[markomalley]

Not sexy??? Megan, you don't know what "sexy" is...

[fredhead]

Darn thing is a flying tank.

[TADSLOS]

I can’t begin to tell you how utterly devastating and pure kick ass this platform is. I’ve called them in from the ground and worked with them in the air on JAAT missions, They are a pure joy to watch and I thank God they’re on our side.

[cripplecreek]

One of my hands down favorite planes.

[steelyourfaith]

Love the The A-10 Thunderbolt II.

[Dixie Yooper]

The A-10 along with Apache helicopters were responsible for the Highway to Hell victory during the end of Desert Storm.

[cweese]

A couple of good A-10 videos :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Iz5MwPsfyo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJSk2Xc3Eq4&feature=related

[Logic n' Reason]

It took our Air Force this long to figure this out???

Or...it took this long for it to get reported?

When did the actual mission platform emphasis shift?

[appleseed]

Much slower than a fighter, doesn't fly as high as primadonna surveillance, can't be a vehicle for airborne troops, more army than air force and as old as dirt. Having said this - Most beautiful thing I ever saw was an A-10 fire at night! The Hog kicks arse!

[Badeye]

‘Not sexy??? Megan, you don’t know what “sexy” is... ‘

Got that right. This is a infantry troop’s best friend on the battlefield, after his rifle.

[usmcobra]

There is nothing more sexy to the guys (and girls) on the ground as a hog in the air.

[bobjam]

The A-10: the flying gatlin gun

[Travis McGee]

Beauty is as beauty does. I’ll bet she looks like Miss Universe to our troops on the ground, and like the devil incarnate to our enemies.

[mbynack]

Comparing the A-10 to an air to air fighter is like comparing apples to coconuts. They have vastly different roles. Without the fighters to clear out enemy aircraft, the A-10 and the choppers are slow flying target-practice for enemy fighters. Red Flag makes a lot of sense for Air-to-Air because fighter pilots don't get a lot of opportunities to fly Dissimilar Air Combat Tactics (i.e., against other types of aircraft using enemy tactics). An A-10 needs to work with Army ground units so they can get realistic training at the Army Ranges.

One type of aircraft is useless without the other. The A-10 can't fly in an environment where we don't have air superiority and the air-to-air planes can't take and hold the ground.

[Professional Engineer]

Go Ugly Early bttt

[PapaBear3625]

Problem is, haven't they stopped making A-10's? And there isn't an A-10 replacement in development either. The JSF is billed as taking over the air-to-ground role, but I don't think it would do nearly as good as the A-10.

We also need a UAV with a big Gatling that can act as a "mini-me" A-10.

[Rev DMV]

Now here's sexy:

Don't know about the hair on the chest part...

[BluH2o]

Regardless, now A-10 pilots have a little more cachet, or as Johnson put it, “hair on their chest.”

Know of at least one A-10 pilot that doesn't fit into the "hair on the chest" category. She goes by the name "KC" short for 'killer chick' and was featured on ABC's GMA back during the early months of the Iraq war. Someone out there in FReeper land probably has a picture they can post. She's one of those definitely not guilty types.

[popdonnelly]

We need an upgraded replacement. Troops shouldn’t be expected to fight without close air support.

[halfright]

I live in the flight path of the A-10’s at NAS Willow Grove. They cruise by in pairs. Appears to be student in front A-10 and an instructor off their wing. They ain’t pretty but they are the most survivable.

The locals have never seen them spitting fire and kickin’ ass.

[bert]

Maybe what we need is a carrier version of the A 10