A-10. Photo: US Air Force
Known for an ability to keep flying after taking multiple rounds of enemy machine gun fire, land and operate in rugged terrain, destroy groups of enemy fighters with a 30mm cannon and unleash a wide arsenal of attack weapons, the A-10 is described by pilots as a “flying tank” in the sky -- able to hover over ground war and provide life-saving close air support in high-threat combat environments.
“It is built to withstand more damage than any other frame that I know of. It’s known for its ruggedness,” A-10 pilot Lt. Col. Ryan Haden, 23rd Fighter Group Deputy, Moody AFB, told Scout Warrior in an interview.
The pilot of the A-10 is surrounded by multiple plates of titanium armor, designed to enable the aircraft to withstand small-arms fire and keep flying its attack missions.
“The A-10 is not agile, nimble, fast or quick,” Haden said. “It’s deliberate, measured, hefty, impactful calculated and sound. There’s nothing flimsy or fragile about the way it is constructed or about the way that it flies.”
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Update #1: Here's Exactly How Congress Wants To Measure The A-10 Warthog's Replacement (FoxTrot Alpha)
Update #2: McSally Wants To Tie A-10 Retirement To F-35 Flyoff (Defense News)
Update #3: Test Pilot: F-35 vs. A-10 Air Match Is Not ‘Apples to Apples’ (Motherboard)
WNU Editor: Have to give credit where credit is due .... the designers for the A-10 really knew what they were doing when they conceptualized and developed this aircraft.
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