This original aircraft was created with FS Design Studio Pro_V2 by ABACUS. Animation includes the very difficult gear and gear door retraction sequence, flaps, ailerons, rudders, props and elevator and rolling wheels. The model, modified panel and configuration files were made to present versions of the O2A Forward Air Control aircraft as they actually were in Vietnam in 1969-70. The visuals were done from photos I took of the aircraft I flew over Southern Laos from my home base at Pleiku, RSVN as a "COVEY" FAC with the Pleiku detachment of the 20 TASS, headquartered at Danang AB, RSVN. I have included one texture: the gray and white daytime version which was the predominate paint scheme used on these aircraft. (See my Black O2A files for night versions)
Flying the aircraft was pretty simple. Rotate as 70-75 knots with neutral pitch trim, climb at 80 kts, fly final approach at 80 kts and cruise was usually around 120 kts, 27 inches of manifold, 2000 RPM and mixtures leaned back to 8 gph per engine. Once in the patrol area, we trimmed for level flight and flew in constant S-turns using the rudders while searching the jungle below with heavy binoculars. (The power settings above are my best recollection and work in the simulation)
This is my first attempt at creating an aircraft from scratch. Michael Verlin's excellent panel was modified to place gauges a bit closer to their actual locations and to delete a number of components that were never in the O2A in Vietnam. I did leave the autopilot even though there never was one in the combat versions and added pylon stores arming switches on the top of the instrument panel glare shield.

This aircraft has been tested in FS2004 and FS2002 Professional. This package uses the default Cessna 182 sound. The package is provided as freeware and any modifications to the airplane need to be cleared through me. Changes to the panel, Michael Verlin. Use of the Attitude Indicator by Ed Wilson, groundhogs1@attbi.com and J-P Demmerle, jpdemmerle@bluewin.ch and the triple function oil pressure gauge by FLIGHTSIM-DEVELOPERS International: http://www.fsd-international.com.

Designer: John A. Messerly, covey@intellisys.net
Panel: Michael Verlin mverlin@tampabay.rr.com
My sincere thanks to Donn Bohde for his inspiration and encouragement.
Special Gauges: The Attitude indicator, B26_RLC_ATTITUDE, is used with the permission of Ed Wilson, groundhogs1@attbi.com and J-P Demmerle, jpdemmerle@bluewin.ch from their "ON MARK B-26" for FS2002. The triple function oil pressure gauges, PC6_Oil, are used with the permission of Tim Dickens of FLIGHTSIM-DEVELOPERS International: http://www.fsd-international.com.
Apologies: to anyone who deserves credit and mention whom I may have inadvertently overlooked or am unaware of.

INSTALLATION:
FS2004: Unzip into a temporary folder. Copy or drag-and-drop the folder "O2A_DAY" into your Flight Simulator 9 "Aircraft" folder". Copy the contents of the O2A_DAY "Gauges" folder into the Flight Simulator 9 Gauges folder.

FS2002 PROFESSIONAL: Unzip into a temporary folder. Copy or drag-and-drop the folder "O2A_DAY" into your FS2002 "Aircraft" folder. Copy the contents of the O2A_DAY "Gauges" folder into the FS2002 Gauges folder.


SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 38 ft. / Length: 29 ft. 2 in. / Height: 9 ft. 5 in. / Weight: 4,900 lbs. loaded
Armament: Four wing pylons can carry rockets, flares, 7.62 mini-gun pods, or other light ordnance
Engines: Two Continental 10-360s of 210 hp. each
Crew: Two
Cost: $92,000

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 199 mph.
Cruising speed: 144 mph.
Range: 1,060 miles
Service Ceiling: 19,300 ft. clean/14,600 ft. w/2 rocket pods
Takeoff roll: 1850 feet Landing ground roll: 540 feet
Takeoff over 50' obstacle: 2950 feet Landing distance over 50' obstacle: 1250 feet