Author Topic: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun  (Read 4936 times)

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Offline trapeze

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The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« on: June 21, 2011, 10:14:49 PM »
Found this at Instapundit. Great little introductory article on the A-10.

Quite a bit of the info in the article also appears in the wikipedia entry for the A-10.

Quote
The aircraft is designed to fly with one engine, one tail, one elevator and half a wing torn off.

Quote
...the landing gears are all hinged toward the rear of the aircraft, so if hydraulic power is lost the pilot can drop the gear and a combination of gravity and wind resistance will open and lock the gear in place.


« Last Edit: June 22, 2011, 12:16:09 AM by trapeze »
In a doomsday scenario, hippies will be among the first casualties. So not everything about doomsday will be bad.

Offline Sectionhand

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2011, 06:25:38 AM »
I've never understood why so many people have referred to the A-10 as "ugly" . I think it's one of the coolest looking planes in our arsenal .

Offline Libertas

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2011, 06:53:20 AM »
I like just about everything that flies.  Having said that there is some undeniable aesthetic appeal to a sleek jet that can scream across the sky and perform all manner of aerial gymnastics that set the pulse racing.  But in each generation there is a plane that fliers will latch onto and love for its durability and capability.  The P-51 Mustang & F4F Wildcat in WWII comes to mind, and in Korea the F-86 Sabre, both very durable and capable.  The A-10's cockpit sits basically in a bathtub of armor and it can carry a buttload of weapons and take a beating and still fly.  Being able to rain fire on the enemy and RTB alive is really all any pilot hopes for.  So while the A-10 is not sleek, sexy and fast, it is well regarded by those who fly it, and that in the end is all that matters.
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Offline trapeze

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2011, 08:12:49 AM »


Go here to see a slide show of the AN/GAU-8a 30mm A-10 Gatling Gun.

In a doomsday scenario, hippies will be among the first casualties. So not everything about doomsday will be bad.

Offline trapeze

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2011, 08:15:05 AM »
And all things Warthog can be found here.
In a doomsday scenario, hippies will be among the first casualties. So not everything about doomsday will be bad.

Offline trapeze

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In a doomsday scenario, hippies will be among the first casualties. So not everything about doomsday will be bad.

Offline Sectionhand

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2011, 09:16:31 AM »
I like just about everything that flies.  Having said that there is some undeniable aesthetic appeal to a sleek jet that can scream across the sky and perform all manner of aerial gymnastics that set the pulse racing.  But in each generation there is a plane that fliers will latch onto and love for its durability and capability.  The P-51 Mustang & F4F Wildcat in WWII comes to mind, and in Korea the F-86 Sabre, both very durable and capable.  The A-10's cockpit sits basically in a bathtub of armor and it can carry a buttload of weapons and take a beating and still fly.  Being able to rain fire on the enemy and RTB alive is really all any pilot hopes for.  So while the A-10 is not sleek, sexy and fast, it is well regarded by those who fly it, and that in the end is all that matters.

I remember reading about a pilot aboard the Essex during WWII who had just returned from the "Marianas Turkey Shoot" in his newly acquired F6F Hellcat . He said he wanted to marry it !

Offline Libertas

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #7 on: June 22, 2011, 09:20:34 AM »
Yeah Hellcat replaced the Wildcat in the latter stages of the war, just like its predecessor tough as nails.  Pilots like returning in one piece!   ::thumbsup::
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Offline Glock32

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #8 on: June 22, 2011, 12:12:43 PM »
The F4U Corsair was another amazing aircraft. The Japanese were terrified of it. The A10 is straight up badass. I don't think ugly is the right description either, I think what people are getting at is "mean". It looks mean as hell.

And its looks are deceiving when it comes to aerobatics. Those big straight wings give it exceptional lift and low speed turning, good loiter time too. It has a rugged, low tech appeal.

From the link at the top, the 30mm round it fires weigh 6,560 grains. For perspective, a pound is 7,000 grains. Each one of those rounds is nearly a pound!
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Offline Libertas

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #9 on: June 22, 2011, 12:14:53 PM »
Will that gun fit on a SUV?

 ;D
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charlesoakwood

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #10 on: June 22, 2011, 09:30:07 PM »

The A-10's got the look.
The Mustang, the Corsair, the Catalina.
All of them icons.

A WWII comparison would be the (Jug) P-47, I think.


Offline Glock32

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2011, 10:13:41 PM »
For sure. Republic named it in honor of the P-47, the Thunderbolt. Both an enemy tank platoon's worst nightmare in their respective times.
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Offline trapeze

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Re: The A-10 and Its Totally Cool Gun
« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2011, 10:22:20 PM »
In a doomsday scenario, hippies will be among the first casualties. So not everything about doomsday will be bad.