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Fighter Pilots Reveal Why You Don't Want To Mess With The A-10 Warthog In A Dogfight
The Drive ^ | 26 Jan 2021 | Jamie Hunter

Posted on 01/26/2021 3:41:06 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT

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To: Steely Tom

“I wonder how far the misses can fly.”

A fascinating question!
A quick search, nothing solid.
On to my Guru... he used to have some Hatcher data tables somewhere... not much?
I have a PDF of the Hatcher Handbook, not searchable.???
Available in TXT, should be searchable but from 1940s, not likely they have data on this 30mm projectile.

https://archive.org/details/Hatchers_Notebook

This is my Guru for ballistics and fun reading.
https://www.frfrogspad.com/miscella.htm#maximum

“In a vacuum a firearm would achieve its absolute maximum range at an elevation of 45°. However, with typical small arms projectiles the effect of air resistance is so great that maximum range is usually obtained at a departure angle of between 29° and 35°. The table below gives the calculated approximate absolute maximum ranges for some common rounds using modern drag modeling techniques at standard sea level conditions, and a not so common projectile. It may differ from some previously published data based on older methods of computation. The data indicated by “#” is from government firing tables.”

And he does address the firing from elevation maxium range.


41 posted on 01/26/2021 6:09:52 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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To: PIF

The ‘Chopper Popper’ scored the A-10’s first air-to-air kill…against an Iraqi helicopter

https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/the-chopper-popper-scored-the-a-10s-first-air-to-air-kill-against-an-iraqi-helicopter/

After the war, Swain went back to his job flying Boeing 747s for U.S. Air and is still in the Air Force Reserve, now with the rank of Colonel.


42 posted on 01/26/2021 6:23:45 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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To: Hulka

Concur with the 12,000 foot accurate strafing. Very easy to get hits at that distance.

Qualified in F-5/F-4 and A-10. The Hog was definitely the most fun. It was hard to keep the oxygen mask hooked up because I was grinning so much.

I’ve done well in phone booths with F-15/16 but separating out is a whole ‘nuther issue.


43 posted on 01/26/2021 6:58:01 PM PST by aviator (Armored Pest Control)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Back in the mid 1970s, my USMC squadron sent a Sikorsky CH-53D [Super Jolly Green Giant) to Top Gun. They bolted a gun camera on the sponson and programed the range computers as if it was armed with Sidewinders.

Our pilots figured out that if they stayed right down on the deck, the fighter radars of that time did not have good ‘look down/shoot down ‘ capibility. So the helo would stay low, looking up for the fighters. Once spotted, they would turn toward him, wait until his dive angle got too steep and he broke off. Then the CH-53 would do a “buttonhook” and pop a Sidewinder up the fighter’s tailpipe.

The 53 was 50-50 against all fighters in the inventory, except the Harrier, which won 90% of the time.


44 posted on 01/26/2021 7:03:43 PM PST by BwanaNdege ( Experience is the best teacher, but if you can accept it 2nd hand, the tuition is less!)
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To: Mariner

Sahib can put a sidewinder on his Cessna.

He can also put a Silkworm antiship missile on it and take out a destroyer.

It doesn’t mean his air platform is superior. The naval corollary is the USS Cole incident where a destroyer was taken out by an inflatable lifeboat.


45 posted on 01/26/2021 7:06:44 PM PST by Kevmo (I'm in a slow motion Red Dawn reality TV show. The tree of liberty is thirsty.)
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To: READINABLUESTATE

#18 get the free ‘uBlock orgin’ add on.
Any thing it does not block you can right click on and Block element. Soon web pages are clean of ads.


46 posted on 01/26/2021 9:32:36 PM PST by minnesota_bound (I need more money. )
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To: BwanaNdege

That sounds very familiar to me. I recall similar exercises where the Harrier pulled up vertically 100 feet, pointed their radar and missile tracker at the fighter jets, and recorded multiple kills.

Nowadays, such a thing can be done with drones as far as I can tell.

Do ya got a link to the original article?


47 posted on 01/26/2021 9:33:18 PM PST by Kevmo (I'm in a slow motion Red Dawn reality TV show. The tree of liberty is thirsty.)
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To: usconservative

Here’s a GREAT story of an F-15 (Israeli) pilot who somehow defied McDonnell Douglas engineers who said it was not possible for an F-15 to fly, little own LAND, with 1 wing.

That’s correct - an F-15 with ONE (port side) wing, and nothing but leaking fuel starboard side.

https://theaviationist.com/2014/09/15/f-15-lands-with-one-wing/


48 posted on 01/26/2021 11:13:46 PM PST by ro_dreaming ("A nation that forgets its past has no future." - Winston Churchill)
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To: DUMBGRUNT
As a ground pounding tanker I love the fact of the A-10. We finally had something that could support us from the air. And believe me, we are vulnerable to a competent air force, which, fortunately, US armor has not had to face in my lifetime. We knew that in the event of a war with the Sov's the Air Force would abandon us and head off for their dogfights. But the A-10 was our air support!

I know the Air Force hates this aircraft, but I love it!

49 posted on 01/26/2021 11:46:10 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: protoconservative

Look up the High YoYo.
Mig 17s and 19s could turn way tighter then Phantoms or Navy F 8s.
Using their higher power and climb rate the US pilots would go vertical and be turn inside the enemy. Three a lot more to dog fighting then turning radius.

The A 10 is the greatest at what it was designed for, ground attack .


50 posted on 01/27/2021 4:52:54 AM PST by Kozak (The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.)
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To: Steely Tom

Hahahahahah...As long as I am not Nailed to The Hull...:)


51 posted on 01/27/2021 5:00:44 AM PST by rlmorel ("I’d rather enjoy a risky freedom than a safe servitude." Robby Dinero, USMC Veteran, Gym Owner)
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To: usconservative

Had an A-10 pilot tell me this— The A-10 is a titanium bathtub cockpit with an aircraft built around it, they put the gatling gun on it to make it sexy. Ultimate tank, bunker, and vehicle killer, hands down, no contest.


52 posted on 01/27/2021 5:41:12 AM PST by Ponyexpress9790
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To: taterjay
I wonder how many times I have been a target out in the field with a tractor???

What a novel way to die!

53 posted on 01/27/2021 6:26:16 AM PST by Right Wing Assault (Die-ggl,TWT,FCBK,NYT,WPo,Hwd,CNN,NFL,BLM,CAIR,Antf,SPLC,ESPN,NPR,NBA,ARP,MSNBC )
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To: Ponyexpress9790
'The A-10 is a titanium bathtub cockpit with an aircraft built around it"

Titanium travertine bathtub

Looks kind of heavy?

54 posted on 01/27/2021 6:29:06 AM PST by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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To: Ponyexpress9790
More like this one?
55 posted on 01/27/2021 6:32:25 AM PST by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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To: aviator

Yeah, separating is darned near impossible, so hide at low level, defeat with turns and then go offensive.

Never lost a turning fight with anything out there. Found German Low Fly 7 to be the most fun. Heck, even German 104’s zipped under us, but at any given time we would be bounced by anything.

NATO exercise, supposed to go to an EW range in France. Called and called to get approval from the French controllers to cross into France. No answer. Climbed and contacted the Legion’s helo on the range and after standing by for about 5-min, he called me and said I am cleared to enter. About 15-min after crossing saw a F-1 swooping down out of the Sun, trying to get on our 6.

I called a 180 turn and the F-1 quarter-planed and attempted to reposition so we turned again and again he zoomed up and attempted another entry. He was not going away so I pitched back and up (rapidly losing speed) and put my gun in his face, he zoomed up and ran away. Rest of the mission uneventful.

0345 mass brief the next day, had an American controller, a German controller and a French controller and the French controller started to fuss at us all about somebody that entered France without permission and the Frence were angry.

After the brief the American and German and American controller came to my wingman and I. They told us they hate the French and knew it was me but told the French controller the call-sign mission details were shredded at the end of the day (yeah, right), so no way to find out who it was.

Seems the French controllers heard me calling but it was time for their cheese and wine break so they refused to answer. When they saw us enter France, they scrambled a live strip-alert fighter to intercept us.

France. . .always a team player.

Anyway, I am diverted. . .flew the Hog out of Bentwaters (I’m an old guy), then Alconbury, then the school house at D-M. You?


56 posted on 01/27/2021 8:05:42 AM PST by Hulka ( )
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To: colorado tanker

I was a FAC with the 101at during Gulf War I. Loved the A-10 but my heart hurt when I would call in Hogs flown by pilots I trained.

Happy and sad at the same time.

;-)


57 posted on 01/27/2021 8:10:37 AM PST by Hulka ( )
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To: taterjay

Countless times, I imagine.


58 posted on 01/27/2021 8:17:20 AM PST by Hulka ( )
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To: cyclotic

And I transitioned from the A-10 to the F-15E. . .A-10 most fun and the community of A-10 pilots was a true brotherhood.


59 posted on 01/27/2021 8:18:36 AM PST by Hulka ( )
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To: PIF

I don’t think those necessarily mean air to air kills, and more likely destroyed on the runway and verified by gun camera.


60 posted on 01/27/2021 8:20:02 AM PST by Joe 6-pack
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