Hog Lovers Are Appeased -- Strategy Page
October 13, 2010: In Afghanistan, the most requested ground support aircraft is the U.S. A-10. It's been that way since 2002, and there was similar A-10 affection in Iraq. Troops from all nations quickly come to appreciate the unique abilities of this 1970s era aircraft, that the U.S. Air Force has several times tried to retire. Now, over 300 remaining A-10s are being upgraded, so that they can fly until 2028. This includes new electronics as well as structural and engine refurbishment.
A-10s are worked hard. An A-10 squadron has a dozen aircraft and 18 pilots. Pilots often average about a hundred hours a month in the air. That's about twenty sorties, as each sortie averages about five hours. The aircraft range all over southern Afghanistan, waiting for troops below to call for some air support. The A-10, nicknamed "Warthog", or just "hog", could always fly low and slow, and was designed, and armored, to survive lots of ground fire. The troops trust the A-10 more than the F-16, or any other aircraft used for ground support.
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My Comment: I always found the A-10's design to be ugly .... and its visual presentation to be uninspiring. But as I get older, I have begun to appreciate what this plane can do .... and more importantly, why our troops prefer to have this plane flying over their heads in support. Read the piece from Strategy Page to appreciate on why this is the case.
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