Posted on 04/23/2014 6:29:07 PM PDT by Yo-Yo
I for one support this move. The A10 hog is one of the most effective close air support planes ever made. Given that Obama et al define US as the enemy, taking it out of service is OK with me.
“The service has said other aircraft can fill the A-10’s close-air support mission, including Lockheed Martin F-16s and F-35s.”
A screwdriver makes for a very poor hammer, General. The A-10 is most definitely a hammer.
Better than nothing, I suppose. But the CAS mission is one that requires A LOT of practice. You can’t just dust the aircraft off & put any old pilot on the stick. Bad things can happen — to our own troops.
Not really. The Spectre gunships (AC-130) is very vulnerable to ManPads and even AAA. It needs to be flown in what is known as a “permissive environment”. The A-10 because it maneuvers on the deck and has a lot of lift for tight banking can evade a lot of that stuff, or survive a hit.
One of the reasons that they adapted the big cannon into the Spectre was that the mini-guns were too short in range and the plane needed a better stand-off weapon to avoid the radar control guns (ZSU-23/4).
An Israeli F-15 made it back to base with an entire wing missing. I saw a picture of it and boy, it was hard to believe he flew that thing back.
The thing that allowed him to do it was part of the fuselage is also wing like so it was getting a lot of lift even after the wing was gone.
We need to bring back all the jobs we sent to China.
Now.
Last year America imported 440 billion dollars worth of everything just from China.
Last year China imported just 122 billion dollars worth of stuff from America.
This has gone on now through two entire administrations. An entire generation.
Bring back American jobs.
STOP IMPORTING EVERYTHING.
I once taped two A-10s flying around for 20 minutes. The camera I was using used those mini VHS cassets and only ran for 20 minutes.
I still have that tape but it requires a VHS adapter then you play it in a VHS player.
They were a marvel to watch. Reminded me a whole lot of crop dusters. They actually looked to me like they would also be a little vulnerable to ground fire or whatever. I know they are built to withstand a lot.
I’ve seen that picture. A-6 collision, as I recall.
Bingo ... fast fly boys do not like the lumbering but efficient A10, however troops on the ground love the close fire support rather than the high flying “dual purpose” aircraft.
If you can’t get Puff, then an A10 is next best.
I knew it involved a collision but can’t remember the details.
The Russians had a plane in WWII which was somewhat like the A-10. It was the Stormovik. It was heavily aromored and deadly on tanks.
When Erich Hartmann the all time ace of aces first tried to shoot one down his bullets just bounced off. The other pilots took the young man aside and told him how to shoot one down.
I think it involved getting below the Stormovic and shooting from under and behind it.
Very good idea.
And now our government is desperately trying to get the cold war going again.
Funny how that works...
the Acquisition Mafia at it again.
I agree move the Hogs to the army so they n protecxt themselves,
Cost: US invaded and conquered by mortal enemy communists.
Benefit: Saved $4 billion.
Sounds like an excellent Cost/Benefit ratio to me.
He’s a four star. No more available.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.