With a single engine and prop?
Posted on 02/16/2017 9:22:19 AM PST by DFG
Known as the 'flying gun', the A-10 Warthog plane was a hero during Operating Desert Storm – but has since been deemed vulnerable and costly to operate. Now, a Minnesota-based startup has unveiled designs for a new attack plane called the 'Machete' that consists of a new metal foam developed in conjunction with the US Department of Energy. The metal foam is lightweight and strong - and is capable of stopping bullets and other projectiles in much less space than traditional armor, while the plane boasts the same 30mm cannon as the Warthog it could replace.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
The A-10 is basically a bad-ass cannon with an airplane built around it.
I think they could take a chain-machine gun and make a smaller drone version around it!
Not enough engines for something that flies close to the earth. If the A-10 loses an engine, it flies home. If this thing loses an engine, it goes down.
What are the insulating qualities of this new metal foam?
It would be cool to have a bulletproof house.
With a single engine and prop?
The Air Force is looking for Close Air Support planes that are cheaper to purchase and operate for low threat environments.
I will bet that thing is efficient as hell.
judging from the small picture it could actually be two counter-rotating props, possibly.
Looks Russian.
No gun.
No backup engine.
More of the “Lets drop multi-million dollar ordnance to eliminate 2 people.
I never saw a problem with the OV-10 Bronco. ;)
Offhand, the thing reminds me of a new-age Sandy with the propeller on its butt. It sounds encouraging. I’m curious about the metal-foam armor, though.
I’ve heard the A-10 pilot protection as an armored bathtub that was very much up to the job... I wonder how ‘bath-worthy’ this would be....
They used to fly them all the time by the base where I worked. IIRC they were more of a scout/reconnaissance role, though. Not CAS. Fantastically maneuvering planes though...
while the plane boasts the same 30mm cannon as the Warthog it could replace.
This is the first potential replacement that has interested me at all.
some idiotic people here are not reading the article.
it has the exact same gun.
People are also saying and has only one engine, that’s also foolish.
stop being a bunch of idiots.
Warthog. Go ugly, go early
"...while the plane boasts the same 30mm cannon as the Warthog it could replace."
Looks to be mounted in the forward pod under the fuselage.
Figures the USAF would go for an expensive aircraft with overly complicated transmission setup. That would be nightmare to support on the front lines. I think they just like it ‘cause it looks like a fighter.
I don’t think any fixed-wing aircraft with counter-rotating props has ever served very long, except maybe the TU-95 Bear.
The USAF should hand over the air to mud role to the ground forces - and they should consider the armored crop-duster approach!
“Looks like the A-10’s pretty younger sister.”
And, as yet, still a virgin.
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