October 1975 saw delivery of the first USAF A-10A and deployment in March 1976. Built specifically for close ground support the pilot is protected by titanium armor while being covered by a bubble canopy giving a commanding view. The Warthog has everything needed to survive, dual engines; self-sealing fuel cells; redundant flight control systems protected by titanium armor; a 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun; a wide array of bombs and missiles. This plane packs a heavy punch and can stay on scene a long time to deliver its payload. During Operation Desert Storm two A-10s downed Iraqi helicopters.

The first was on February 6, 1991 77-0205 piloted by Captain Bob Swain of the 706th TFS who downed an Iraqi Bo-105 C helicopter. The second was A-10A No.81-0964 c/n A10-659 piloted by Captain Todd 'Shanghai' Sheehy assigned to the 511th TFS. Sheehy spotted an Iraqi Mi-8 Hip helicopter and started shooting 300 rounds of his 30 mm cannon. The helicopter tail section caught fire so Sheehy fired another 200 rounds to finish it off. 81-0964 was modernized to OA-10A in 1987and A-10C in 2006.

Specifications A-10

• A-10C - Modernized variant of the A-10A
• Some A-10C upgrades
• 356 A-10/OA-10s upgraded to A-10C variant under Precision Engagement Program
• New flight computer
• Glass cockpit displays with controls
• 2 X 5.5 inch color monitors with moving maps
• Integrated digital stores management system
• Data link to employ smart weapons such as JDAM
• Wind corrected munitions dispenser
• Able to carry LITENING targeting pods

Or

• Sniper XR ATP
• ROVER (remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver) provides sensor data to ground personnel
• Crew: One Pilot
• Role: A-10 - close air support,
• OA-10 - airborne forward air control

Manufacturer: Fairchild Republic Co.

Power Plants

• Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans
• Thrust: 9,065 pounds per engine
• Length: 16.16 meters (53 ft 4 ins)
• Height: 4.42 meters (14 ft 8 ins)
• Wingspan: 17.42 meters (57 ft 6 ins)
• Speed: 420 miles per hour (Mach 0.56)
• Ceiling: 13,636 meters (45,000 ft)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 22,950 kg. (51,000 lbs.)
• Range: 800 miles (695 nautical miles)

Armament: One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun; maximum 7,200 kg (16,000lbs.) of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations, including 225 kg (500 lbs.) Mk-82 and 900 kg (2,000 lbs.) Mk-84 series low/high drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, mine dispensing munitions, AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs; infrared countermeasure flares; electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 6.99 cm (2.75 in.) rockets; illumination flares and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

Info:     A-10A Thunderbolt II - 21 FS,  507th ACW, Shawn AFB, Dec 1991