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Pierre Sprey is one of the original designers of the A-10 Warthog during the 1970s. He provides insight into why the aircraft is so loved by ground troops in the military, and why its recent retirement from Air Force operations is so hotly debated.

The Air Force’s plan to retire its entire fleet of A-10C “Warthogs” could make Davis-Monthan Air Force Base vulnerable to the next round of base closures. In its proposed budget, the Air Force would eliminate the close air support jet, including 55 active-duty A-10Cs at D-M, by fiscal year 2016 and 28 Air Force Reserve A-10Cs at D-M by fiscal 2019. In 2019, 21 F-16s would be moved to a Reserve unit at the base. The Pentagon also plans to cut its fleet of EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare planes — based solely at Davis-Monthan — roughly in half, to...

On Tuesday, NBC News’ Shawna Thomas, observing First Lady Michelle Obama’s dress at a state dinner, tweeted out her worship for her idol: HOLY CRAP LOOK AT THE FIRST LADY'S DRESS. #BOWDOWN — Shawna Thomas (@ShawnaNBCNews) February 12, 2014 Thomas is NBC News’ White House producer; she moved into that role in July 2011. Before assuming that role, she was a reporter on the hill, covering the House of Representatives. NBC News Bureau Chief Antoine Sanfuentes celebrated her elevation, writing, “On a personal note, I know that her sharp editorial judgment, keen eye for nuance, and straightforward likeability will make...

Washington (AFP) - Long disliked by the US Air Force, the A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack jet may finally be heading for the chopping block due to budget constraints...

A bipartisan group of senators and congressmen is fighting back against the U.S. Air Force’s move to prematurely retire all 350 of its A-10 Warthog attack planes between 2015 and 2018. But the flying branch is already strangling the A-10 force with budget cuts, upgrade cancellations and a reduced contingent of new pilots. The battle is intensifying in Washington, D.C. over the legendary warplane, which was originally meant to destroy Soviet tanks and has flown thousands of missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, saving scores of American lives with its overwhelming firepower.

A nationwide effort has begun to save the Air Force’s A-10 after Arizona Senator Jeff Flake revealed on the James T. Harris radio show that plans were in place to mothball the craft. Boots on the ground have joined A-10 pilots and crews to save the plane that has frequently saved them. Fans of the A-10 warthog are circulating a petition in the hopes of gathering 100,000 signatures by September 16. Facebook groups Stand for Protecting Heroes, Keep the A10 in the U.S. Military, and Save the A-10 deployed rapidly in defense of the plane that offers them their best...

What is it about leftists and their hate-hate affair with America? RadioOrNot.com host Nicole Sandler, formerly of the justifiably defunct Air America Radio, has upped the ante on libtalker Bill Press, who vented about his visceral loathing for the national anthem, and chirpy MSNBC weekend host Chris Hayes, who sniffed in disdain at the notion of fallen soldiers as "heroes." (Audio clip after page break).Libtalker: I HATE This G-D Country!Heck, Sandler hates the nation as a whole, not just its venerated secular hymn and most selfless warriors. Here is Sander filling in for liberal soulmate Randi Rhodes on Tuesday, the...

The effort to preserve Selfridge Air National Guard Base’s 24 A-10 aircraft gained some altitude Thursday when the Senate Armed Services Committee embraced a provision that would block budget cuts to the Air National Guard. Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said his committee had unanimously approved an annual defense bill that rejects proposals to eliminate Air National Guard aircraft and personnel across the nation, including proposed cuts at Michigan bases. The cuts proposed by the Air Force would have eliminated the A-10 jets in the 107th Fighter Squadron at Selfridge — and the 560 military...

Air Force says decision final; loss of squadron includes 600 workers U.S. Rep. Candice Miller on Thursday vowed to fight the cutbacks planned at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, calling the Pentagon decision to eliminate the base's A-10 aircraft "unfounded, unfair and economically indefensible." Miller, a Harrison Township Republican, and fellow GOP Rep. Tim Walberg of Tipton met with Air Force Secretary Michael Donley on Tuesday and were told that the cutbacks at Selfridge and at the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base are final. Only a congressional decision to alter President Barack Obama's budget proposal could...

A BIZARRE accident involving warthogs delayed the arrival of US Ambassador to Harare according to a WikiLeaks cable. Ambassador Charles Ray failed to arrive in Zimbabwe on November 3 2009 after the wild animals strayed onto the runway where they were struck by an Air Zimbabwe plane. Security officials forced passengers to surrender any photographic evidence of the crash before they were allowed to leave. All night flights on that day, including Ray’s South African Airways flight were cancelled. However, the warthogs saved the day for Getrude Hambira, the Secretary General of the General Agriculture Plantation Workers Union. The unionist...

A warthog has been pictured being groomed by a huge bird known as a ground hornbill. The warthog approached the southern ground hornbill seeking the favour, and the bird obliged by removing parasites from the warthog's body. Similar interactions occur between warthogs and other animals such as banded mongooses. But hornbills are not known to groom in this way, say scientists who photographed the incident. Warthogs even tolerated the ground hornbills probing their ears and more delicate areas under their tails Dr Hendri Coetzee North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa Details of the behaviour are reported in the African Journal...

1/5/2010 - KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- More than 10,000 flight hours and 2,500 sorties marked the closing stages of a six-month tour for the members of the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here New Year's Day. The A-10 Thunderbolt II squadron Airmen were able to save countless ground forces' lives because of faster reaction times as the unit is based in southern Afghanistan. "Because a lot of the focus is Regional Command-South -- towns in Helmand -- it gives you an airplane that is designed for close-air support, it does CAS better than any other airplane in the world, and...

1/4/2010 - KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- More than 10,000 flight hours and 2,500 sorties marked the closing stages of a landmark six-month tour for the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here New Year's Day. The A-10C Thunderbolt II squadron was the first U.S. Air Force fighter unit based in southern Afghanistan, a move that saved the lives of countless ground forces thanks to the faster reaction time provided by the U.S. Air Force. "Because a lot of the focus is Regional Command-South - towns in Helmand - it gives you an airplane that is designed for Close Air Support, it does...

3/3/2009 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped general purpose 500-pound bombs, striking a large group of anti-Afghan fighters amassed for an attack on a coalition forward base near Asmar. The strike repelled the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy force. Near Sheykhabad, an A-10 flew a show of force to stop an enemy sniper attack against a coalition convoy. The attack ceased...

Its nickname is “warthog.” That’s the first clue that flying an A-10 is not the Air Force’s most glamorous mission. It’s designed to support ground troops, not to engage in the dogfighting that makes up the pop culture image of air combat. The wars in the Middle East, though, have made close-air support — bombing targets near troops — one of the Air Force’s top missions. “The A-10 was not the most sexy, popular weapon system the Air Force had,”said Lt. Col. Paul Johnson, the 414th Combat Training Squadron director of operations at Nellis Air Force Base. “But now since...

The IDF can't get all the glory. The USAF is doing a magnificent job of ridding the world of Taliban. In this video, several Taliban try to make their getaway on bikes. An A-10 Warthog has a different idea.

A team of four pilots from the Idaho Air National Guard’s 190th Fighter Squadron took top honors last week in the biennial “Hawgsmoke” competition, earning bragging rights as the best ground attack and target destruction. The team placed first out of 14 four-pilot air crews from U.S. Air Force installations over the world. All of the teams fly the A-10 ground-attack aircraft, also known as the “Warthog.” --- SNIP --- "This win validates the training we do here in Idaho, the great men and women in our ranks and some of the world’s best aircraft,” he said in a press...

(See video at end of story) BAGRAM, Afghanistan — A 200-pound bomb dropped from a U.S. warplane can end a firefight in a heartbeat. That same bomb, however, slightly off target, can be tragic for troops on the ground. The margin of error, the difference between helping allies and making a horrific mistake, is microscopically thin for pilots thousands of feet in the air. Bad judgment, poor communication or both can alter fate in seconds. Pilots with the Spangdahlem, Germany-based 81st Fighter Squadron know the risks all too well. When the squadron last deployed to Afghanistan in 2006, a pilot...

2/11/2008 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Feb. 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted shows of force over an enemy compound near Sangin and over a coalition-forces convoy in the vicinity of Tarin Kowt. The shows of force were conducted in order to deter enemy activities in the areas. The missions were declared successful by the on-scene joint terminal attack controller. In Bari Kowt, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles conducted...

The Precision Engagement modification is the largest single upgrade effort ever undertaken for the USA's unique A-10 "Warthog" close air support aircraft fleet. when complete, it will give them precision strike capability sooner than planned, combining multiple upgrade requirements into one time and money-saving program rather than executing them as standalone projects. Indeed, the USAF has accelerated the PE program by 9 months as a result of its experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The entire A-10 fleet will be modified over 4-5 years, at an estimated total cost of $420 million. While A/OA-10 aircraft continue to outperform technology-packed rivals on...