Posted on 01/15/2015 8:16:28 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT
Air Force Secretary Deborah James said she has no regrets about attempting to retire the A-10 fighter jet, despite its current use in the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
i think they are the most amazing planes ever developed. they are not only the most terrifying weapon to be on the end of but they look beautiful. a real ugly duckling. the whole look says, ‘what?, whats your problem?, huh, swept wings are for pussies, bring it’ and that gun, holy crap, any gun that goes BRRRRRPPPPP when firing says, hey i dont care what i sound like...LOL,kinda, to excuse the dodgy reference, never mind the look, feel the width...LOL, absolutely fantastic piece of kit. if i was a billionaire i would buy them...
any time i see them on a gun run, i just cant imagine what its like to be on the receiving end...it must be horrific, a bowel emptying experience to hear them inbound, knowing whats coming. i am sure the ground troops who call them in, must be smiling when they hear them.
personally i am sure there are a load of reasons for a change, some probably quite legitimate, they are obviously a percentage increase in risk for the pilot, i guess, but still, a sad day...
i realise there is some comments here on the f-35 but does anyone know the reasons they are dropped? is the role filled with say choppers and something else etc? i would love to know all the arguments. i also would like to hear from anyone here who saw them in action and what the feeling is like...i am guessing a big sh** eating grin...dare i ask what the aftermath is like, i am guessing it is not pretty...
The A-10 (sadly) is going to be retired. The move to fast-track that retirement has be thwarted, but the service Chiefs are looking at their budgets and training programs and they see the inevitable.
Their weapon procurement program (F35) is crowding out other budget & mission priorities. This is why they (attempt) tell you with a straight face that the F-35 will perform the CAS mission, when in truth the USAF is getting out of supporting the infantry.
The Iraqis called them Silent Death because they could not hear them coming before the inbound hit them. You are right in it is the very best fixed wing CAS ever developed. I would wager to say maybe the best ever even considering all the rotary wing platforms. Nothing can take a punch and still deliver.
She is just another cog in the part of the problem of overgrown children charged with making adult decisions.
If I am a rifle carrying ground pounder I damn well am not happy at losing the A-10
She has no regrets because she’ll never have to depend on them for her life.
This is a horrible decision. They should be cranking out a thousand more new hogs.
Secretary of the Air Force.
I am sure she has no regrets. She won’t be the one getting killed.
Unbelievable. That is an affirmative action hire right there.
Looks like a man, transgendered.
The key word in that first sentence is “she”.
SHE doesn’t know her kiester from a cork pistol!
So, no active duty time.
” Will she use that money to recruit transgender, lesbian and Islamic pilots?”
Yes......plus a few muslims to guard Ft. Hood.
????
All I see is the dumbfounded look of a vacuum-brained idiot ...
Just the most effective close-in ground support aircraft, ever. No big deal. /s
All hat, NO CATTLE!
But do not forget; FEMALE.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Lee_James
James has 30 years of senior homeland and national security experience in the U.S. federal government and the private sector.
McNamara’s 100,000 or the few survivors coming to a post near you!
As noted on another reply: All hat, NO CATTLE.
All of that and ...FEMALE!
5 years... long enough for a new president and new secretary of the Air Force to change their mind. They’ve trying to retire these planes since day 1, they hate everything about them except their success rate.
I lived there on Edwards Street, used to mow lawns for the officers. My Father taught egress systems to the enlisted and officers. We lost one of ours at Laughlin that was flying the U-2 over Cuba. I was there until 1968. My Father served in SAC, TAC, was a crew chief in Thailand for Thuds and in Japan when the B-57E's were overflying China and Russia. He knew Curtis LeMay and many of the famous USAF Pilots personally and served with them. I am sure the veterans are disappointed in the way the USAF is handled today and the ones that have passed are spinning in their graves. I spent 10 years in the USAF and was brought up spit and polish and the USAF was changing during my term of service. I can remember my Father having to qualify with the M-1 Carbine and M1911 .45 and serving with Marines and Army for his deployments. During the debacle at the Bay of Pigs he was armed to the teeth ready for deployment to Cuba that was reversed by Kennedy.
I have hitched rides on a few AF transports and no doubt, the crew chief gets on the commo and says 'he hasn't barfed, give him a ride'!
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