It’s no secret that the U.S. military have plans to replace the A-10 Warthogs in the future. One aircraft that is in the conceptual plan phase is known as the “Machete” designed by Stavatti a Minnesota aerospace start-up company. Posted on 11/21/2017 5:34:40 AM PST by w1n1
It’s no secret that the U.S. military have plans to replace the A-10 Warthogs in the future. One aircraft that is in the conceptual plan phase is known as the “Machete” designed by Stavatti a Minnesota aerospace start-up company.
Stavatti is pushing (fighting for the big budgetcontract) to get their lightweight attack plane idea to the right people. This new lightweight attack aircraft is made from metal foam, this technology is lighter than the A-10’s armor but the material is more efficient at stopping projectiles.
There will be two versions of the Machete:
-Propeller-driven SM-27
-Jet Engine SM-28
Both types are single-seat and single engine aircraft. Obviously, the Machete will be built around the infamous A-10 30mm GAU-8 Gatling cannon weapon system. See the full description of the Machete attack plane video here.
Still looking for an A-10 Warthog mod for my AR-15.
Anybody got any leads?
I'm no aeronautic engineer, but in my personal opinion, the armored A-10 would fare much better by having rounds pass through control surfaces than the Machete would by absorbing the blows in a semi-ablative fashion. It would seem that the aircraft would be more difficult to control in that scenario.
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If it’s maneuverable, bullet-resistant, and built around the 30mm then I like the idea.
Have it rechambered for 30mm depleted uranium ordnance?
USA Today is a great source for information on AR mods. I’d start there.
If you have one of these, who needs the Warthog...
Compared to the Warthog, how would it fare against a shoulder fired SAM or a ZSU-23-4?
NICE
All the joy of the A-10 and little of the weight.
In any event, a single engine is stupid in the intended environment, as is a prop.
The Cesna Centurian meets the A-10 and has a spawn. I like the idea.
There are several key things that this will need to work.
First of all, the A-10 is a *masterpiece* of close air support, based on the hard earned knowledge and recommendations of the best CAS pilots who ever lived.
Therefore every aspect of it that is superior must be retained, with only “ordinary” elements improved.
For example, the “titanium bathtub” protecting the pilot is critical to protect the plane’s most important asset.
The total system redundancy has saved A-10s “shot to ****”, that would have killed any other aircraft. Amazing amounts of damage, yet the pilots were able to bring them home.
The powerful engines could be very conservative of fuel and run at low speed, allowing long time area coverage. But at high speed the A-10 really moves.
These are some huge advantages.
But there are several things that would strongly benefit the CAS.
Perhaps the most important would be to turn the aircraft into a command and control center for a ‘wing’ of drones flying with the aircraft. That is, imagine an A-10 with four drones “tagging along”, each of which could independently attack targets with different weapons. The pilot could order, say “Number 3, drop a bomb on this target I have just designated. Number 4 use suppressing fires on this target. Number 1 and 2, continue to tag along with me.”
I doubt single engine. More like center line multi engine tandem turboprop. Works nice. Less crap hanging out on those wings.
If built around the GAU-8 it can’t be very light weight or small.
Center line thrust or as close to it as possible is key to all kinds of issues when considering low complexity single pilot control in hostile close support situations. Flying the plane as a simple platform is first. Lethal precision weaponry is second. Reliability and endurance are third. What does the A10 now log in maintenance time for every hour flown?
Why does it need to be a two-seater?
What does Danny say ?
Hahaha that would be so cool to have an A10 kit for our AR’s ! I’d love it . It would be expensive to shoot but absolutely worth it!
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