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A-10
From ARRSEpedia
| |
| A-10 Thunderbolt | |
|---|---|
| Type | Close Air Support |
| Manufacturer | Fairchild-Republic |
| Introduction | March 1977 |
| Status | In service |
| Mumber built | 715 |
| Cost | $9.8 million |
The Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (known as the Warthog or just Hog) originally started life as a Counter Insurgency (COIN) aircraft to replace the aging Bronco. During the early stages of design (by committee) in the late 60's, it turned into an absolute brute of a plane intended to deal with the 3rd Shock Army (probably on its own).
[edit] Armament
Choose from...
- AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile
- Cluster, conventional and laser-guided bombs
- Rocket pods
- ECM pod under one wing
- Two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
The GAU-8 Avenger cannon allegedly generates almost the same amount of recoil as one of the A-10's engines, leading to a military urban legend that if enough rounds were fired in a long burst, the plane would stop (or move backwards!)
[edit] Specifications
- General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
- Wingspan: 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
- Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
- Performance
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric Turbo-Fans.
- Maximum Speed: 439mph
- Maximum Range: 474 miles
- Service Ceiling: 34,695ft
- Rate Of Climb: 6,000ft a minute
[edit] Friendly fire incidents
Many incidents involving A-10's, piloted by fat Idaho National Guard airmen, although the most high-profile are:-
- Gulf War of 1991 an A-10 attacked two Warriors (out of 37 parked up), killing nine soldiers.
- Two Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles were attacked by an A-10 in the Iraq War of 2003.
