First post of 2026

Wiweko S56 Attack Aircraft

Wiweko S56 was born from Mataram Imperial Airforces requirements for a light yet can deliver heavy punching attack aircraft to replace most ground attack aircraft which were a WW2 and before techs era aircraft,which were deemed to be outdated in fast-paced aircraft developments of 50s.Imperial Airforces then in 1952,held the contest to several Mataram aircraft manufacturers,the requirements are a reliable and simple aircraft with STOL capabilities,must be reliable and can be operated from rough grass/dirt strips,can carried minimum 1000kg of loadouts,2 crew members and to be powered by brand new-state of the art Turboprop engines,which by then there is 2 of them were under development,the single Has-49 and new,more powerful double Soe-51.After several evaluation the Wiweko proposals were adopted in 1954 and the prototypes were further tested without much problem and the performance proved to be satisfactory,then in 1956 the Wiweko were adopted and were received the designation S56 (The S designation were a "Attack" designation or Serang and 56 were the official year of adoption which since the end of WW2,Mataram empire have started to adopt two different calendar,the old Javanese calendar which is still being in used and more modern Gregorian calendar for general purpose) hence the Wiweko S56 are among the first military equipment to adopt the gregorian calendar instead of older javanese calendar use before WW2.

Wiweko S56,were a turboprop-powered attack aircraft that were powered by Soedjiatmo Soe-51 engine,which bring it to maximum speed of 550kph and range of 2800km.Wiweko S56 also able to deliver wide range of weaponry including its own built in 2x 20mm guns and bombs and its variants,napalm,rockets,and gunpods etc which are really useful especially in COIN operation in Laos,Cambodia and Burma.

a prominent unique features of the S-56s are the cabins front were actually consisted from armoured glass which give the pilot the superior view of the surrounding,which are deemed to be great tactical advantage over its contemporaries.it also have 2 crew which consisted of pilot and navigator/radio controller.The navigator/radio controller job is to operate a radio and maintain close contact with ground troops that were operating in area via telephone system,which will increase the effectiveness in terms of cooperation with a ground troops,thus able to operate in much more closer coordination.

Wiweko S56 were a well liked by its pilot which praised its good handling characteristic and its good punching power,and also by Army ground troops operating in conjunction with S56s which thanks to combination of great range,good loitering time,and its capability to pack a lot of armament,which were used in great effect at doing low altitude attack against Communist insurgent in Laos,Cambodia,New Guiniea,Timor and Burma.The Laotian Communist Rebels were reportedly nicknamed the aircraft sad dia la san kem bin or Flying Beast.Which marked its effect on Laotian Rebels which were conducting guerilla warfare against Mataram Empire Allied Kingdoms.Meanwhile its also officially named "Kepik" for Bugs by Mataram Imperial Airforce.

(Source: Shipbucket)

Gallery

Notes

• This aircraft is based on this livery.
• Candy's Akan Ku Tunggu can be listened here.
• When landing, do NOT apply the brake too hard — otherwise the aircraft's propeller will hit the ground.