Scaled Composites ARES demonstrator aircraft - photos

[Altair]

Scaled Composites ARES close air support demonstrator aircraft designed by Burt Rutan.

Fullsize image: https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...1_fullsize.jpg





Previously:

Cessna A-37 Dragonfly light attack aircraft - photo
SEPECAT Jaguar attack aircraft - photos
Luscombe P3 Rattler Strike light aircraft - photos
Northrop YA-9 ground attack aircraft - photos and video
Ilyushin Il-102 ground attack aircraft - GIF

[mlochala]

Reminds me a lot of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairch...2156159151.jpg

[clavius]

Reminds me a lot of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairch...2156159151.jpg

If I recall correctly, it was intended to fill a somewhat similar role to the A-10. Sort of like a "Warthog Lite" small, agile, and able to be really close to the action on the ground. I recall reading a bit about this when it was being developed and tested in one of the science magazines that were around then. Burt Rutan was in the news a lot at the time. They were calling this plane the "mud fighter" at the time.

Some unusual design features were used to meet the requirements. Pretty cool airplane.