norr Flugvél Hlutafélag. Designated Sjávardreki (SATO Designation: Sea Serpent), the A.38S was the answer to a highly outdated fleet of naval attack aircraft, most of which were modified Je.28 Vampire aircraft, an imported variant of the De Havilland Vampire, and the A.32S Sjávargrípa (SATO Designation: Sea Dagger). The A.38 base model entered service in 1980, with the A.38S itself following shortly thereafter in 1981.

By the time the Falklands War occurred, the Ae.28S Sjávarvampíra (SATO Designation: Sea Knight) was completely replaced by the new A.38S models and the older A.32S models. The No. 2 Maritime Attack Squadron, stationed on the RCN Hel II, was deployed to the Falkland Islands to support the war effort, and made extensive use of the A.38S in the form of SEAD operations against Port Stanley and other targets. Only two A.38S aircraft were lost during the Falklands War, one shot down by Argentine aircraft and one from damage sustained during close air support missions near Port Stanley.

Of the 108 A.38S aircraft that were built, 38 remain in service with the Royal Commonwealth Navy, all of which had been upgraded to the A.328S-2 standard. Aircraft 80-A13, pictured above in its loadout during Operation Paraquet, is interned at the Sjóflugminjasafn Strandarkirkja (Strandarkirkja Museum of Maritime Aeronautics) in Strandarkirkja, Norr.

GENERAL

Crew: 2 (Pilot, Co-Pilot)
Length: 17.92 m including refueling probe
Wingspan: 13 m unfolded
Height: 5.8 m wheels-on-ground
Empty weight: 5,443 kg
Max takeoff weight: 8,164 kg
Fuel capacity: 2,000 kg
Powerplant: 2 x Volvo TV76-B low-bypass axial turbofan engines, 13 kN each

PERFORMANCE

Maximum speed: 540 kn
Stall speed: 90 kn
Ferry range: 2,700 km
Combat range: 950 km
Service ceiling: 14,500 m

ARMAMENT

Guns:
- 1 x underbelly 30 mm bB306 revolver cannon
- Provisions for SUU-11/A underwing gun pods
Hardpoints: 4
Rockets: Provisions for;
- LAU-3/A rocket pods
- LAU-130/A & LAU131/A rocket pods
Bombs: Various
Missiles: Various

Armament depicted:
- 1 x underbelly 30 mm bB306 revolver cannon
- 2 x GBU-16 (Mk 83) 1,000 lb guided bombs
- 2 x AGM-78 Standard ARM anti-radiation missiles

Last Revision; Added a top view and modified the nose gear. Added basic description.

Should've posted this before, I hope it'll still be useful to someone. It'll be in the Wiki once either I work on it a bit more or ace nudges me further.

CS-7 'Penguin'



On the upper end of the weight limit.

The Penguin is an interesting design. I feel like the logistics of trying to get up on top of the wing to load a Sidewinder while operating within the confines of a carrier flight deck is going to pose an interesting challenge, to say the least. I see no reason that you couldn’t do an outboard wing hardpoint on the folding portion, like the McDonnell Banshee for example.

Dassault Étendard VII


Dassault Étendard VII, Chilean Navy, July 1982

In July 1977 the Chilean Navy acquired the Centaur-class aircraft carrier HMS Bulwark from the United Kingdom to keep up with the naval capabilities of Argentina and Brazil who had smaller, but modernised Majestic-class carriers. After a refit and refurbishment the carrier entered service as the Almirante Cochrane in February 1979.

Chile needed to find a suitable aircraft. The Almirante Cochrane lacked a steam catapult or angled deck so a V/STOL aircraft was the only solution. McDonnell Douglas and the US government offered the AV-8A Harrier at very good terms but it lacked a radar and anti-ship capability which the Chileans felt were essential. Hawker Siddeley offered to develop a fighter version of the Harrier with a radar but this was too expensive [in my AU world the Sea Harrier FRS.1 does not exist]. Dassault offered the only suitable alternative, the Étendard VII.

The Étendard VII had been developed alongside the PH75 nuclear-powered helicopter carrier proposal (the Arromanches being laid down in September 1979) to ensure that the Marine Nationale retained a fixed-wing fighter capability. Drawing on the lessons of the Mirage IIIV and Balzac V as well as the F1 programme, Dassault came up with a small delta-winged fighter powered by an Adour turbojet fitted with a swivelling tailpipe and two Rolls-Royce/Allison XJ99 turbofan lift-jets to provide V/STOL performance. An Agave radar was fitted and the aircraft could carry two AM39 Exocets. The resulting design was not unlike the abortive Convair Model 200A proposed for the USN's Sea Control Ship concept. First flown in June 1979 the Étendard VII entered French service in January 1982. As early as March 1979 the Chileans ordered a dozen, the Almirante Cochrane sailing to France to collect them in March 1982. By the end of that year the type was fully operational as tensions rose with Argentina due to the Falklands/Malvinas conflict that year.

Six of the aircraft were lost in crashes during its service career, the type was retired from Chilean service in May 2002, they had been land-based since 1997 when the aging Almirante Cochrane was decommissioned and scrapped.

General characteristics

Crew: 1 (pilot)
Length: 15.7 m (overall including pitot), 15.2m (excluding pitot)
Span: 8.37 m
Height: 4.07 m
Empty weight: 14,985 lb (6,797 kg)
Gross weight: 19,870 lb (9,012 kg)
Powerplant: 1x SNECMA Atar 9K-55-V turbojet engine, 10,890 lbf (48.4 kN) thrust dry, 15,800 lbf (70.2 kN) with afterburner, fitted with a swivelling exhaust nozzle and 2x Rolls-Royce/Allison XJ99 turbofan lift-jets, 9,000 lbf (40 kN) thrust each

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 2.2
Combat range: 250 miles (400 km)
Ferry range: 1,240 miles miles (2000 km)
Service ceiling: 66,000 ft (20,000 m)
Rate of climb: 238 m/s (46,800 ft/min)

Avionics
Radar: Thomson-CSF Agave

Armament

2x 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA 553 cannon with 125 rpg
Hardpoints: 1 centreline and six underwing pylons with a capacity of 12,125 lb (5,500 kg) with provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets: 4x Matra rocket pods with 18x SNEB 68 mm rockets each
Bombs: various
Missiles: 2x Matra R550 Magic AAMs, 2x AM.39 Exocet ASMs or 2x AS.30L ASMs
Other: reconnaissance pods or drop tanks