A-10 Warthog reborn

[GaryS]

U.S. Air Force Fires Up the A-10 Depot Line to Keep Warthogs Flying 'Indefinitely'

On paper, the Air Force plans to start mothballing the A-10 in 2018, with the last Warthogs sent to the boneyard by 2021. But last month Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said that the retirement of the A-10 would likely have to be delayed further as the military continues to rely on the low-and-slow attack plane for close-air support (CAS) missions flown against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Even more telling, the Air Force Material Command (AFMC) is bringing the depot line for A-10 maintenance and repair back up to full capacity, according to Aviation Week.
The Hawg isn't going anywhere.
"They have re-geared up, we've turned on the depot line, we're building it back up in capacity and supply chain," AFMC chief Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski recently told Aviation Week. "Our command, anyway, is approaching this as another airplane that we are sustaining indefinitely."

Apparently the F-35 development is going more slowly than planned. I'm no expert, but it seems that the A-10 is a much more cost effective approach to ground attack than a plane that, depending on the specific version costs between $98 to $199 Million dollars.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Sounds like a smart move to me, but I'm a know-nothing civie.
Any ground pounders out there happy to see the A-10 sticking around?

 

[PatriotX]

Happy BRRRRT!!! day !

I cannot imagine the sense of relief that our troops feel when hearing the sound of the A-10's cannon turning {insert anything here} to dust.

 

[cmort666]

The F-35, a Brewster Buffalo for the 21st century...

 

[29aholic]

I have had the pleasure of seeing a pair of Hawgs do gun runs. Nothing short of awesome!!!

 

[Texas Star]

Sounds like a smart move to me, but I'm a know-nothing civie.
Any ground pounders out there happy to see the A-10 sticking around?

My son was profoundly grateful to have A-10's attack Iraqi insurgent positions on a number of occasions. They definitly saved American lives.

 

[Big Cholla]

Subtle, But Very True!

The F-35, a Brewster Buffalo for the 21st century...

"C", your comparison analogy is so true it made me laugh. Of course 75% of the readers are not going to have a clue as to what you were referring.

If the hints coming out of Russia are correct, the Russian's latest effort will in fact make the F-35 look like the old Brewster Buffalo in performance. The only hope is that their 'control from the ground' tactics philosophy might even out the odds to some extent. ...................

 

[shouldazagged]

It's time they wised up yet again to the fact that the A-10 is the finest ground-attack, tank-killing, close-air-support aircraft ever designed.

If the F-35 is the Brewster Buffalo of the 21st century, the Warthog is the Sturmovic, plus.

I don't even think it's ugly. It's classic form-following-function design. Everything it needs and nothing it doesn't.

 

[CATI1835]

This is the best news that has come from the USAF brain trust in years. A wonderful airframe that could last for decades more. This should also be welcomed by the troops on the ground.
IIRC, when the USAF announced they were retiring the A10, the USMC said, give them to us. There is no higher recommendation than that. They recognized their value.

 

[BigCityChief]

This thing got in the way of a Warthog.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DWalt]

Having been present during some static test firings of the A-10s 30mm gun, it is indeed something to experience up close. Have never seen an A-10 firing from the air, but I almost did once. As long as the enemy has armored vehicles and fortified positions on the ground, we need to have A-10s. I believe most USAF pilots believe that the F-35 is not a suitable substitute for the A-10 in a close support role.

 

[Scrapper]

I like the "Warthog".

 

[Scott in NCal]

I can't help but wonder given the over promised and underdelivered preformance of the F35 if maby we shouldn't buy some far less expensive new F16s while that assembly line is still operating.

 

[Bekeart]

Quick Summary for A-10 replacement. (aka Warhog)

If it Ain't Broke- DON'T FIX IT!

Bekeart

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Looks like the Air Force believes the A-10 is going to be need over that next few years. A lot. Enough to throw their old plans out the window. Not sure that's a good thing.

 

[Nightowl]

I believe we should keep advancing and building better and better aircraft for our military. Well, tanks too! We are still flying B52s and B1s. The B2 is over 20 years old! Hard to believe.

But, the big but, is that the A-10 is perfectly fitted for its role and the B52 and B2 still get the job done. The effort to make the F35 do fill too many roles means it is not always well suited for them all.
Long live the A-10.

 

[jdlii]

Their is or was, an Air Guard unit from Battle Creek, Michigan that did great work in the desert. Their squadron name was, if I recall correctly, "Cereal Killers" and from reports received from those "who were there" they lived up to that name and then some!

Go HOGS!

 

[GaryS]

The will. It's not good at all.

Looks like the Air Force believes the A-10 is going to be need over that next few years. A lot. Enough to throw their old plans out the window. Not sure that's a good thing.

 

[Scrapper]

Their is or was, an Air Guard unit from Battle Creek, Michigan that did great work in the desert. Their squadron name was, if I recall correctly, "Cereal Killers" and from reports received from those "who were there" they lived up to that name and then some!

Go HOGS!

In this thread someone else posted about the "Cereal Killers" > History of the Warthog A-10 - Page 2 - M14 Forum

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeyFMqv1Qyc[/ame]

 

[Malpasowildlifer]

Rock on.......