Nœrdic A5A 'Tunnaan'

Noerdic A5A 'Tunnaan' FJ-A-50017 seen at Driista air base, Fjållslønd

## Design history

By the 130's, jet engines were steadily becoming ever more powerful. As Nœrdic still held an edge on jet engine production within Fjållslønd, it focussed to use this to its advantage in attempting to exploit gaps in the market as the company was running ahead of its main competitors within the nation. It was no secret at the time that the Fjållsløndic military was considering to scrap its aging fleet of Trünaann D4A and D4B Triidunds despite having no replacement, which Nœrdic saw as a perfect place to start. However this was also a risky endeavor since some generals had expressed their lack of interest for a dedicated bomber type replacement.

Nonetheless Nœrdic rushed ahead hoping to convince the military such an aircraft still held advantages and could also be put to other uses if necessary, like prolonged air and SAR patrols or reconnaissance missions. Wanting to outspeed the competition and military decision-making, Nœrdic engineers were given a short timeframe to create the aircraft. Using the layout from their previous jet fighter aircraft (the Nœrdic K10) as a base, they simply upscaled the idea of a two engined, straight wing aircraft with the necessary adjustments.

The result was a 23 tonne monster capable of carrying up to 3000kg of bombs at relatively high speed, 2 fixed forward facing 23mm cannons and the same amount of firepower for a gunner positioned in the tail.

As the K10 design had caused skepticism toward jet technology and some wanted to drop bomber aircraft altogether, initial interest from the military staff were low. This soon changed after the initial A5A test flights in A.A.129, as its performance was far above what the FFAF and FNAA expected. Orders soon followed for hundreds of aircraft, which even took Nœrdic by surprise. Despite the somewhat basic looking aircraft design, crews loved operating the type, often referring to the A5A as 'the tunnaann' (barrel) due to the basic looking tube structure of the fuselage. The aircraft remained on frontline duty until A.A. 149, though some remained in service long after for secondary missions. As of writing some of the airframes still serve as ground instructional airframes for both pilot and ground crew training.

## Operational History

### **The Nœrdic A5A during Royalist and Pan-Tundra conflict**

By A.A.148, Fjållslønd found itself at war with the previously allied PANN-Tundra, who demanded the abdication of the Royal Family in response to Fjållslønd joining the Royalist pact. Within days an attache arrived at Driista air base with top secret orders for 'operation prins', an attack on strategic Kalytrian targets which were to be conducted by the 315th Naval Attack Squadron in combination with other squadrons focussing various targets.

#### **Leading the mission, FJ-A-50017 from 315 Squadron**

Leading the mission for the 315th was the squadron C.O., Alvar Drökzon flying 'FJ-A-50071'. The upper surfaces of the aircraft were given a blue top coat for the mission, while the Naval Fin flash on the rudder if tge kead aircraft was elongated over the vertical stabilizer entirely, so it would be easily identified by the rest of the squadron. Although many years have passed, the mission is still shrouded in secrecy to this day.

Produced in A.A. 130, FJ-A-50017 was the 3th aircraft in the second batch of A5A's and delivered to the navy in March of A.A. 131. It initially served with the 22nd Naval Squadron based at Driista for 6 years, until it had a landing mishap where the nose wheel collapsed as the aircraft overshot the runway as it came in from an uneventful patrol. The aircraft was set for repairs which were kept being delayed. By A.A. 141 the 22nd Naval squadron relocated to Strök air base and was replaced by the 315th Naval Attack Squadron at Driista air base. Needing aircraft with low flight hours, ground crews set about making '50017' flightworthy again. After repairs the aircraft was test flown by the squadron CO, Alvar Drökzon, who immediately after landing stated his wish to have the aircraft assigned to him personally.