Could the “Machete” Lightweight Attack plane replace the A-10 Warthog?

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 11/21/2017 | J Hines

[IronJack]

If you get the Warthog mod, do you need to have a pilot's license? Or is your concealed carry permit enough?

And do you get the Corgi license through the ATF or the local dog pound?

[yawningotter]

A two seat version of the new CAS plane could have the back seater controlling the drones. Build a drone around the gun and have the control plane flying at standoff range working with a forward observer designating targets.

[alloysteel]

A Gatling gun AR? Have you seriously considered the cumulative recoil?

A person’s shoulder has WAY less mass than an A-10 airframe.

[Big Red Badger]

Who’s Danny?

[onona]

[onona]

[BBB333]

Ya know, I HAVE that chainsaw bayonet mod.

I really do.

Since my AR 15 is just for home defense the chainsaw I use is an 120 V. Makita.

I keep it plugged in at all times and have a 100’ cord.

[grobdriver]

What does the A10 now log in maintenance time for every hour flown?

No idea. 10:1? 15:1?

[PapaBear3625]

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.

What I would like to see would be a two-seater manned aircraft controlling drones, with the manned aircraft staying out of range of anti-aircraft missiles. The back-seater would be the drone controller. He would wear a virtual reality helmet and have a high-speed link to the drones. He would be able to "see" everything at wide-field 4K resolution, enough that he would effectively "be" there. The drones, in turn, would be mass-produced and expendable.

[blackdog]

The A-10 is the lowest operating cost aircraft the military operates. $10,500 per flight hour. The only thing in the air that costs less per hour is a predator drone.

[SkyDancer]

[alternatives?]

“Why are they re-inventing the wheel, again?”

Keep the A-10 for ten more years and fund a tax cut.

[blackdog]

Also remember there is no ground to be absorbing the shock and vibration when firing the guns. I once had a piston tear off the top half of a cylinder. I would have thought i was flying a jackhammer. Once on the ground it was just a miss with a lot of oil and smoke. The mechanic explained how bad put of balance and shock and vibration can be in the air vs on grounf.

[butlerweave]

Have they build one for testing ?

[SparkyBass]

.... when .223 won't finish the job...

[MattinNJ]

Sigh. Why mess with perfection?

[wardaddy]

Question

A10 is a heavy bird

How well does one of the current jet engines push it in emergency ?

Rear turbo fans are without question more efficient

More combat zone airtime killing Haji

[caligatrux]

Better than asking "could it replace", we should be asking "should it replace".

How many of these "new and improved" super hi-tech weapon systems, vehicles and aircraft have we seen actually perform worse than the things they replace?

[Vaquero]

Perhaps a drill would also help?

[Doc91678]

I’m happy to read that the GAU-8 is to be integral in this version. The lighter weight of the plane with the equal protection means more weapons capability.