A-10 Thunderbolt II
Dedicated close air support aircraft, known as the Warthog.
Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-turbofan, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft designed for close air support of ground troops.[1] It entered service in 1977 and is the only production-built aircraft designed solely for close air support to have served with the U.S. Air Force.[1] The A-10 is also known by the nickname "Warthog" and is named after the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt of World War II.[1]
Quick Facts
- Primary role
- Close air support (CAS)
- Manufacturer
- Fairchild Republic
- Operator
- United States Air Force
- Armament
- 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8 Avenger rotary autocannon
- Nickname
- Warthog
Facts from the source article.
How it changed
From 2005 to June 2011, the entire fleet of 356 A-10s and OA-10s were modernized in the Precision Engagement program and redesignated A-10C.[2] After World War II, U.S. design efforts for tactical aircraft concentrated on nuclear delivery using high-speed types like the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo and Republic F-105 Thunderchief, causing conventional attack aircraft development to stall.[3] Approximately 266 A-1s were lost in action in Vietnam by the U.S. Air Force and Navy, mostly due to small-arms fire.[4] Following a fly-off competition with the YA-9A, the YA-10 was chosen for production on 18 January 1973.[5]
What the maker and period sources say
A 1974 New York Times article rated the A-10 over the A-7 for support of combat troops.[6]
References
- Wikipedia, "Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II", National Museum of the United States Air Force™; Nijboer, "Fighting Cockpits", Zenith Press, 2016, p. 192 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "A-10 Precision Engagement program holds its final roll-out ceremony", Hilltop Times via Ogden Publishing Corporation, 14 January 2008; Schanz, "Not Fade Away", June 2008; Jensen, "All New Warthog", 1 December 2005; Jensen, "All New Warthog", 1 December 2005; "A-10C Capabilities Briefing", U.S. Air Force via media.jrn.com; "GAO-07-415: Tactical Aircraft, DOD Needs a Joint and Integrated Investment Strategy", U.S. Government Accountability Office, April 2007; "A Higher-Tech Hog: The A-10C PE Program", Defense Indus en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Encyclopedia of Military Science", Sage Publications, 2013; Knaack 1978, p. 151 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hobson, "Vietnam Air Losses, USAF/USN/USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia, 1961–1973", Specialty Press, 2001; Jacques Strouble 2010 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Spick 2000, p. 18.; Jenkins 1998, p. 21. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jenkins 1998, pp. 16–17.; "GAO-07-415: Tactical Aircraft, DOD Needs a Joint and Integrated Investment Strategy", U.S. Government Accountability Office, April 2007; Jenkins 1998, p. 19.; "New A-10 Jet Is Rated Over A-7 For Support of Combat Troops", The New York Times, 20 June 1974 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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