[patriotUSA]

I did some quality Air Force time around these birds. My most dominate remembrance of them is this:

BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP!!

[Paladin2]

I think that is what happens when one designs a flying gun disguised as an airplane.

[Tenacious 1]

The long bull fart was usually the echo of the initial high pitched growl. The bird makes a statement, more of an announcement really. It speaks a unique language that needs no translation in any part of this planet. And, there is no place to hide from it unless you can dig a hole deep enough fast enough.

It’s my favorite since I was a kid and got to watch them practice on a live fire range from the scoring tower at Camp Atterbury.

[alloysteel]

The A-10 is a flying anti-tank barrage platform. A 1-2 second burst from its integral Gatling gun will shred anything that is only of moderate quality armor, and even rip up heavy armor pretty seriously.

Coming in at some 350 knots about a hundred feet off the deck, a couple bursts would break up the most disciplined convoy. And there is practically no defense that could respond fast enough from the ground. Add to this the capability to launch air to surface missiles from practically over the hill up to six miles away, and even the sound of approach must be a little hard on morale for the enemy troops.

[vette6387]

We have a friend who flew A-10’s in Afghanistan. He tells us that the A/C actually slows down when the gattling gun is in operation.