Posted on 01/21/2015 12:39:22 PM PST by McGruff
With a roaring engine, 30-mm. cannon and nose painted like a toothsome, snarling beast, the A-10 Thunderbolt sends ISIS fighters scattering like cockroaches on the Iraqi desert plains, but the legendary fighter plane pilots call the "Warthog" may be fighting for its own life.
The venerable plane, first built for destroying Soviet tanks, has been on the chopping block since the sequester of 2011 mandated steep cuts in the Pentagon budget. Although the planes haven't been built in more than 30 years, the Defense Department believes it can save maintenance costs by phasing them out. Air Force brass believes newer, faster aircraft like the F-16, F-15E, and, eventually, Lockheed Martins F-35 fighter can do a better job of the Warthogs mission of providing close air support to soldiers on the ground. But supporters say Islamic State fighters are finding out the hard way what they have said all along.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Would have fun with one of those ISIS convoys.
I would suggest a picture of THOR AND HIS HAMMER ON THE SIDE and perhaps an upgrade in turbines that are more efficient and allow them more loiter time on target that at this time is really good but could be better. In addition US Army or Marines on the side would look really good.
Every time nobama hears or see that his juices flow and he thinks, "More! More!!"
“If two of them get on you, they can literally have a gun from one of them constantly on you, if they want. Its beyond scary to think of them working you over. Not to mention that after every pass starting with the first one, your combat effectiveness drops by an order of magnitude.”
***
And that’s why those brave soldiers of Allah, who look so fearless chopping off the head of a defenseless hostage, were literally running away from those A-10s last week. They saw dozens of their fellow jihadis go down with each pass and suddenly, they’re weren’t so anxious to get those 72 virgins.
You are correct: a pair of A-10s, under the control of an airborne FAC, a JTAC team or special forces, is a fearsome thing. And making matters worse (for the jihadis), the A-10s can loiter for long periods and unlike the fast movers, the Hawg carries plenty of ammo for the GAU-8.
A-10s all day, and Spooky comes out to play at night...racetrack orbits at 9-10,000 feet...target identified and neutralized in under two minutes.
I think you’ll find that more Freepers served their country as infantry than as airmen. The experience of infantry with, and feelings toward, CAS are legitimate.
Go to ApacheClips .com to see the Warthog in action. The Iraqis called this plane “Whispering Death’’ It’s effective for grounds when your enemy is holed up in a building, massing out in the open or skulking up an allyway trying to sneak up on you. “Low and Slow’’ with rockets, Hell Fire missiles, bombs and a 30.mm Gatling cannon for ground troops under fire this thing is like having your big brother show up in a street fight. This aircraft looks like it wants to kill you.
It was designed to effectively attack Soviet tanks in an environment defended by these:
Radar-sighted quad-23mm cannon.
The A-10 was built to kill tanks - and that's what it does DAMN WELL !!! Just ask the Iraqis on the "Highway of Death." Oh yeah - you can't, they're all dead ...
Its fan jets are super-quiet, so it is hard to detect from the ground and it can turn on a dime, dipping in between rolling hills.
The cockpit is made of titanium to protect the pilot and the airframe can take one hell of a beating and keep on ticking.
And, a 3-second burst of uranium-deleted ammo from its nose-mounted gatling gun melts tank armor like butter on a hot pancake.
'Nuff said ...
Have the Air force give all their A-10s to the Army and Marines, let the Army and the Marines have their own separate small ground support airforce.
The A-10 is the best plane for what it’s built for.
bump
Your attention, if you will, is wanted in this thread - specifically, post 20.
There are more Muslims in the Middle East than Christians. Their “we are more correct because we have greater numbers” argument does not make it true.
That is too funny. That's enough to make you leave your own scat trail.
RIGHT!!! Love the Valkyrie. Another great mistake by the fools at the Pentagon.
So? Un-bar them.
An infantryman's opinion regarding CAS is every bit as valid as an airman's.
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