The Hog That Saves the Grunts ...... A-10 Warthogs to be retired.

New York Times | 05/27/03 | Robert Coram

[haole]

remember the A-16 "tank-killer"? the fast jet jocks just don't like this airplane. Give them an F-16 and fly at 15,000ft, and they'll be happy.

[cookcounty]

Are they nuts? Killing the A-10? I'm gonna tell my son in the Army to NOT re-up!!!

[Reagan Man]

>>>If the Air Force succeeds in killing the A-10...

A good time to start-up the Army Air Corp, again.

[CommandoFrank]

Don't kill the program. Threaten to give it to the Army and watch the AF weinies change there mind.

Being a retired USAF guy, I've seen plenty of yahoo's in the AF who just don't understand the big picture and would rather create their own little empire.

[zarf]

It's an effective aircraft, versatile, relatively cheap, loved by it's pilots and feared by the enemy.

Cancelling it makes sense. </ Government think>

[toddst]

. . . the fast jet jocks just don't like this airplane.

10-4. We've been through this before. They tried the same tactic prior to GW 1 and discovered (amazing) the A-10 could carry out missions those fast-movers couldn't. The projected decommission was extended out well past 2004.

Let's start writing our Congresscritters. This is important!

[TheLurkerX]

Wouldn't it be funny as hell if the Army commissioned a cheap, effective aircraft inspired by the Warthog and took those budget dollars away anyway.

[cake_crumb]

It won't be the same without the warthog. Who has that tornado of fire graphic (apologies + disregard if it's already posted)

[cavtrooper21]

Stupid AF ping

[NovemberCharlie]

Don't kill the program. Threaten to give it to the Army and watch the AF weenies change there mind.

I believe that's how they saved the Hog last time around.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

Had an A-10 do a flyby at the Jersey shore a few years ago.
Definitely put a little more fear of Jesus into me than the Blackhawks that a did a close inspection of my parents pool a few years before that.
The A-10 should be redesigned and brought up to snuff. It's a killer and should be recognized as such.
Just my $0.02.

[nightdriver]

"......generals steered clear of the project, and designers, free from meddling senior officers, created the ultimate ground-support airplane."

This is a good formula for success in any project, military or otherwise. Keep the gubmint out of the designer's hair and let them come up with something that works.

The F111 was the best example of how NOT to build a military airplane. Ol' never-made-a-mistake-in-his-life Robert McNamara just wouldn't leave the project alone, so the result was an airplane which was originally supposed to do everything that couldn't do anything really well. The last use I saw them being put to was back in the late 60s where they had volleyball nets attached to their vertical stabilizers in 'Nam.

The way they fly the A-10 reminds me of my crop-dusting days. Much the same techniques are used. I hope the Army takes them over or acquires a second generation of them. They can do so much better than a helicopter which is so limited in speed.

[ZOOKER]

Anyone want to guess who builds the A-10, and WHERE?

The A-10 is awesome, but it's time to take the pilots out of low-level duty. We need capable UAV's for close air support (IMHO).

[NonValueAdded]

I thought this decommisioning talk sounded familiar. Would this move put the A-10's out in reserve units or in the boneyard?

What does Rummy have to say on the subject? I thought he was a voice of reason, at odds with typical pentagon-think.

[steplock]

The airforce does NOT believe in the truth of combat -- close in and DESTROY your enemy.

After reading an Airforce journal article last year that stated that the purpose of war was, like the rest of the left-wing extremists believe, NOT to destroy your enemy, but to be "mr nice guy" and convince them to join in and sing "Cumbaya" around the fire.

The Marine Corps methods were crude and offensive to the fine sensibilities in the airforce and clinton whitehouse.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The Air Force tried to pull this after Gulf War I. It won't work this time around either.

[toddst]

I thought this decommisioning talk sounded familiar. Would this move put the A-10's out in reserve units or in the boneyard?

What does Rummy have to say on the subject? I thought he was a voice of reason, at odds with typical pentagon-think.

OK, my opinion:

I suspect the AF Brass tossed this out there to see what happens. The Army & Marines may very well come forward with proposals to take the A-10 over. THEN we'll see what happens.

As I understand it the earlier proposal put many A-10's in the boneyard, but not scheduled for destruction. Other opinions on this? I'm not current or former AF.

[Sparta]

Screw the Air Force. Give the A-10s to the Army and reestablish the Army Air Corps.

[Sparta]

We need capable UAV's for close air support (IMHO).

The UAVs don't have the armor or the ability to carry the A-10's big ass gun. Also, the A-10 destroys enemy tanks so well.

[AlaskaErik]

As a former Marine, I have always wondered why the Corps never got the A-10. Marine aviation is much more understanding of close air support. Maybe now is the time.