The Machete: The Super Plane That Could Replace the A-10 Warthog Or Not?

Stavatti, the mercurial, Minnesota-based aerospace startup, has dusted off its old proposal for a new attack plane to partially replace the U.S. Air Force’s venerable A-10 Warthog.

The Machete, which is still just a concept, would come in two variants optimized for close air support?—?the propeller-driven SM-27 and the jet-propelled SM-28. Stavatti has proposed other variants of the Machete for air-to-air combat and advanced training.

The Air Force will propose its 2018 budget sometime in the spring of 2017. That budget could include the first substantial funding for a new light attack plane for U.S. forces. Whether Stavatti’s unbuilt, unflown Machete stands any chance of meeting the requirement remains to be seen?—?and likely depends on the Air Force’s willingness to take a chance on an unproven design from a small company.

More at: http://bit.ly/the-machete