What are the important dates in Bronco history?
(Updated 07/18/01) Here is a brief synopsis of significant dates in OV-10 History: • End of 1963: LARA requirement issued. • Mid-October 1963: Contract for first 7 prototypes awarded. • July 16, 1965: First YOV-10A prototype (No. 52879) flies from Port Columbus, taking off at 7:00 AM under the command of North American Aviation’s chief test pilot Ed Gillespie. The flight, which occurred two months ahead of the contract schedule, was completely successful and lasted for one hour and nine minutes. The chase ship for this historic flight was a Columbus built T-2 Buckeye flown by Dick Wenzell, director of Flight Operations, with cinematographer/photographer Roy Mills riding in the rear seat. • October 7, 1966: Last of 6 protoypes delivered. • Early 1968: OV-10 production approved, with various modifications based on flight testing. • February 23, 1968: First production airframes officially delivered to both the USAF and USMC in a ceremony at the Columbus plant. • July 6, 1968: First OV-10
