Warthogs Rule: Why There is No Plane Like the A-10 (And Every Army Fears Them)

[rangerrebew]

April 6, 2019

Warthogs Rule: Why There is No Plane Like the A-10 (And Every Army Fears Them)

They are truly special.
by Kris Osborn
 

Known for an ability to keep flying after taking multiple rounds of enemy machine gun fire, land and operate in rugged terrain, destroy groups of enemy fighters with a 30-millimeter cannon and unleash a wide arsenal of attack weapons, the A-10 is described by pilots as a “flying tank” in the sky — able to hover over ground war and provide life-saving close air support in high-threat combat environments.
 

“It is built to withstand more damage than any other frame that I know of. It’s known for its ruggedness,” A-10 pilot Lt. Col. Ryan Haden, 23rd Fighter Group Deputy, Moody Air Force Base, told Scout Warrior in an interview.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/warthogs-rule-why-there-no-plane-10-and-every-army-fears-them-51152

[Smokin Joe]

The writer says the planes are not agile, but the pilots flying them in Nevada had them moving in the sky, wheeling like a hunting hawk, able to change directions with an impressive agility that flat out surprised me. (All I could think was "I'm glad they're not hunting me!")

For the role they fulfill, that's agile enough.