The BRRRRTTTT keeps coming:
Maj. Matt Paetzhold, an A-10C Thunderbolt instructor pilot with the 76th Fighter Squadron, climbs aboard a Warthog at Moody Air Force Base on Sept. 9, 2017. (SrA Daniel Snider/Air Force)
The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin turbofan engined, straight-winged, jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic for the United States Air Force (USAF). It is commonly referred to by the nicknames “Warthog” or “Hog”, although the A-10’s official name comes from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II fighter-bomber effective at attacking ground targets. T
The A-10 was designed for close air support (CAS) of friendly ground troops, attacking armored vehicles and tanks, and providing quick-action support against enemy ground forces. It entered service in 1976 and is the only production-built aircraft that has served in the USAF that was designed solely for CAS. Its secondary mission is to provide forward air controller – airborne support, by directing other aircraft in attacks on ground targets. Aircraft used primarily in this role are designated OA-10.
NDAA would fully fund A-10 Warthog upgrades
By: Stephen Losey
The A-10 has come a long way since its dark days of 2015.
About four years ago, the Warthog’s future was very much in doubt as the Air Force was trying to mothball the slow, deadly and grunt-beloved close-air support attack aircraft. At the time, the Air Force faced a budget crunch and an incoming F-35 fleet that required more people and resources.
Critics of the Air Force also said the service wanted to scrap the plane because it was disinterested in flying close-air support, which former Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh vehemently denied.
But in a sign of how passe the A-10 debate has become, full funding for Warthog upgrades next year — including re-winging them — just passed the House Armed Services Committee with nary an objection. The panel approved its proposed version of the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act in a marathon session that concluded early Thursday morning.
Arizona Reps. Ruben Gallego and Ann Kirkpatrick applauded the A-10 funding in a statement.
“The A-10 Warthog has immeasurable value to our U.S. troops on the ground and plays a critical role in our military strategy in the Middle East and around the world,” Gallego said. “I’m glad that we were able to keep this fleet fully operational, and I will continue to fight to preserve this aircraft to ensure that the warfighter on the ground gets their air support.”
The rest of the article may be found here: Air Force Times
Thanks to Wiki for background.
Category: "Your Tax Dollars At Work", Air Force, Blue Skies, Bravo Zulu, Guns, Soldiers Angels, Terror War
I love the sound of *BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT* any time of day.
As long as we have air superiority over the battle space, there will be a critical CAS role for the A-10. It is also one of the greatest vehicle destroyers (including armor) ever conceived.
“Critics of the Air Force also said the service wanted to scrap the plane because it was disinterested in flying close-air support, which former Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh vehemently denied.”
Well, all due respect to Gen Welsh, it was a fair critique. Just like the Navy brass like their big, powerful ships, the Zoomie generals like sleek, supersonic dog fighting stealth jets. It’s just how they are.
I’m happy to see the Warthog staying flying. They are awesome machines. We need to build a solid replacement for them.
WARTHOG the grunt’s (and tanker’s) best friend. A weapons platform more viable in today’s battlefield than the one it was designed for. Today’s skirmishes need a weapon like the hog for more than the tank-killer it was designed as. I see pictures of the Toyota mounted 23MM maxi muzzle flash and can only think of a hog rolling in on it. A Vulcan retrofit might be a good addition for ground support of troops with an additional ammo load and time-on-station capability.
Despite the provisions of the Havana treaty the hog might best be flown by the forces it supports. Army gunnies could wreak ungodly wrath with it and a Marine carrier-based version could provide a global flexibility unimagined.
Build more hogs. they’re needed practical more now than for the original battlefield.
Marines already have the F-35 STOVL Lightening II replacing the AV-8B Harrier. Modding an A-10 for carrier duty would be a heavy lift indeed.
‘Modding an A-10 for carrier duty would be a heavy lift indeed.’
Another shack.
It would cost mega-bucks and involve numerous modifications in order to add the following:
– Folding wings
– Beefed up landing gear for carrier landings
– Reinforced nose strut and launch bar for catapult launches
– Tail hook
– “Harden” avionics for shipboard ops
– Reconfigure ordnance so that it’s shipboard HERO safe
– Etc., etc., etc.
And I won’t even get into the shipboard corrosion control issues that would be involved.
Interesting idea, but probably not viable.
What’s the stall speed of the Hog?
What’s the takeoff roll?
What’s the wind down the deck?
What’s the wing length?
What’s the elevator width?
Would a Jeep carrier work as a hog specialty?
Put a pair of 20mm gun pods on hardpoints if the mission calls for a rain of slightly smaller stuff.
Or pod eight .50 cals and a crapload of rounds, and go old-school on the opposition, like its P-47 predecessor.
I believe there were some P-38 and B-25 ground attack field modifications that had as a design “how many machine guns and cannons can we put on this thing, and still take off?” Now imagine such a monster based on an A-10 and modern chain/Gatling designs.
Probably antiquated by today’s standards, but what a thing to send out as an exercise in terror for the enemy.
“Slightly smaller stuff” is exactly what I had in mind for the contemporary battlefield. A couple of GAU-8’s could be kept in the squadron in the event of armor contact or other hard targets.
Keep the ideas coming!!!
Some Pentagon REMF might be reading.
Maybe even Senator McSally.
I’ve probably heard more BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTs than most. My Shop was less than a block from Eglin AFB’s Test Area 21’s static test facility of the GAU 8 ammo and barrel longevity. Sometimes when they’d salvo a burst I’d rub my stomach and say “oh, please excuse me”. Could hear the TA 74 trajectory tests from my home a few miles North also.
You are pretty spot on in your assessment. As I recall, prior to First Gulf War, all A-10 birds were flown by Air National Guard outfits. The fighter mafia didn’t want anything to do with them. If they cannot shoot a missile at something 40 miles away, they regarded it and still do to some extent, as beneath the fighter mafia. Once the A-10 birds started killing absolutely everything and getting hot publicity the AF changed their minds on it.
I had the opportunity, (mumblesomething) years ago, to attend a “capabilities briefing” by the Air Force to a class of ROTC Cadets and Army officers.
The F-16 and F-15 pilots were their usual charming selves. Good pitch, lots of foodstuff, and it sounded awesome.
Then the A-10 guy spoke up. He was wearing a flight suit, not a fancy suit. He looked tolerantly smug. He said (as best as I can recall) “The fighter community talks about kills. They usually count them in single digits. My job is mass killing. I can get five plus kills in one gun run. The A-10 community is all about killing, not talking about it.”
The fighter guys were, to put it mildly, annoyed.
Foodstuff? What the fark?
Zoomstuff
WW2 Republic’s P-47 Thunderbolt was the A-10 of it’s day. Took a licking and kept on ticking. I forgot it’s nickname though.
The WW2 P-47 Thunderbolt was also known as the “Jug”.
‘Republic P-47D Thunderbolt’
https://flyingheritage.org/Explore/The-Collection/United-States/Republic-P-47D-Thunderbolt.aspx
‘Built as a high altitude interceptor, the Thunderbolt became a legend attacking ground targets in the last year of World War II. Before America’s entry into war, the U.S. Army put out the call for bigger, more complex fighters. Republic’s Thunderbolt had heavy armor, eight guns, and a powerful radial engine. It weighed nearly five tons empty—more than any existing single-engine fighter.
The pilots who flew the dependable P-47 Thunderbolt in combat lovingly called it the “Jug.” The P-47’s first assignments were bomber escort, but after D-Day, most P-47s fought close to the ground in the fighter-bomber role, attacking enemy trains, tanks, and troops in front of advancing Allied armies in France and Germany. The Jug was legendary for its ability to absorb terrible battle damage and still make it home.
[…].’
I recall reading words along the lines of, “If you like flash and a hit with the ladies, fly the Mustang. If you actually want to come home after your mission, the Jug is you bird.”
Damn, Mick. What it must have been like, a 19 year old kid, eight feet tall and completely covered with hair, taking a Jug into low level harms way with Ma Deuce and her seven sisters. Lucky bastards.
Shack.
A former squadron mate of mine still tells a story from the early ’90s of where was talking to a former WW2 USAAF P-47 fighter pilot, and the subject of the P-51 Mustang came up.
The old P-47 pilot told him: “If you want to look good in a photograph, go stand next to a Mustang. If you want to come home alive from a combat mission, fly the Jug.”
Unfortunately, and ironically, they blame it’s ruggedness and repairability for them being run into the ground by air forces all over the world, resulting in there being a comparatively few still around.
That’s the quote, thanks.
There was a book written about a P-47 that took a beating when a German Pilot attacked it and with all the ammo he used could not bring it down. The 47 was out of ammo and seeing this, the German pilot escorted him back to allied lines and gave the 47 pilot a salute. Years later the two pilots met and became fast friends over the years.
The P-47 was our tank of the sky in WWII. Its air cooled radial engine was significantly less susceptible to ground fire that the liquid cooled fighters like the P-38, P-40, and P-51. A few machine gun rounds through any parts of the cooling system on those fighters and it was game over.
If I recall correctly, it was called “The Jug.”
My woodie just BRRRRRRRRRRRRT burst out and swelled proportionally. The ground pounders favorite Aerial Artillery.
I will take things the AF wants to trash for $100 Alex!
One of these days, would love to know the details of what a US Navy AW1 is….or a LPH3..
Have figured out PH2…😊
At least the Navy now knows that the Field Artillery is the King of Battle (AKA Gun-Bunnies/Redlegs/Cannon-Cockers); that the Infantry is the Queen of Battle (AKA Grunts), Special Forces are SnakeEaters, Engineers are Rooks, Signal Corps are Wire Dawgs, that Claw is a Supply Daddy (beansandbullets), that Military Intelligence are Spooks, that Ordnance are also Wrench Turners and “Fire In The Hole!”, etc.etc…yet, I have yet to figure out all the Navy MOS/job descriptions and Ranks….well, have to admit I learned about the Navy Officer Ranks by watching “Star Trek” and “McCale’s Navy”…(and NOT by that Movie That Shall Not Be Named)…
scottybeammeup
😉😎
“…the details of what a US Navy AW1 is…”
Once upon a time, long ago on a ocean far, far away…
First of all, the Navy divides its enlisted ranks into Rates and Ratings. Rate is rank, so AW1 is a First Class Petty Officer, E-6, the “1” part. Ratings are what you would call an MOS, or job skill. “AW” in my day was “Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Operator.” So I was an E-6 Antisubmarine Warfare Operator, or AW1. There are also classification codes to further define the specific specialty and aircraft type, but there’s no need to go down that rabbit hole here.
I started out as an AWAN (AW Airman, E-3) in SH-2 helos as a SensO (sensor operator), dry or wet crewman depending if I was going to jump or hoist, load master, crew chief, plane captain, and even got to shoot the M-60 for a door gunner qual.
All of it was a blast, of course, but reality came with marriage and a child, so I opted out of helos and went to the mighty P-3 Orion, where I was deep-dipped in under sea acoustics and signature characteristics of Soviet warships and especially their submarines. The sensors, tactics and systems on the aircraft had to be mastered as well.
I went from helo jock to playing 3-D chess with Soviet submarine commanders. Talk about the thrill of the hunt…
Hope this helped.
So that is what this AW1 was, maybe AW1 Tim will show up with his story.
Pulling for you,
Ed
The debate on keeping the A-10 was always just a pretense about who was going to ultimately fund it. Congress wanted the AF to fund it out of their normal budget while the AF wanted Congress to fund it out of a supplementary provision. Both were using the A-10 (and the lives it protects) as a bargaining chip.
My favorite plane ever!!