Cal Fire’s OV-10A Bronco Air Attack 310 orbits above a wildfire in Anza. Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo
High above the smoke column emitted by a wildfire, a lone aircraft orbits tirelessly, twin turbo-prop engines droning a welcome tune. Firefighting aircraft swarm in a well-planned ballet in the air beneath it.Cal Fire’s OV-10A Bronco Air Attack 310 directs resources to battle fires. Air tankers and helitack forces are guided as they drop a phos-chek fire retardant and water on the inferno.Manufactured by North American-Rockwell in Columbus, Ohio, 310 was originally built for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and served from 1968-1993. OV-10A aircraft were used as counter-insurgency aircraft and close air support for military ground forces.In 1993, 310 and 14 other OV-10As were acquired from the Department of Defense and converted for use as air attack planes. These aircraft are
