Defense secretary recommends elimination of A-10 fleet

Tucson News Now ^ | Feb 24, 2014 | Barbara Grijalva

[hinckley buzzard]

What was Gary Powers flying in 1960?

[DJ MacWoW]

Oh yeah! Dr Carson holds nothing back and has stated the truth as often as possible.

[hinckley buzzard]

I know Hagel is a dull-witted dunce, but he was in the Army, one would think even he would appreciate the virtues of the A10. But I guess there's no fixing stupid.

[jttpwalsh]

Gosh, I had no idea that the U-2 was in production for so long. Not being sarcastic - thanks for sharing your personal experience. FREEGards !

[NYFreeper]

I'm with Szonian on this. To say the U-2s flying today are 50 years old, which the article implies, is wrong. Like FAA said, these U-2’s were new built aircraft in the 1980’s. Just like the C-130J which is still being cranked out today, to call it 50 years old is wrong too. OTH, if you want to talk about a 50+ year aircraft, mention the B-52.

[Nachum]

The list, Ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[Nakota]

It’s too bad we don’t have any A-1 Skyraiders left but they were so good at CAS we wore them all out.

[Mr Rogers]

In the first Gulf War, F-111s destroyed a LOT of tanks.

Modern targeting pods make tank killing from 35,000’ possible.

That is not to say we’ll never again need someone down low doing the job, but Obama’s goal is to permanently cripple and destroy as much of the US military as he can in his remaining time in office.

[skinkinthegrass]

Marxist 0'Muslim/DoD Hagel actions, is precisely why the Wdc Establishment Party, must be
restrained ('14) before a foe achieves a overwhelming edge in force, it took USA 2+ yrs pedal-
to-the-metal re-industrialization to fight in a two front war,we shall not have that luxury again.
This entire methodology is Putin's/ChiComs' dream..and look @ "our allies" in the Congress
"whimpering sack of dogshit", even then I'm giving them more credit then they deserve.

[hattend]

BTTT

[M Kehoe]

Hi guy.

The fighter mafia has ALWAYS hated the A-10. Fixed wing CAS should be moved to the Army.

Yep, but the politicians, most of whom haven't been shot at, don't understand CAS.

5.56mm

[grobdriver]

The thing about bombs and missiles in a CAS role is - they run out.
A good pair of human eyes behind a 20MM cannon in a highly survivable machine has proved its worth over and over again.
They just forget - or choose not to remember.

But what do I know - they killed my bird, too (P-3s).

[Ramius]

The people to ask are the grunts on the ground, pinned down under fire from a superior enemy force. We should ask them when they call in for DANGER CLOSE ordnance delivery would they rather talk to an A10 driver who can see them in the trees or would they rather have some airman dropping a few 500-pounders from 50,000ft. I think I can guess that answer.

[hattend]

The U2 was designed in the 50’s.

However, the U-2s deployed today are much larger and are more capable than the old U2A.

The TR-1s came out in the early 80’s, when the cold war ended they were renamed U2R and, with engine upgrades, the U2S.

[hattend]

The design, a single engine sailplane, was from the 50’s but I agree with you, the TR-1/U2S is not my grandpa’s U2A.

Don’t let them get you down! LOL!

(I did weather support for the U2s at Alconbury and Beale.)

[Liberty Valance]

You’ve made a lot of great points. Thanks for posting.

[Redcitizen]

wooden guns and horses...

maybe a combo of wooden guns and horses such as wooden horses.

[Rodamala]

I would like to see an F-35 field this weapon and the required 4000 lbs of ammo:

http://airpigz.com/blog/2010/5/25/coolpix-modern-military-getting-to-know-the-gau-8-the-a-10-n.html

[CodeToad]

Embraer EMB-314, Super Tucano.

It's a promising platform.

[taildragger]

They are very, very devastating on a low-tech, lightly-armed, no-Stinger missile enemy...which, of course, is why they are being taken out of service.

If they as awful or outdated as they are telling us, I am sure Israel will buy them all and all their spares for about a penny a pound :-)...