Posted on 04/03/2018 10:16:14 AM PDT by blam
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot flies over Afghanistan after completing aerial refueling operations with a KC-135 Stratotanker on March 12, 2018.DVIDS
I recently had the chance to speak on the phone with a US Air Force A-10 pilot serving in Afghanistan, and he told me about how the Warthog's "presence alone scares the enemy into submission."
"Lot of times [when] we're overhead, they'll just put their guns down and go away because they know the A-10 is overhead," the pilot, who asked to be called "McGraw," said. "We've heard that for years."
"Do you mean that literally — they'll literally throw their guns down?" I clarified.
"I unfortunately can't see [them throw weapons down]," McGraw said, "but there's been numerous times over the years when I've heard radio calls and phone calls and [been] talking to teams on the ground [and] ... they know when the A-10 is overhead."
"I know over the years we've been called 'the monster' and other intimidating names," McGraw said. "When they hear or see A-10s, they know the business end of combat is overhead and [that] maybe it's time to retreat and withdraw because ... they know the punishment that we can deliver is pretty devastating."
McGraw, who has completed five tours in Afghanistan, said he's flown about 300 combat missions in the wartorn country, deploying his weapons about 25% of the time.
"I can confidently on every single pass put 30mm exactly on target, exactly where I want it," he said. "That gun is incredibly accurate, and it obviously delivers fearsome effects and devastating effects ... so when I pull that trigger, I know those bullets are going where I want them [to]."
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
An air platform built around a gun. The A-10 scares me too. Glad they’re on our side.
If Stalin was able to have his Engineers construct a perfect copy of a “captured” B-29 Bomber down to the last Rivet (and bullet hole) back in the 1940’s, why is it that we can’t duplicate (and improve) the A-10, even without the original Tooling in this day and age?
Just askin’...
No kidding, it is my favorite plane. It is the most effective weapon we have.
Didn’t the USAF want to mothball them in favor of the F18 or some other ridiculous replacement?
The A-10 has a grease problem.
It doesn’t grease the right palms in anywhere near the amounts required for political support.
Stalin threatened his engineers with their lives if they didn’t complete the task on schedule.
I remember seeing on weaselzippers a great A10 video. A group of Marines were being attacked by terrorists from an area in the palm trees about 400 yards away.
One Marine was videoing as an A10 came in low and slow from the right for a strafing run.
Whoever was in charge told the men to cease firing because, “This will all be over in a few seconds.”
A sound of the 30mm Gatling gun firing faster than imaginable was heard accompanying a breathtaking series of bright flashes and explosions among the enemy and the area they were hiding in.
The Marine who gave the order was absolutely right.
Absolutely. Not enough cash outflow to contractors, etc beyond the basic construction.
And yes they throw their guns down. They know our rules of engagement. If they are not holding a weapon, we are not free to engage.
the A-10 is an awesome awesome machine- The enemy should be scared when they hear the guns firing on them- the ac-130 gunship is another frightful beast of a plane
Because fighter jocks have been running the Air Force since 1 Jun 92 and they detest anything that doesn't look sexy. They also detest anything that has more than one crew member, except for trainers.
They have buried Air Force history and are sending it on a path to irrelevance.
Hence the utility of the A-10. A similar example is the handgun...bad guys in the ME fear handguns more than rifles, since that’s what Saddam/ISIS/Al Queda used.
They did get the job done. All it took was inspiration and perspiration.
They are several working prototypes right now some of which are prop planes that could carry the gun and some guided munitions.
Cowboys fly the A10. Bull riders. I can’t believe some of the pics of damage and it just lands normally. One badass ground support plane. They need to start building them again. Part one out and laser scan it. Rebuild the tooling. Order a cpl of 1000.
With two sons just completing SOI for the Corp I love the A-10!
-—Just askin’...——
My view
Because we don’t want to
We are able to keep the ones we have flying and fighting.
Congress is stingy but will pay for maintenance
Yep, half a Billion Dollars to Planned Murderhood to kill Babies and nothing to Kill our Enemies.
Nope, nope, nope......
The money is not to kill babies but to save women’s lives /s
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