for balance...???
Posted on 09/26/2010 8:11:46 AM PDT by KingOfVagabonds
The Air Force's latest recruiting tool is a Cadillac Escalade-bodied monster truck designed to look like an A10-C Thunderbolt Warthog, complete with a t-shirt-shooting Gatling gun. Wasteful? Yes. Overbuilt? Yes. Awesome? Oh hell yes. God Bless the U.S. Air Force.
(Excerpt) Read more at jalopnik.com ...
Huh. The engine is right in front of the pumpkin.
Don’t let Sheik Obama see that. He will think it’s a waste of taxpayer money.
for balance...???
The A10 was the only thing congress meddled in and got it right. Defense and Presidents tried to kill it tons of times but congress kept it alive for nearly 10 years longer than defense wanted to build it. So I guess they can (even accidentally) do some things right.
THe A-10 was designed for use in Vietnam as a COIN aircraft. It missed that boat.
Fast forward
In every instance where the A-10 was used to attack a fixed target with defenses - it was badly chewed up - luckly we lost no pilots.
As a COIN A/C it is great - good load, good loiter time. But a big, slow target (think ZSU-23-4) - a bullet magnet. And not cheap to maintain. It is late 60s tech after all.
I suspect when the USAF finally gets around to buying a new COIN A/C, you will likely see the last of the A-10s. The new COIN A/C should be cheaper and easier to maintain so they can afford more....
Dunno. But that would make sense.
Hmmm. I always thought it was designed as a tank killer, for the Fulda Gap.
“Pardon me for.....”can I brag about my kid moment”
Last week I got to see my boy land his CH 53........and next week he will be promoted to Captian......Semper Fi”
You may brag about your kid all you want. He has achieved much.
"Sprey's earlier controversial involvement in the F-X project. Sprey's discussions with A-1 Skyraider pilots operating in Vietnam and analysis of the effectiveness of current aircraft used in the role indicated the ideal aircraft should have long loiter time, low-speed maneuverability, massive cannon firepower, and extreme survivability"
The YA-10 had an additional fly-off in 1974 against the Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D Corsair II, the principal Air Force attack aircraft at the time, in order to prove the need to purchase a new attack aircraft.
I was involved in those tests at Range 63, just south of Indian Springs AFAF. To say A-7 pilot wanted nothing to do with the A-10 would be an understatement. A-10 had primative avionics compaired to the A-7D.
During one dog and pony show, the A-10 rolled and fired. Exactly 3 rounds exited the A/C - the cannon had jammed. The A-7 pilots - mostly multi-tour Viet vets looked at each other, got up and left.
Once the many teething problems were sorted out the 'conflict' in RVN was long over.
The A/C needed a new mission - ta-da, the Russkis are trotted out. With a - what, 6 to 1 armor atvantage, the A-10 would not have made that much difference - and the Soviet had a proven "A-10 killer' in inventory - the ZSU-23-4M1. Designed to protect armor columns, it was in the field before the A-10 went into full rate prodcution. Throw in the planned massive use of Tac-Nukes by the Soviet and the A-10 becomes moot.
The A-10 has it's good points - as a former CAS guy, I had to understand what did, and didn't work. But for fixed target, the A-10 is not the answer - and to shoot at hajis in mud forts, it is too expensive.
So, now the dance begins anew for a COIN A/C just in time for us to be out of SWA and just in time to shoot at???
I hope they go for an upgraded OV-10 Bronco - that is something that could in the field in very short order. SPADs (A1E) have been out of broduction for too long and would require a turbine to be considered....
Sorry for the long post -
Long post is good - your knowlege predates me.
;)
First saw an A-10 in 1981 on an FTX god-knows-where - and I thought, “Oohhhh, me want!”
If you chasing troops in the open, busting logistics trains, and I suppose, shooting at hadjis in mud forts - this is your A/C.
Going against an airfield with a multi-layer defense in depth - maybe not so much.
Keep in mind, a modifed P-51 - with a 30mm gun pod, was actually flown the tests. - The idea was to overwhelm with numbers.... The WX in Europe generally sux for CAS - yes?
So, otherwise, howz it going for your gang?
Nah, CAS works in EU if you are good at NAP and scud-runnin’ under the clouds.
Sort of like a VFR under IFR. LOL.
Otherwise, well. All gainfully employed.
I am getting to like this IC gig - but the hours are killing me!
You are taking me back, ASOC. I served in the 355th at Eielson AFB in the 80’s in an A10 squadron. That was our mission. Deploy over the pole into the fight if the Soviets came through the Fulda Gap.
You forgot to ping ASOC...
You have FR mail
It was still silly for the Air Force to try to phase them out 20+ years ago. I would rather have an A-10 called in for COIN support than a chopper.
” ZSU-23-4M1”
So? We had ZSU-23-4M1 killers, too.
Like the MK-57?
Order it up, 1 each.
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