Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II

Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II. Aircraft Collection. , Single-seat, close air support aircraft , The 4-10 Thunderbolt Il is named after tha famous P47 Thunderbolt, righter bomber of World War II. However, the A-10 is better known as the "Warthog" by pilots and ground crew. The Warthog was the first U.S. Air Force aircraft designed specifically for the close air support of ground forces and entered service in 1976., The A-10 is simple, survivable, and effective. The Warthog can operate from rough forward airstrips close to the battle area. Many of the aircraft's parts are interchangeable left and right, including the engines, main landing gear, and vertical stabilizers., The aircraft is designed for maximum survivability in combat. The cockpit and gun area are surrounded by 1½ inch thick titanium armor capable of withstanding direct hits from a 23mm projectile. The engines are placed so that the tail surfaces help mask the A-10's exhaust from ground launched heat seeking missiles. The Warthog, is designed to keep flying even with one half a wing or a vertical stabilizer shot away., The straight wing makes the A-10 very maneuverable at low speeds and altitudes for accurate weapons delivery. The Warthog can carry up to 16,000 lbs of bombs and missiles on eleven pylons and 1,350 rounds of ammunition for its 30mm cannon., The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center is responsible for the logistic support and depot level repair of the gun, avionics, electronic warfare and communication systems, and air launched missiles used on the A-10., Wart Hog , Specifications and Performance , (2) General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans with 9,000 lbs. trust each , 57ft., 6in. . 800 miles . 75-0305 , 53ft., 4in. . 47,000 lbs. . 44,200 ft. , 14ft., 8in. . $2.4 Million . 450 mph., Artic Hawg , The A-10 on display, #75-0305, was the 55th production Warthog built. After acceptance by the Air Force in July 1977, the aircraft served with units at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, and Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. In 1992, 75-0305 was assigned to Eielson AFB, Alaska, where it was known as "Arctic Hawg." Arctic Hawg served as a ground weapons trainer until it was brought to the Museum of Aviation in October 2007., (sidebar) , The A-10 is known for its big gun. The GAU-8 Avenger is a 30mm hydraulically-driven seven-barrel Gatling-type rotary cannon that can fire at a rate of 65 rounds per second. Designed as an anti-tank weapon, it shoots an armor-piercing round that has a core of high density depleted uranium capable of penetrating over 2.75 inches (69mm) of armor plate. The gun system weighs over 4,000 pounds., (captions) , An A-10 pulls away after receiving fuel from a KC-10 Extender flying over Afghanistan., Captain Kim Campbell surveys the battle damage to her A-10. The aircraft was hit over Baghdad, Iraq, by enemy fire during a close air support mission on April 7, 2003., A-10s of the 917th Wing, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, use a warthog for their nose art., An A-10 from the Massachusetts Air National Guard fires an AGM-65 Maverick missile., This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force