Wow. A little perspective
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Ozark Marine
US Veteran
I don't know about that gun nearly stopping the A-10 in the air but it surly stops things moving on the ground.
Grayfox
US Veteran
The way I heard it was that they start with the gun and build the plane around it. 
I used to have a book on the Warthog, maybe I still do, but just can't find it.
Anyway, the plane was designed around the gun. It was all designed to stop Soviet Tanks that were expected to come across the border between the USSR and western Europe.
Anyway, the plane was designed around the gun. It was all designed to stop Soviet Tanks that were expected to come across the border between the USSR and western Europe.
The way I heard it was that they start with the gun and build the plane around it.
bill2000
Member
My favorite weapon. This video shows what it takes to charge her up, and at the end...how to empty it.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCsMF4KIjcQ[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCsMF4KIjcQ[/ame]
TomkinsSP
Member
They are very quiet with those high bypass fanjets. The was (may still be) a gunnerery range near Philadelphia, New York. They would fly down the adjacent valleys on thier way to and from nap of earth, and you would not hear them till they were on top of you.
As I recall, again, from that book I can't find, high bypass fanjets were chosen for how quiet they are compared to the type more common in military jets. There was also, I think, some advantage in maneuverability with the relatively low speeds that the A-10 flies at.
Mavericks & 2.75" FFAR's in the pod.
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Yes, they will actually stop mid air and hover against the force of gravity when firing the gun. 
Seriously, they can fire the entire drum and the plane will not plummet from the sky. It DOES slow down, but not enough for it to lose lift.
I see A-10s fly overhead everyday. Such beautiful and strong planes. BRRRRTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, they can fire the entire drum and the plane will not plummet from the sky. It DOES slow down, but not enough for it to lose lift.
I see A-10s fly overhead everyday. Such beautiful and strong planes. BRRRRTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!
zzzippper
Member
The way I heard it was that they start with the gun and build the plane around it.
Not true. If it were the gun could not be serviced or replaced. It is true that the plane was designed with the gun in mind. It is more of a weapon system than an aircraft. Much like the Fokker Eindecker. Neither one would have a purpose without their guns.
And this is the airplane the USAF did not want but only bought it so the Army wouldn't and encroach on their rice bowl.
jtcarm
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The inter-service jealously is really ridiculous.
I've read that the A6, a highly-effective medium range bomber (able to reach deep into enemy territory since launched from a flattop), was retired over such politics.
Such pettiness almost prevented the air mobile choppers who delivered troops in Vietnam from having an attack helicopter for protection and close air support.
The Army was only allowed to have the UH1. An attack helicopter had to come from USAF.
The AH1 Cobra came about due to the incredible genius of a Bell Helicopter engineer, who worked on his own time to design an attack helicopter that used 80% (or more) of the parts as the UH1. This made it technically the same aircraft, already authorized for the Army to appropriate.
Thus the Army had a much-needed gunship on the battlefield in about a year vs waiting three for USAF/McDonnell-Douglas to design and deliver a new one.
