Posted on 07/06/2016 3:50:50 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
If the aircraft loses all of its electronics including its digital displays and targeting systems, the pilot of an A-10 can still fly, drop general purpose bombs and shoot the 30mm cannon, Haden explained.
“So when I lose all the computers and the calculations, the targeting pod and the heads up display, you can still point the aircraft using a degraded system at the target and shoot. We are actually trained for that,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalinterest.org ...
An interesting test. The F-35 walking onto a playing field owned currently by one unique platform. Good luck.
Close!
Banking at a fixed angle and looking out the window at the target!!!! And mostly at night!!!!
No laser, no computer, no GPS... no nothing!
Should the pilot so much as fart, I’m toast!
It’ll be a ‘test’ with rules designed to favor the F-35. The A-10 pilots will be ordered to perform to make the F-35 look good.
An honest test will include former A-10 pilots who don’t answer to the USAF generals who are members of the F-35 cult.
Just one
You will be looking a long time
A more honest implementation would be to have the F-35 take the role of CAP and SEAD, and let the A-10 work the close in targets. The A-10 can take much of the damage, the F-35 can’t. There is a place for both platforms. Remember, in the end it all comes down to the infantry.
You have a little owie there, baby:
I absolutely heart A-10s -- Bromance, big time!
I suspect if the A-10 completely lost power it could still deliver a killer payload and make it home/safe! Sitting on the GROUND the enemy would be afraid to get near it!
I agree. This is just another attempt to kill the A-10. Of course most A-10 pilots would love to fly the F-35. The A-10 is one of the slowest and ugliest military aircraft in the world. But it is the ground soldier's best friend, a ferocious tank killer that can take punishment from enemy ground forces and keep dishing it out. The Air Force should fly both.
If the AF doesn’t want the A 10 , move em to the Army.
Saw a cellphone video of US Soldiers taking fire from a nearby oasis area. Coming in low and slow from the right was a Warthog. One soldier ordered that firing should stop because this will be over fast.
The A10 opened up with the 30mm with the proverbial sound of ripping canvas and hundreds of flashes were seen in the trees in the trees where the enemy used to be. He was right. It was totally over. The only ones who love the A10 are the pilots and most importantly, the guys on the ground.
so you don't think much of a grease pencil aim point on a plexiglass window then i take it... 8^)
The price tag on the F-35 kind of makes it impractical for close air support, doesn’t it?
A ping to FR’s A-10 driver.
I think you’re right. I think most current (and former) pilots would much rather ride the new hardware.
But is it because it is the new hardware or because those pilots are treated like walking gods whereas A-10 pilots are sometimes lucky if there is air conditioning for the briefing?
Guess we need some A-10 pilots to find out.
In the comments they say that the f-35 only carries 125 rounds for it’s gatling gun.
That doesn’t make a lick of sense LOL!
I just read an article from that same sight which contends that in a conflict where the battle zone is defended by the latest Russian anti-aircraft technology, neither the A-10 nor any other generation four aircraft would long survive.
Why would they need more than two seconds? /sarc
“Find me one A-10 pilot who would refuse to transition into the F-35. Just one.”
Find me one Marine or Army infantry private who’d prefer cover fire from the F-35 over the A-10. Just one.
I second that motion!
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