The RTAF-5, officially designated B.ThO.5 (), is a Thai
training
Training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity, productivity and performance. I ...
and
forward air control
Forward air control is the provision of guidance to close air support (CAS) aircraft intended to ensure that their attack hits the intended target and does not injure friendly troops. This task is carried out by a forward air controller (FAC).
...
aircraft developed and built by the Science and Weapon Systems Development Centre of the
Royal Thai Air Force
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (; ) is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913 as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force has engaged in numerous major and minor conflicts. During the ...
in the 1980s. It was a
twin-boom
A twin-boom aircraft has two longitudinal auxiliary spars, or “auxiliary booms” , that may contain ancillary components such as fuel tanks and/or provide a supporting structure for other items. Typically, twin tailbooms support the tail ...
configuration aircraft powered by a single
pusher turboprop
A turboprop is a Gas turbine, gas turbine engine that drives an aircraft Propeller (aeronautics), propeller.
A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction drive, reduction gearbox, gas compressor, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propellin ...
engine, but only a single example was built.
Development and design
In 1976, the Science and Weapon Systems Development Centre of the Royal Thai Air Force, based at Don Muang Air Base,
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
, started development of a trainer/forward air control aircraft, the RTAF-5. It was a single-engined high-wing
monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...
of all-metal construction with twin booms, and with a fuselage resembling that of an
OV-10 Bronco
The North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is an American twin-turboprop attack aircraft, light attack and surveillance aircraft, observation aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for Counter-insurgency aircraft, counter-ins ...
, but powered by a single
Allison 250
The Allison Model 250, now known as the Rolls-Royce M250, (US military designations T63 and T703) is a highly successful turboshaft engine family, originally developed by the Allison Engine Company in the early 1960s. The Model 250 has been pro ...
turboprop engine at the rear of the fuselage. It had a retractable
nosewheel undercarriage and had four underwing
hardpoint
A hardpoint is an attachment location on a structural frame designed to transfer force and carry an external or internal structural load, load. The term is usually used to refer to the mounting points (more formally known as a weapon station o ...
s, with wingtip fuel tanks.
[''Flight International''](_blank)
1 August 1987, p.63.
The prototype first flew on 5 October 1984, with the undercarriage fixed for early testing.
Development was delayed by the license production of
RFB Fantrainer
The RFB Fantrainer (or Fan Trainer) is a two-seat flight training aircraft which uses a mid-mounted ducted fan propulsion system. Developed and manufactured by Germany, German aircraft company Rhein-Flugzeugbau GmbH (RFB), it has been used by th ...
s by the RTAF, and was eventually abandoned, only the single prototype (which is preserved at the
Royal Thai Air Force Museum
The National Aviation Museum of the Royal Thai Air Force is located in Don Mueang District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located on the Phahonyothin Road just to the south of Wing 6 of the domestic terminal of the Don Mueang International Airport, Don ...
) being flown, with a second example being used for static testing.
[Forsgren, Jan.]
Aircraft Production In Thailand
. ''Aeroflight''. 20 November 2004. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
Specifications
See also
References
;Notes
;Bibliography
* "Airdata File" ''
Air International
''AIR International'' is a British aviation magazine covering current defence aerospace and civil aviation topics. It has been in publication since 1971 and is currently published by Key Publishing Ltd.
History and profile
The magazine was fir ...
'', February 1986, Vol 30 No 2. p. 103. ISSN 0306-5634.
External links
*
{{Thai experimental aircraft designations
RTAF-5
Cancelled military aircraft projects
Twin-tail aircraft
1980s Thai military trainer aircraft
Twin-boom aircraft
Single-engined turboprop aircraft
Single-engined pusher aircraft
Shoulder-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1984
Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear