Posted on 02/12/2020 9:34:59 AM PST by hattend
Cue Martha McSally.
Israel tried to buy old A-10s several times as replacement for the Mirage III, which had been designed as a missiles only interceptor, but on which we stuck 30mm cannons — and was not really very good (although it worked).
As times passed (and strategies changed), the interest for the A-10 waned — I think mainly because the US wanted to sell F-35s.
“Just put a tailhook on the A-10 and give it to the Marines. “
And take off just as the bow of the boat hit a swell, the boat is going full out, and into a headwind.
Be pretty tight takeoff; as in Doolittle raider tight.
Consider the fundamental concept of the A-10 with the big gun and high survivability combined with drone technology.
Democrats want to ban the A-10 because it has a magazine of more than 10 rounds.
These democrats just passed a law forbidding the A-10 from flying in Virginia because it has more than 10 rounds.
Exactly what I keep screaming. Army in particular wants A10s to stay around (not sure about the Marines, but I can't imagine they'd have a problem with it), so why not adapt the A10 airframe/capabilities to a drone and make it an organic CAB battalion? Then the USAF gets to dump the icky CAS platform and we ground-pounders get to keep one of the most effective tools in the arsenal AND have it under our control.
Air Force Bean Counters Act Like Idiots (film at 11)
Spent 4 years in the USAF. Some good people, some worthless. Mostly a civilian organisation the was trying to be military and turned out to be chickenshit. And that was SAC.
I’ve seen unloaded A-10s practically leap into the air while putting on a show at air shows.
Besides, if they can ‘navalize’ the YF-17’s landing gear into an F/A-18’s, I bet they can figure out how to make an A-10 fit for cat duty.
How can i get mine?
Army. Treat it like a fast helicopter.
Marine craft need to be able to operate off of ships.
Bring back the P-51!
Is the Warthog supersonic? That ought to be a consideration, since it extends the range of support quite a bit.
Freaking Pentagon a_holes!
Good idea.
I love the Warthog, they saved my life many years ago.
Can’t.
In 1947 congress separated the US Army Air Corps from the army, creating the modern US Air Force and giving it sole responsibility of all things regarding air craft.
The air force jealously guards what they perceive as “their” domain; ALL offensive and defensive air operations.
The air force wants nothing to do with close air support. Close air support calls for slow, heavily armed planes that just aren’t sexy to the air force. The brains at the air force are seduced by speed and stealth, everything the A-10 isn’t.
The air force is EXTREMELY jealous of it’s role as THE master of aircraft.
In the 1960’s the army commissioned Lockheed to develop an attack helicopter and they came up with the AH-56 Cheyenne. As a stopgap they army purchased the Bell AH-1G Cobra for Vietnam use.
The air force was able to squash the contract for the Cheyenne and none were ever built.
In 1972 the army again tried to develop an attack helicopter resulting in first the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and the Boeing AH-64 Apache.
The Black Hawk snuck in because it was a dual role Utility classed craft. It entered service in 1979.
The air force fought the development of the Apache because they felt it infringed on their territory. Between the air force headwinds and the changing army demands for weapons and survivability the Apache didn’t begin production until 1983.
The air force will never take off the blinders.
I have a couple of AF buddies in San Diego and Tucson who were A-10 drivers who’d love to have one. It’s all they talk about. Not really, but it seems like they do.
A-10s cannot operate in a high AA-threat environment - that's why they work great against foes without sophisticated AA (like in the sand box).
F-35s can operate in contested airspace against sophisticated air defense. That's their job.
Put a pinwheel on the canopy and call it a rotary AC.
Now Patrick Space Force Base.
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