Posted on 01/10/2024 6:27:13 PM PST by Chode
A-10 Warthog ground attack aircraft are among the growing number of U.S. military aircraft types that have now refueled from privately owned tankers. A KC-135 from private aerospace firm Metrea refueling Warthogs during an exercise last year also marked the first time a contractor-operated tanker had ever linked up with U.S. Air Force tactical jets.
The Air Force, specifically, has been increasingly making use of private aerial refueling services in the past year, which will help it reduce the burdens on its own tanker fleets. A US Air Force A-10 Warthog ground attack jet receives fuel from a KC-135 tanker belonging to private contractor Metrea on October 6, 2023. Metrea A US Air Force A-10 Warthog ground attack jet receives fuel from a KC-135 tanker belonging to private contractor Metrea on October 6, 2023. Metrea
The Metrea KC-135 refueled a pair of A-10s during an exercise in October 2023, the company told The War Zone in a statement. This came ahead of a privately-owned KDC-10 tanker belonging to Omega Air Refueling linking up with F-16 Viper fighters as part of a different exercise in November 2023, which the Air Force officially announced later that month. The service said the latter event was the first time any of its fighters had received fuel from a contractor-operated tanker. The Air Force sometimes refers to A-10s as "fighters" (they are currently assigned to "fighter" squadrons), but the Warthog is an attack aircraft.
Mercenaries just like Roman Empire towards the end...which politicians are linked financially to the contractors?
I was in the Air Force Reserves in 1982. I did my 2 week tour at Fairchild AFB. Flying home to Mather AFB we refueled several A-10s at 42000 feet over Idaho. I got to lay next to the boom operator and watch the refueling. Incredible!!
I retired last year from my civilian job working for a tanker unit. Best and bravest people I ever met. I wonder if those aircrews will now retire or quit and work for this civilian contractor.
“””” Flying home to Mather AFB we refueled several A-10s at 42000 feet over Idaho. I got to lay next to the boom operator and watch the refueling. Incredible!!”””””
No matter what branch of the service they serve in, veterans see things and experience things that civilians don’t.
And why not?
Let’s inject a little competition into the military complex.
So the big guy can get his 10 % more easily
The A-10 is probably the second best designed military plane after the B-2.
Based on?
I can't say, but when people talk about Iran's swarming PT boats, I always say, I'd stand in line and pay money to see the movie, "One A-10 vs. the Entire Iranian Surface Navy".
It’s my opinion that any plane that is still pretty indispensable after 45 years is going to be a pretty well designed plane for its time.
How many plane designed has the military been through and no longer use, but still use the A-10 and B-2?
“No matter what branch of the service they serve in, veterans see things and experience things that civilians don’t.”
That is so true. My brother served a year in Afghanistan and saw a cobra while jogging around base. 😲
This is a good way to stop losing skilled tanker pilots to the airlines. There is an insane market for pilots. Let them earn airline wages while still doing the job.
Everyone talks about markets and capitalism, until it’s time to pay a soldier for a valuable skillset. Then they start talking about drafts, stop-loss, wave the flag, etc.
Funny how Boeing and Lockheed executives, Congress, etc never accept a military payscale in such times.
That’s an awesome movie, lol!
Just wondering what happens when the contractor refuses to perform refueling because the CEO gets pressure from an outside entity. I’m old enough to remember that the 6th Fleet left Naples in Oct 1973 with half filled fuel bunkers as the Yom Kippur War was in danger of involving us and the Russians, because Exxon Italy was threatened by the Arab oil boycott if it delivered to the 6th Fleet. Six months later when confronted at a Senate hearing by Sen Proxmire who almost went as far as leveling a treason allegation against his corporation, an ExxonMobil spokesman said the following.
“ Exxon Corporation flies 37 flags. It owes allegiance to none.”
That’s a danger of our armed forces creating a dependence on private businesses for essential operational services.
awesome plane-
WHAT???!!!!
Both great airframes, I do agree.
That said, I might scootch the B-17 to second best, and the SR-71 to first place.
All super and storied aircraft.
F-16, F-15, B-52, C-130, KC-135.
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