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Modern (1975-today): USA
Modern aircraft of the United States.
Hosted by Jim Starkweather
A-10 Thunderbolt to be officially retired.
entlim
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England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 02, 2008
KitMaker: 156 posts
AeroScale: 51 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 06, 2013 - 04:52 AM UTC

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There's also this. Even Boeing would be unlikely to crow about getting such a big contract for a job that's about to go .


Boeing announced on September 4th that it has been awarded a follow on order worth $212million for 56 sets of wings. According to Boeing the wings will improve mission availability by 4% and save $1.3billion in maintenance costs. Boeings on contract to build 242 wings although the Air Force has ordered 173.

Precisely!
North4003
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: August 01, 2012
KitMaker: 960 posts
AeroScale: 391 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 06, 2013 - 05:59 AM UTC
My first assignment in the USAF was at Shaw AFB, SC. It was thrilling during our war games to see the "aggressor squadron" from Myrtle Beach do low level passes "destroying" our base. An honer to "die" from such a well designed aircraft. I was glad that they were on our side.
armouredcharmer
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 670 posts
AeroScale: 175 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2013 - 12:50 AM UTC
I would say you`d have to be nuts to retire such an aircraft.
One of the prides of my collection is Trumpeter`s 1/32nd offering of this beastie (with an upgraded resin cokpit),it`s painted and decalled up as "Playtime" - the Hog that did the ten hour support mission during the first gulf war.
I do`nt think there`s a fast mover out there that could have done that !!
Zhaezzy
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: November 11, 2013
KitMaker: 14 posts
AeroScale: 4 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 14, 2013 - 11:02 AM UTC
It was reliable as far as avionics go with the exception of the ADF antenna which is mechanical and located near the gun. The plane is primitive and made to do a job and do it well. No radar to speak of or fancy stuff gun bombs and the occasional air to mud missile. We had 2 at Eglin Test wing in the mid 80's.

I just don't see the F-35 doing its job well. The A10 is the successor to the Douglas A-1 Skyraider and a worthy one.
Tango88
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: November 23, 2009
KitMaker: 14 posts
AeroScale: 12 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 14, 2013 - 11:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

It was reliable as far as avionics go with the exception of the ADF antenna which is mechanical and located near the gun. The plane is primitive and made to do a job and do it well. No radar to speak of or fancy stuff gun bombs and the occasional air to mud missile. We had 2 at Eglin Test wing in the mid 80's.

I just don't see the F-35 doing its job well. The A10 is the successor to the Douglas A-1 Skyraider and a worthy one.


Primitive, ugly, slow - but well able to do the job it was designed for, even now! Like its earlier namesake and the Spad, it is capable of soaking up a lot of damage and still getting the job done - don't think the F-35 will survive long in that environment!

I came across this drawing way back when the A-10 was entering service - sums up the attitude to it even then!

[IMG]http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad21/raytillotson/IMG_0002_zpsb009716e.jpg" BORDER="0">[/img]

Anyone fancy doing a 1/48 Kitchen Sink bomb to go with the Spad's Toilet bomb?
fhvn4d
#159
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: April 07, 2008
KitMaker: 803 posts
AeroScale: 42 posts
Posted: Friday, November 15, 2013 - 01:32 AM UTC
I dont think this is the first time the A-10 has been "retired". If I recall in the early 90s, just before ODS, I recall that there were alot of them being tossed to the Nat Guard and AMARC. That might be part of this too... the A-10 is known for its stoutness, taking them and ziploc bagging them at DM for 5 or 10 years isnt out of the realm of horror shows. Until the next war breaks out and tanks are part of the equasion, when they unzip the bag, fill er up, and make em fly again.....
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