A-10 Forever

Originalboxcar · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:37 am

Strategy Page article on the A-10:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairf ... 60818.aspx

Quote:

August 18, 2006: The U.S. Air Force wants to keep it's A-10 ground attack aircraft going at least another ten years. That means that over 300 of them have to be rebuilt and upgraded. That's because the A-10s were built three decades ago, with a service life of 4,000 hours in the air. Most have already got over 6,000 hours. So refurbishment will extend service life to 16,000 hours, and install an F-16 like cockpit, along with the ability to use a targeting pod and deliver GPS and laser guided bombs. This makes the A-10 the most versatile ground support aircraft in service. The A-10 still has its 30mm cannon, which, while designed to destroying armored vehicles, has proved useful against all manner of targets. The targeting pod also enables A-10 pilots to cruise around at night, and get a high-resolution view of what's going on down there. The infantry depend on the extra eye in the sky, and the ability to deliver anything from 30mm cannon fire, to Maverick missiles to 500 pound JDAM smart bombs.

Regards,

t~

TAdan · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:42 am

That is very good news for A-10 fans

I was under the impression that its days were numbered. Glad to hear it will stick around a while longer.

Former Member · **Joined:** Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:40 pm **Posts:** 1493

I witnessed A-10's in action during the 1st Gulf War and they are quite a sight to see!!! Nothing puts a bigger smile on my face more than the sound of that 30mm gatling spitting out rounds down range......brrrrrrrrrrr!
:twisted:

John

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:04 am

The A-10 and the USAF have a love-hate relationship. The Air Force isn't fond of it seemingly because it is sub-sonic and not shiny. But nothing else can rival it, except perhaps the Su 25 Frogfoot

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:39 am

I think I read in Janes Defense Weekly recently the upgraded airframes will be receiving the A-10C designation.

Mike

Paul Krumrei · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:06 pm **Posts:** 1757

I too have seen them in the first Gulf War and let me tell you, aint nothing like having that bird coming in when your calling on an airstrike. Sweet sound of heaven when you hear that bastard coming in and kicking some sweet tail!

Larry Kraus · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:27 pm

Maybe its just a coincidence,but the last time that the USAF said that the A-10's were destined for the junkyard,the Army said that they would fly them.

Suddenly,the USAF decided that maybe they would keep a few A-10's going after all.

retroaviation · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:36 pm

Call me crazy, but I've often wondered why the Marines don't use the A-10 in their inventory. It fits right in with their role and would probably do a better close air support role than say...the Harrier.

Just my $.02 worth.

Gary Austin

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Scott WRG Editor wrote:

But nothing else can rival it, except perhaps the Su 25 Frogfoot

How about the Piper Enforcer? :lol:

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:03 pm

the warthog has given bang for the buck to taxpayers like other unshiney subsonic birds such as the b-52, the a-7, the intruder, on & on. up grade them!!! it will stretch the buck for the long overburdend taxpayer!!

Former Member · **Joined:** Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:40 pm **Posts:** 1493

Paul Krumrei wrote:

I too have seen them in the first Gulf War and let me tell you, aint nothing like having that bird coming in when your calling on an airstrike. Sweet sound of heaven when you hear that bastard coming in and kicking some sweet tail!

Paul,
Just curious what unit you were in and what your job was during the war?

I was with the 1st Cavalry Division (1 Battalion - 8th cavalry) out of Ft. Hood, TX. We were heavy mechanized and rode around on the M-2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

John

Ztex · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:58 pm

Quote:

How about the Piper Enforcer?

I like it!

marine air · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 2:11 pm

F-16's Rule dude!! There isn't anything the F-16 can't do better than any other aircraft in the world!!! Just stick a pod under the wing and switch to "full auto"" and ROCK and Roll!!! Dude. F-16's are made by General Dynamics in Texas and everything in Texas is bigger and better, right?
When I was in a C-130 unit with the ANG from 89-96, this was the gist of most of the articles in the Air Force Times and other pubs. THey were actually trying to get rid of the A-10's and fill it's role with helicopters and various pods slung underneath the F-16D. You know we were not going to be fighting any more of those dirty, gritty cinflicts like that little problem we had in S.E. Asia. I got so freakin tired of the hype. The A-10 isn't going away anytime in the next 20 years or so. It will only be replaced when they design an updated "platform" to perform it's critical battlefield mission.

Ztex · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 2:27 pm

Quote:

There isn't anything the F-16 can't do better than any other aircraft in the world!

Hmmm...how does it fly if you loose ONE engine?

RickH · **Posted:** Mon Aug 21, 2006 2:28 pm

OK, here's a story that came out of Korea. The F-4 was KING and the F-16 was brand new. A Captain was taking the F-16 around to the Korean bases to show it off to the troops. He was talking to a bunch of F-4 types and asked them what they thought of the new F-16. They thought a moment and said " don't we carry one of these on the F-4 as a spare ?" The Captain got pi$$ed off and walked away !

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