Boeing wins $2bn contract to rewing A-10s

Flight Global ^ | 7/5/2007 | Graham Warwick

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Boeing has won a $2 billion contract to build new wings for the US Air Force's Fairchild A-10 ground-attack aircraft, after beating rival bids from contractors including Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

Announced on 29 June, the deal calls for the delivery of 242 replacement wing kits for installation by the USAF's Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah, with the work to extend the life of the A-10 fleet by at least 20 years.

More than 700 A-10s were introduced from 1976 and, despite regular threats of retirement, the type remains one of the air force's most effective close-air support platforms.

Lockheed is performing a wider precision engagement upgrade to the aircraft, and the resulting A-10C configuration will have new avionics equipment and an expanded range of air-to-surface weapons.

Boeing has yet to select its fabrication contractors for the rewinging project, which will begin with an 18-month engineering phase and is scheduled for completion by September 2018.

Boeing Macon will put the wing kits together for installation by the air force depot. The replacement design is based on the "thick" wing fitted to late production examples of the A-10.

Meanwhile, the USAF has awarded Korean Air a contract worth $16 million to continue service-life extension work on its A-10s until 2009. The company has previously modified 180 of the type at its Gimhae facility in South Korea.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

An A-10 Thunderbolt II, like this one, is among the various U.S. Central Command Air Forces air assets available for providing close-air support for International Security Assistance Force troops in contact with enemy forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The A-10 is specially designed for close air support of ground forces and can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Justin T. Watson)

FORT POLK, La. -- An A-10 Thunderbolt II pulls up after destroying a ground target with its 30 mm Gatling gun during a live-fire portion of Air Warrior II here. Airmen of the 354th Fighter Squadron from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., are participating in the exercise along with Air Force joint terminal attack controllers embedded with the Army's 10th Mountain Division. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen Otero)

[dirtboy]

I drive by Willow Grove Air Station during my commute. Makes my day when some hogs fly overhead.

[jaydubya2]

I wonder way the replacemnt wings are necessary. Due to corrosion or fatigue, or for advancing the A-10? Maybe both?

[CholeraJoe]

Ping

[patton]

IMHO, the two best airplanes ever built are the DC-3, and the A-10.

[Comstock1]

I remember about 15-20 years back driving through the Kisatchie Nat’l Forest in Louisiana. I came over a hill and about six A-10s were doing a run on the highway. They were probably doing something against the rules— but I doubt more than a few cars saw it.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Years ago I remember articles about retirement for the A-10.

Looks like it is going the B-52 route now.

[BearCub]

I'm curious as to how this contract was even possible. I would think the design of the wings would be subject to copyright and M7 Aerospace (Fairchild's successor) would have to be compensated in this deal.

You can't just go out and copy someone else's design of a plane, boat, wing, whatever.

[Squantos]

Great news !

[Paladin2]

Yes!

[Paladin2]

Wadabout the 737, DC9, Constellation?

[SFC Chromey]

age?? 30 years is a long time for CAS aircraft, I would think.

[Dumpster Baby]

There used to be A-10’s at Richards-Gebaur AFB in Grandview, MO, south of me several miles. I loved to hear that loud howl the engines made when they were nearby.

[patton]

What of them? ;)

[SierraWasp]

Great! Another fantastic A-10 thread!!!

I like it! I love it!! I want somemore of it!!!

[Major_Risktaker]

I wonder way the replacemnt wings are necessary. Due to corrosion or fatigue, or for advancing the A-10? Maybe both?

How about some AAA-Fire.

Sustained major wing damage, but was brought back by pilot Capt. Paul Johnson. Major depot level repairs in the field including center wing replacement!

[Paladin2]

Long service life and economic utility.

[jaydubya2]

That reminds me of the stories of crippled B-17’s returning home. One tuff aircraft!

[Paladin2]

Ouch!

[SauronOfMordor]

I'm curious as to how this contract was even possible. I would think the design of the wings would be subject to copyright and M7 Aerospace (Fairchild's successor) would have to be compensated in this deal. You can't just go out and copy someone else's design of a plane, boat, wing, whatever.

You can patent a wing design, but such patent would long since have expired. AFAIK, you can't copyright a wing design