The A-10 warthog

[Aloha_Shooter]

For the life of me I can't figure out why the AF can't think more dynamically and realize that "We already have that aircraft" rather than building another one.

There is still a segment of the AF that thinks everything needs to be a sexy jet or the pilots won't get laid.

Funny because I think the only AF jobs more macho than what the A-10 drivers do are PJs (not an officer job) and the kind of unarmed spotting the OV-10s used to do. All three jobs take/took some huge brass cojones. At the end of the day, you're right, the AF brass who hate the Warthog will eventually get their wish if for no other reason than the inability to sustain the platform long-term.

OTOH, the Warthog job is precisely what I had in mind in SOS when I said some of our aerial jobs could be done without placing pilots' lives at risk (yeah, I was very unpopular with most of the flyers although there was one Eagle driver who was intrigued). One "out of the box thinker" in our last seminar in the Blue Bedroom grabbed the mike in response to my question and said that was an engineers' wet dream (much hooting by the flyers who were awake). 4 years later, it was official doctrine in AF Vision 2025 ...

[RMAC757]

There is still a segment of the AF that thinks everything needs to be a sexy jet or the pilots won't get laid.

Funny because I think the only AF jobs more macho than what the A-10 drivers do are PJs (not an officer job) and the kind of unarmed spotting the OV-10s used to do. All three jobs take/took some huge brass cojones. At the end of the day, you're right, the AF brass who hate the Warthog will eventually get their wish if for no other reason than the inability to sustain the platform long-term.

OTOH, the Warthog job is precisely what I had in mind in SOS when I said some of our aerial jobs could be done without placing pilots' lives at risk (yeah, I was very unpopular with most of the flyers although there was one Eagle driver who was intrigued). One "out of the box thinker" in our last seminar in the Blue Bedroom grabbed the mike in response to my question and said that was an engineers' wet dream (much hooting by the flyers who were awake). 4 years later, it was official doctrine in AF Vision 2025 ...

Lucky enough to have cousin who is one He is worn out though...apparently they are very short in terms of numbers. I know guys who did Iraq deployments in the A-10 and spent the their searching for IED setups. It seems a drone woulda been more purposely suited.

[clublights]

Attachment 53417. Notice the cannon on the left side.

You mean the standard cannon port of EVERY F-16 made ??





I grew up an Air Force brat ..... Near Nellis And Hill AFB's ... I kinda have been studying fighters since I was old enough to hold the books in my own hands...

[Gman]

I hope he meant 20th century airplane...

Sent from my electronic leash.

[RMAC757]

You mean the standard cannon port of EVERY F-16 made ??





I grew up an Air Force brat ..... Near Nellis And Hill AFB's ... I kinda have been studying fighters since I was old enough to hold the books in my own hands...

Yes, that is the same gun port that is on every F-16 ever made....but it was a different gun, a 30mm cannon as apposed to the standard 20mm Vulcan. The belly prodded GAU's were deployed on over 20 aircraft and encountered severe stability problems. They flew missions in Desert Storm. The ( block 16's I believe ) A-16 test production variant only had 2 models created before it was scratched, both were based at Shaw. Like I said earlier, there wasn't just "one" variation. The production included a strengthened wing structure along with the 30mm cannon. There was only one dedicated production model. The heat from the 30mm burned the aircraft "internals". That is why it was stopped. We probably have a lot in common if your into fighter/fighter history.

[RMAC757]

I hope he meant 20th century airplane...

Sent from my electronic leash.

No....he said 19 century sarcastically. I think he didn't care for it compared to the Hornet.

[clublights]

No....he said 19 century sarcastically. I think he didn't care for it compared to the Hornet.

Well thats simply because the Bug is better then the Viper


Tho Viper Drivers make better bands ....

[RMAC757]

Well thats simply because the Bug is better then the Viper


Tho Viper Drivers make better bands ....

"Wish I had gas just like a mud hen ".......Love it.

[Gman]

Congress authorizes $577 billion in U.S. defense spending

The measure bars retirement of the A-10 Warthog close air support plane, beloved by ground troops because of its ability to fly low and destroy enemy tanks. The Air Force wants to retire the fleet to cut costs and retrain maintenance personnel to work on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

[clublights]

Too bad the congress critters baring of retirement of the A-10 has nothing to do with protecting troops as much as it has to do with keeping money flowing in home districts.