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Boeing wins $2bn contract to rewing A-10s
Flight Global ^
| 7/5/2007
| Graham Warwick
Posted on 07/05/2007 2:40:09 PM PDT by 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.
TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: a10; aerospace; aviation; boeing; miltech; thunderboltii
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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)
To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
I drive by Willow Grove Air Station during my commute. Makes my day when some hogs fly overhead.
2
posted on
07/05/2007 2:41:24 PM PDT
by
dirtboy
(Impeach Chertoff and Gonzales. We can't wait until 2009 for them to be gone.)
To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
I wonder way the replacemnt wings are necessary. Due to corrosion or fatigue, or for advancing the A-10? Maybe both?
3
posted on
07/05/2007 2:45:36 PM PDT
by
jaydubya2
To: Paleo Conservative
4
posted on
07/05/2007 2:46:24 PM PDT
by
CholeraJoe
("Monet should have been smothered as a child." Pablo Picasso)
To: dirtboy
IMHO, the two best airplanes ever built are the DC-3, and the A-10.
5
posted on
07/05/2007 2:46:28 PM PDT
by
patton
(19yrs ... only 4,981yrs to go ;))
To: dirtboy
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.
6
posted on
07/05/2007 2:49:53 PM PDT
by
Comstock1
(If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 caliber miracle.)
To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Years ago I remember articles about retirement for the A-10.
Looks like it is going the B-52 route now.
To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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.
8
posted on
07/05/2007 2:54:37 PM PDT
by
BearCub
To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
9
posted on
07/05/2007 2:56:06 PM PDT
by
Squantos
(Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
To: jaydubya2
10
posted on
07/05/2007 2:56:38 PM PDT
by
Paladin2
(Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
To: patton
Wadabout the 737, DC9, Constellation?
11
posted on
07/05/2007 2:58:16 PM PDT
by
Paladin2
(Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
To: jaydubya2
age?? 30 years is a long time for CAS aircraft, I would think.
12
posted on
07/05/2007 2:58:51 PM PDT
by
SFC Chromey
(We are at war with Islamofascists inside and outside our borders, now ACT LIKE IT!)
To: dirtboy
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.
13
posted on
07/05/2007 3:00:05 PM PDT
by
Dumpster Baby
("Hope somebody finds me before the rats do .....")
To: Paladin2
14
posted on
07/05/2007 3:01:03 PM PDT
by
patton
(19yrs ... only 4,981yrs to go ;))
To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Great! Another fantastic A-10 thread!!!
I like it! I love it!! I want somemore of it!!!
15
posted on
07/05/2007 3:01:09 PM PDT
by
SierraWasp
(SIERRA REPUBLIC!!! (our 51st united state)(all of CA excluding coastal counties))
To: jaydubya2
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!
16
posted on
07/05/2007 3:01:44 PM PDT
by
Major_Risktaker
(Global Warming is a cover story for Peak Oil.)
To: patton
Long service life and economic utility.
17
posted on
07/05/2007 3:04:14 PM PDT
by
Paladin2
(Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
To: Major_Risktaker
That reminds me of the stories of crippled B-17’s returning home. One tuff aircraft!
To: Major_Risktaker
19
posted on
07/05/2007 3:04:44 PM PDT
by
Paladin2
(Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
To: 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. You can patent a wing design, but such patent would long since have expired. AFAIK, you can't copyright a wing design
20
posted on
07/05/2007 3:08:13 PM PDT
by
SauronOfMordor
(Open Season rocks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymLJz3N8ayI)
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