50th Anniversary of Air Force’s Peacemaker Planes

[snoop1130]

 

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, Nov 24 (TNA) — The Royal Thai Air Force marked the 50th anniversary of its Peacemaker fleet which is now the world’s only one remaining fleet of Peacemaker aircraft.

 

ACM Alongkorn Wannarot presided over a ceremony to celebrate the anniversary of the AU-23A or Peacemaker fleet and introduce a project to extend the lifetime of the planes that were deployed at Wing 5 in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

 

The air force chief said the lifespan of Peacemaker aircraft could be prolonged unlike F-5 and F-16 jets which would have to be decommissioned when their structures reached their lifetime.

 

Full Story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1064386

 

-- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-11-24

 

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[Enoon]

"which is now the world’s only one remaining fleet of Peacemaker aircraft"

 

There never were any other "fleets".

 

35 Peacemakers were built, specifically for use by the US in it's Vietnam War.

 

Operational test and evaluation found them rejected for service. 1 crashed, 34 went back to the US:

 

"The 4400th recommended the aircraft not be used in combat without a major upgrade program. Specific problems identified included a slow combat speed (135 knots (250 km/h)), a low working altitude, no capability for "zoom" escapes after delivering ordnance and a complete lack of armor protection for the crew and vital aircraft systems. On June 30, 1972, the 4400th SOS ferried the AU-23As to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, for storage."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_AU-23_Peacemaker

 

All eventually handed over to RTAF.

 

 

[ChrisY1]

Nowadays, the RTAF uses these for fishing and camping trips.....

[herfiehandbag]

6 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

Nowadays, the RTAF uses these for fishing and camping trips.....

Shark fishing presumably?

[RichardColeman]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

50th anniversary of its Peacemaker fleet which is now the world’s only one remaining fleet of Peacemaker aircraft.

World moves on , Thailand stands still

[KhunLA]

Cool plane, and I've photographed my share of them, since seeing almost on a daily basis.

 

 

 

 

[mikebell]

So Peacemaker was the name given to War planes?

[mwbrown]

17 minutes ago, mikebell said:

So Peacemaker was the name given to War planes?

and a MIRV-capable intercontinental ballistic missile.  Ironic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGM-118_Peacekeeper

[BKKBike09]

Great STOL aircraft. Basically a Porter. Not sure if the RTAF ones still have Garrett engine or have been changed to a flavour of the PT-6?

[bangon04]

13 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Nowadays, the RTAF uses these for fishing and camping trips.....

they are also useful for spying on the Myanmar rebels just over the hill.....