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Islamic State fight could breathe new life into the A-10
Stars and Stripes ^ | September 26, 2014 | Jennifer H. Svan

Posted on 10/04/2014 1:48:47 AM PDT by GonzoII

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To: Flick Lives
If Tom Cruise had joined the Air Force, he would have flown fighters converted to the ground attack role.

If Sgt Alvin York could have joined the modern Air Force, he would have flown A-10s!


21 posted on 10/04/2014 4:32:08 AM PDT by BwanaNdege (Mother of Epidemics- "Gang Green and the Government Staff Infection" - G. Morgan, Freedom Foundation)
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To: GonzoII

Boots on the ground that flies.


22 posted on 10/04/2014 4:50:11 AM PDT by epluribus_2 (he had the best mom - ever.)
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To: knarf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Ti7Jrh_JE

Hand of GOD!


23 posted on 10/04/2014 4:53:36 AM PDT by Dusty Road (")
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To: GonzoII

Obama and his Muzzie allies can’t stand the fact that “HOGS” are good at killing MUZZIES!


24 posted on 10/04/2014 5:04:50 AM PDT by WellyP (question!)
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To: WellyP
The A-10 was and still is, a great aircraft and a perfect selection to be used to fight ISIS. The photo above of the destruction (looks like the “Road To Baghdad”) is a perfect example of it's capabilities. IMO, flying low and slow and having heavy belly armor makes it the best tool for the job.
25 posted on 10/04/2014 5:20:50 AM PDT by DaveA37
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To: GonzoII

Love the PEACE sign at the end of the cannon barrel(s).

An A-10 from Battle Creek Air National Guard unit had half of its tail shot off but still made it back to base.


26 posted on 10/04/2014 5:21:11 AM PDT by wetgundog (ua)
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To: wetgundog

Two pairs of A-10s from Whiteman AFB fly over the Lake of the Ozarks every week.


27 posted on 10/04/2014 5:31:03 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

If the Air Force doesn’t want to keep the Warthog because it isn’t sexy, they should turn the over to the Army. It’s a perfect fit alongside the Apache.


28 posted on 10/04/2014 6:09:07 AM PDT by CarmichaelPatriot
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To: BwanaNdege
In a sane world, we would continue the A-10 wing replacement and other upgrade programs and then have the Air Force transfer the planes to the Army sand Marine Corps for close air support.

It makes sense but I have been told that the Air Force has tried to do just this but the Army has refused because they don't want to pay for it out of their budgets because they have their own spending priorities.

And yet we can spend just under a billion to buy a hand full of comparably useless Tucano trainers modified as light attack planes.

29 posted on 10/04/2014 6:10:56 AM PDT by rdcbn
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To: BwanaNdege

Warthogs: ugly but well hung


30 posted on 10/04/2014 6:12:18 AM PDT by slapshot
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To: wetgundog

I couldn’t read the text on that sticker, but I know that it said “Peace through superior firepower” :) made me laugh.


31 posted on 10/04/2014 6:22:09 AM PDT by TexasBarak (I aim to misbehave!)
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To: knarf

Puff’s son? As in AC-47?

If so, sorry Charlie.

The A-10’s Statement of work said that the A-10 was envisioned to replace the A-1E “Sandy” in the Combat SAR mission and provide CAS to SOF Forces. From there they went ahead a developed an extremely capable aircraft that didn’t fir the AF’s image of fast, sleek, and flashy aircraft. But OMG, when it comes to CAS particularly in “danger close” situations!

The 2013 attempt to boneyard the A-10 represents the AF’s third attempt to kill the A-10. IMHO all three attempts are based on re-coloring the A-10s funding line to support an advanced fighter that can do very little to support the Grunt in combat.

The first attempt was in the later 1980’s when the AF wanted to shift funding to F-22. One Chief of Staff and DESERT STORM later the A-10’s death post ponded.

About a decade later the AF tried again. September 11, 2001 stopped that.

Now a little over a decade after their second attempt the AF is trying again. Now ISIS/IS, or what every they are calling themselves, seems to provide a third postponement.

This article clearly identified the AF wants to shift A-10 funding to the F-35 program, again.

When it comes to CAS the grunt wants an aircraft that can stay with him and get down into the mud with him. A support pass every 10 - 15 minutes from 15,000 really doesn’t hack the program.


32 posted on 10/04/2014 6:24:55 AM PDT by Nip (BOHEICA and TANSTAAFL - both seem very appropriate today.)
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To: CarmichaelPatriot

Good idea. But the USAF would rather destroy it than lose its control over US fixed wing airplanes.


33 posted on 10/04/2014 6:43:43 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: GonzoII
For the first few days of something major, an A-10 would have a tough time, given the systems that potentially would be in place and gunning for the low and relatively slow.

Then again, who wouldn't be having a tough time at that point in the game? Those first days, and all that come after, are what the A-10 was designed for it, with a track record to back it up.

Given that we are using extraordinary machines with extraordinary price tags to shoot extraordinary weapons with extraordinary price tags at relatively low tech, "cheap" targets, that's quite a compliment to the target!

Nice to be made of money or have a printing press for that sort of thing, but I'd like to spend some now to spend less later. You know, "for the children".

Personally, I'd like to see an A-10 makeover and step that bad girl into this century dressed up in all we've learned about modern materials for battlefield survival since the cold war.

Then, you'd have a nice cost effective, down and dirty compliment to the high dollar, fast moving, soft target toys the air force likes so much.

34 posted on 10/04/2014 6:54:53 AM PDT by GBA (But if you're dead now, how can you live when you die?)
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To: Nip
Yeah ... I WAS thinking about the AC 47 ... only in the fact that they both lay down a lot of lead but the A 10 is a point and shoot rather than circling

Appreciate your reply

35 posted on 10/04/2014 6:59:46 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
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To: GBA

Most A-10’s are not headed to the scrap yard. ANG Units across the Nation deploy them.


36 posted on 10/04/2014 7:01:54 AM PDT by DocJhn
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To: DaveA37
The photo above of the destruction

Started by a Marine A-6, became a target, then a place to use unexpended ordnance before RTB.

37 posted on 10/04/2014 8:34:06 AM PDT by xone
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To: GonzoII

Gonz... Perfect sample of the A-10’s firepower. Us air horse “cats” really appreciate such a powerful asset.

Thanks


38 posted on 10/04/2014 12:45:18 PM PDT by willibeaux (de ole Korean War vet age 84)
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To: gaijin

Well you beat me but you are correct!


39 posted on 10/05/2014 4:01:23 PM PDT by X-FID
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