High Maintenance Hogs (A-10 Warthogs, that is)

Strategy Page ^ | 7-3-07 | Jim Dunnigan

[Renfield]

I remember, back sometime in the mid-to-late 70’s, just before the Warthog entered service, reading an article in Time Magazine that claimed that the Warthog was an expensive, useless boondoggle.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

A-10’s. The Infantry has a love affair with this old bird. Hope they hang around forever.

[Former Proud Canadian]

What is “Time Magazine”?

[Farmer Dean]

Why don’t they build some new ones.I wish they would,I can’t envision a time when our troops woundn’t have a direct support aircraft available.

[em2vn]

$8million per plane for another 20 years of service isn’t expensive. I’d say it’s pretty inexpensive.

[ltc8k6]

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q2/070629b_nr.html

[Lee'sGhost]

Not to sound petty, but I would wager you could just such an article on every air craft and just about every new major weapons system ever developed. The point being that the lib media will ALWAYS try to undermine our military superiority.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Something to put in a bird cage if nothing else is available (and you don’t mind driving your parakeet insane).

[ricks_place]

A-10 Thunderbolt

[PeteB570]

It’s a slow ugly jet - nothing a true fly boy would wish to be seen in.

In other words it’s not sexy enough for the big generals running the AF.

Of course they also don’t want the army to have “real” aircraft so they’ll kill off the A-10 and make the Army use UAVs for ground support.

[ChessExpert]

I think a new generation A-10 would be truly lethal.

[Jonah Hex]

But both the 'hawg drivers and the infantrymen love the beasts. Heck, even the Marine riflemen love 'em (but will never admit it)!

:-)

[Gamecock]

It is one tough plane:

[WildcatClan]

It’s money well spent. I don’t want to be a ground troop on the wrong end of this flying tank, that’s for sure.

[Flintlock]

Do the right thing, for a change.
Transfer ‘em to the ARMY—give them a real aircraft that’s cheaper than a chopper.
Start building an improved Warthog II.
Give the Air Force a couple fewer toys, and give the US a plane we can USE—right now.

[bvw]

ditto.

[mad_as_he$$]

Bargain.

[Clam Digger]

I think a new generation A-10 would be truly lethal.

Besides avionics they are already upgrading, what do you think would improve it's lethality?

[mad_as_he$$]

The fighter cadre runs the Air force. They do and always have hated the Hogs.