Posted on 10/16/2017 7:03:45 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Aaah, the A-10’s... Know a bunch of A-10 jocks, most were airline pilots in their daytime jobs. Spent a long time at Barksdale where we had a squadron that belonged to the Coona$$ Militia. Many fishermen told stories about getting “targeted” by them while while on Toledo Bend. Would give anything some days to smell burning kerosene and feel the earth shake again.
The first time I heard them fly (when stationed at Myrtle), I couldn’t believe how slow and low they could go (if needed). Great time over target for the ground support - and especially the tank busting. I had a dummy round prominently displayed in my home for a long time. Fun times ;-)
One of the big issues I have with the AF over the years is the reluctance of the fighter world to acknowledge the CAS mission. I spent my year in VN with a TACP and have been around many grunts who’ve had CAS save their bacon. The A-10 was built specifically for that mission and does it well. While they are not stealthy and would have to rely on other fighters to get and maintain air superiority there is not another aircraft since the A-1E that can come close to filling that role.
Air Force was seriously pushing the F-35 as an A-10 replacement.
No, really...
Yup - totally agree. No appreciation for the ground pounders.
I know...what’d Dick Jonas say? You can always tell a fighter pilot, you just can’t tell him much? Talking to a retired Colonel friend of mine this afternoon and he was telling me about (as a 1st Lt FAC) sending an O-6 Gunfighter (F-4/DaNang) home from a troops in contact situation because he couldn’t hit within 1000 meters of the mark with his nape. He didn’t know who Gunfighter 2 was until later!
this is a stupid article...
When a new war plane goes into mass production not every carecraft is scheduled for Frontline combat aircraft have to hold some back for train people back in the States
so usually the early block aircraft are usually used not used as combat aircraft but training
it makes perfect sense not to upgrade them if you are going use them for state side training
the early blocked aircraft are usually the “beaters” the training units
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