One filthy A-10 ...

[Mark Allen M]

170706-F-ER377-0744 by Central Repository for Aviation Photos, on Flickr
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II departs after receiving fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, July 6, 2017. The A-10 employs a wide variety of conventional munitions in support of OIR and the destruction of ISIS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride)

[Malo83]

30 MM cannon has been getting a workout

[quemerford]

That is a beautiful photo of a beautiful aeroplane!

[DH82EH]

UGLY!

(but well hung)

Great photo!

[quemerford]

I've never subscribed to the strange assertion that the A-10 is ugly. Handsome? Yes. Beautiful? In my eye yes too.

But ugly? Why? Because someone thought it was and many join in?

[Lon Moer]

I've never subscribed to the strange assertion that the A-10 is ugly. Handsome? Yes. Beautiful? In my eye yes too.

But ugly? Why? Because someone thought it was and many join in?

Why?
The official name is Thunderbolt II, but the crews thought it was so ugly they named it "Warthog" that's why

[airnutz]

The official name is Thunderbolt II, but the crews thought it was so ugly they named it "Warthog" that's why

You're assuming the crews weren't bestowing an honor, maybe they felt the A-10 was as "handsome" as themselves? I always thought the Warthog is Stuka-handsome...

[marine air]

1) Typical warbird wash job done by "volunteers" . The greasy underside always gets skipped.
2) Typical condition of a squadron aircraft that is being tasked very heavily. Scheduled washes get deferred to get the aircraft back in the fight. IS most of that grit from the cannon?
3) Water is rationed at the base where the A-10 is stationed. When I was overseas working as a contractor we had a "water buffalo" that had about 100 gallons of non potable water in it. The flight chief decided to give some guys busy work and had them washing the Toyota Landcruiser and some other equipment. After they went through the 100 gallons they were told the water was rationed and wouldn't be getting any more. Would've been nice to have for the aircraft windshields which we cleaned with bottled drinking water.

[Mark Allen M]

One a bit cleaner

U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II with the 303rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, peels away from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Eastern Afghanistan, July by Central Repository for Aviation Photos, on Flickr
U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II with the 303rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, peels away from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Eastern Afghanistan, July

[Mark Allen M]

Doesn't look 'ugly' to me ...

10848688_426825970806649_3949110551625798519_o by Central Repository for Aviation Photos, on Flickr

[Scott Rose]

Probably my favorite "modern" aircraft

[dusttinbound]

My question is why the hell is it carrying 2 AIM-9's. Its not like we don't have air superiority and I figure it could be used to carry one more bomb.

[CAPFlyer]

Even with "air superiority", it doesn't mean that there isn't a chance to run into a hostile aircraft (even if it's a converted civilian one or a drone) and there might arise the need to take it out.

[airnutz]

1) Typical warbird wash job done by "volunteers" . The greasy underside always gets skipped.
2) Typical condition of a squadron aircraft that is being tasked very heavily. Scheduled washes get deferred to get the aircraft back in the fight. IS most of that grit from the cannon?

In lieu of expert reply, I'm guessing that is the residue from the GAU-8. Regardless, when I saw this image the aroma of a bucket of Varsol was remembered and the feel of it running off the rag down my armpit to my beltline where the inevitable petroleum burn would appear later. Still a better task than crawling to the rearmost area of the fuselage of a D-18 in August to grease the hidden zerk. As a green high school mechanics apprentice, better is a very relative term elusively applied the longer you're a learner. Good motivation to become an earner...

[wendovertom]

I'm with Scott - the plane is just wonderful!

Tom P.