Fairchild Republic A-10 "Thunderbolt II"
by last date | by total length | by number


LATEST COMMENTS

29.03.2024 12:12

Mikoyan/Gurevich Ye-8

28.03.2024 13:52

Short S.8/8 Rangoon

27.03.2024 22:04

25.03.2024 18:02

25.03.2024 04:10

22.03.2024 19:36

21.03.2024 23:56

Robin HR.200

21.03.2024 14:54

20.03.2024 19:36

20.03.2024 18:42

20.03.2024 14:05

Blackburn B-101 Beverley

19.03.2024 02:12

18.03.2024 22:06

Supermarine Spitfire

18.03.2024 22:02

Canadair CL-41 "Tutor"

18.03.2024 16:30

Bachem Ba 349 Natter

18.03.2024 14:47

18.03.2024 03:41

Curtiss Eagle

18.03.2024 00:04

17.03.2024 20:30

Junkers Ju 390

17.03.2024 16:34

AIDC Ching-Kuo

17.03.2024 10:52

15.03.2024 23:56

Messerschmitt Me 309

14.03.2024 07:03

Bartel BM.2

14.03.2024 07:02

14.03.2024 07:02

14.03.2024 07:02

Boeing B-50

14.03.2024 07:01

Beech Model 18

14.03.2024 07:01

14.03.2024 07:01

14.03.2024 07:01

Beech Model 2000 Starship


Jonah Peterson, e-mail, 13.02.2024 02:17

I want to thank ROOTKITS CREDIT SPECIALIST for assisting me in reaching my dream of purchasing my own home. They helped me repair my credit. I am extremely thankful for the professional assistance given me. I was tired of being declined loans due to my old past mistakes, until a realtor recommended their services. In less than 15 days they helped me erase negative items and boosted my score to excellent across all three bureaus. Contact them via ROOTKITSCREDITSPECIALIST@GMAIL.COM, don’t forget to mention me.


Jonah Peterson, e-mail, 13.02.2024 02:14

I want to thank ROOTKITS CREDIT SPECIALIST for assisting me in reaching my dream of purchasing my own home. They helped me repair my credit. I am extremely thankful for the professional assistance given me. I was tired of being declined loans due to my old past mistakes, until a realtor recommended their services. In less than 15 days they helped me erase negative items and boosted my score to excellent across all three bureaus. Contact them via ROOTKITSCREDITSPECIALIST@GMAIL.COM, don’t forget to mention me.


Tom Green, e-mail, 15.11.2023 00:59

Just saw your question. There were two A-10s at Edwards when I got there in early 1975. One had an operational GAU-8 30mm, and the other had a mock up. I don't recall what the mock up looked like but it could have been a mock up of a 20mm six barrel gun. I was a young second term SSgt armament/weapons tech. Being a member of that test team was the best duty I had in my 20 year Air Force career. Attended the Fairchild aircraft school at Farmingdale, and the GE GAU-8 gun school at Burlington, VT. Also worked closely with GE on the development of an ammo loader for the A-10.


Christopher Ian Martin, e-mail, 14.03.2023 02:18

I would like to here from any Hog pilots that has seat in my Dad's work the Titanium Armor Plate or better known as the Bath tube , Thank you !!!


Michael Davis, e-mail, 01.03.2021 03:16

I've loved this fighter-bomber since it came out. Looks like it will be retired about the same time as I do.


Tom Fung, e-mail, 26.04.2017 10:33

Coming out of Aviation High '73 got my first job on the first 20 unit drilling/reaming (quakenbush) the engine, wing & gun mounts fitting, it been over 40 years, still remember like it was yesterday. working with a bunch nice guys out in Farmingdale. boy those were the days! it give me pride that I had work on the Thunderbolt II (warthog). It bring my fond memory of my youth every time I hear about it in the news. KEEP Them FLYING! we built them to last FOREVER!.


Don Sorensen, e-mail, 02.03.2015 05:43

Assigned as production acceptance pilot at Hagerstown, MD. Flew the 12th aircraft produced at The Republic Co. In Farmingdale NY. Delivered the first operational A-10 to Myrtle Beach. Got a lot of verbal harassment from the A-7s in the area. Great plane.


Brad, e-mail, 24.07.2013 19:18

Appreciate comments on why the A10 could not have a costal defense mission for Third World countries ie Philippines. Remember some testing of the A10 and the Harpoon. With C upgrades the planes capabilities appear to be greatly increased and an as usual with the Hog unnoticed and unappreciated.


Tom Green, e-mail, 20.01.2013 04:37

Just found this site. Worked with Jim Green (no relation) at the Edwards A-10 test, then on to Davis-Monthan for a year then to Nellis. Left Nellis and the A-10.
At Edwards worked the weapons tests (simultaneous 30mm and two 20mm gun pods), and max bomb loads we don't see anymore because of mid-air bomb collisions, and the many ammo loader tests. Lifted many 86 pound ammo cans. The A-10 was a gift to the ground crews. Didn't have to drag out any ground power units for electric or hydraulics. Quiet and high intake. Gun system that cleared by reversing made reloads easy. Next aircraft was an F-15 that needed ground power and air conditioning carts for everything we needed power for. What a pain!


Don Ollis, e-mail, 11.09.2012 06:05

ASSIGNED TO A-10 AT EDWARDS AFB in'74 as the APG AFETS . LEAD THE FO 410 TECH. DATA TEAM THRU EDWARDS,VERIFICATION PROGRAM, DAVIS MONTHAN AF & THEN TO MBAFB. VERY ACTIVE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE A-10 & THE ENGINE RUN PROGRAM. STILL PROUD OF THE TEST TEAM & BEING A PART OF IT . GREAT AIRPLANE. I RETIRED IN MB IN 1988.


Mike "WAZ" Wieczynski, e-mail, 12.06.2012 21:29

After being out of the service for about 9 years I joined the MD ANG in 1980, they had just received the new A-10 Thunder Bolt, what a great munitions platform it is. It truly is a “TANK KILLER” with the best ground support capability to be found this day an age. We loaded bombs, rockets, chafe, flair, air to ground and air to air missiles and 30MM ammo. Her only drawback is the need for speed, which is why it’s so good at every thing else. Easy to load, not to high or to low and you don’t need a great deal of tools. I loved loading this plane until I retired in 2002 after a brief TDY in Kuwait supporting Southern Watch as my last combat mission. I could tell many stores of the way the A-10 can out fly other aircraft and out maneuver ground based anti aircraft systems. Can’t say enough about the A-10. In fact if it were up to me we still be making them, maybe in an ARV version. If you were their send me an email.


Mike Sexton, e-mail, 24.04.2012 22:50

I was one of the test pilots in the A-10/A-7 Fly Off Eval spring 1974. If you needed to find and kill tanks in the Fulda Gap in bad weather; never a question which aircraft you wanted to be in. Hell of a gun.


Don Ramm, e-mail, 21.12.2011 11:05

Re: cruise fuel burn: I took an A-10 from DM to McClellan AFB (up toward Sacramento CO) in about 1980. I was single ship (not normal) so decided to see how long I could stay up. Once I got to alititde (probably FL240 or so) I pulled the power back to 1,000 pounds per hour fuel flow per engine. After 4+ hours I arrived at McClellan with fuel to spare.

Realistic cruise fuel burn? About 2,000 pounds per hour per engine.


Jim Green, e-mail, 30.11.2011 04:02

Like John Amos who posted earlier (our neighbor at Edwards) I was one of the first to be assigned to the A-10 test program as weapons supervisor. Went on to Davis Monthan FOTE, then Myrtle Beach AFB the first A-10 fighter wing. A-10 one of the best aircraft ever.


Lance Marafiote, e-mail, 31.08.2011 10:44

correction: the TFW mentioned in this article is incorrect. MBAFB was the 354th TAC Fighter Wing, as opposed to the 345th TFW.
Thanks.
Lance


Lewis Godfrey, e-mail, 19.08.2011 22:26

I was in the 355th EMS at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ from Oct 1977-Sep 1980. We were converting from A-7D's to the brand spanking new A-10A's. Worked in the Armament Systems Shop on the GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm gun along with all 11 bomb racks (MAU-40/A & MAU-50. Probably the quietest airplane I ever work on!


Gunny, e-mail, 05.04.2011 06:17

Worked as a crew chief for 12 years,on this bird. There is a bond, that cannot be broken once in your blood. Any time I hear that sound I always look up, and smile with pride to know that we put a hurting on them during the Gulf War for the grunts on the ground.


LOUIS TRONGALE, e-mail, 08.03.2011 07:04

ONE OF THE BEST OVERALL PLANES EVER BUILT FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, AND DEEPLY FEARED BY THOSE UNDER IT'S FIRTE!
PILOTS LOVED IT!


Mike, e-mail, 20.02.2011 06:50

I was at Bentwaters when we converted from F4's to A-10's then was at England AFB when we converted from A-7's to the A-10. Workd Munitions and was one of the first CMU chiefs when Tac started that program. Loved the Warthog but it sure went thru a lot of 30mm. Another former Flying Tiger.


John Amos, e-mail, 01.02.2011 01:30

Was one of the first be be assigned to the test team for TAC ,at Edwards ,AFB,Ca, moved to tuson,az with the A-10 summer of 1976,and went to Bentwaters RAFB, England in summer of 1978, The A-10 was a great acft to work on , acft that I worked on DTE(B-58A)(KC-135)DTE(FB-111)(F-105)(F-4E)(F-111)DTE(A-10) (B-52G/H)


g.slavov, e-mail, 20.12.2010 20:17

@Fred there was an option to fit it with an alternative 20 mill gat.gun by Philco-Ford and trials were made-its probaly what you have seen.


Phil Sharpe, e-mail, 03.12.2010 04:12

I need help from anyone who flew/flies or worked on the A10. I'm writing novel about an A10 pilot who goes down in the mountains in 1998. What model was in use during 1998. From the pilots or ex pilots, what was it like to fly A10. Please answer by e-mail. Thank you very much. Phil Sharpe


Michael, e-mail, 12.11.2010 21:37

I helped build these birds back in the '70's and early '80's at Fairchild Republic Corporation in Farmingdale Long Island. I specifically constructed the leading edge ring of the Nacelles. I miss aircraft work and the sound of rivet guns going all day. I hope the "death cross" flies forever and if anyone ever needs a good riveter for restoration on these old girls I'd be happy to help.


Louis, e-mail, 26.09.2010 07:22

I worked on A-10's for 4 yrs at England AFB, Louisiana as a Flying Tiger. They were better in dog fights because they could fly "Low and Slow". I was told by the pilots that usually they would win in dog fights because of the fact they could fly low and blend in with the terrain. The one that spotted the other first could get off the first shot and that gave the A-10 the advantage. Also since they could turn on a dime, A-10's could turn inside other fighters and fire on them knocking them out of the sky. Add the ground attack capabilities with all it's fire power and accuracy, not to mention it's survivability and it was a favorite for everyone. It wasn't too bad to work on either.


Bruce, e-mail, 08.09.2010 01:52

Was weapons on this bird since 96 until a couple of years ago,, went to HH-60 Pavehawks. From a GAU-8 to a Gau-2. Was in theater many times, and ask the thousands of army guys and gals how they feel about this airplane, and how many have been saved since 9-11, and what airframe do they like. Everyone with out question will say A-10. How many of the F's are requested for ground support? Ask the FAC's gays what they request? The biggest problem is we don't have enough of them. They are slow for a reason, and so the F's are always getting to the sights faster, but if they had more in country, they could cover more area's. This plane is feared by our enemy, and I mean they really, really hate it!! Not so much for the F's.


Marco Mostajo, e-mail, 08.06.2010 03:29

I really like this bird, if it was faster would be perfect.


Richard, e-mail, 22.01.2010 22:05

Was on the test team for TAC (hydraulics) and went to the lab at Eglin with it. May be the best bird I ever worked [B52 (D,E,G), KC135, C124, C130, C141, C133, SA16, F105(G), F4, and A10]. If I remember correctly, there were 79 of us from TAC on the team and many of us retired as Chiefs.


Jim Preston, e-mail, 17.01.2010 22:24

Sorry to reply so late, Mike, but cruise fuel burn was around 5,000 lbs per hour at 300 knots, 10,000 feet MSL and below.


dman, 17.01.2010 05:20

right with you right there up at the top of my list behind the f-14


dman, 17.01.2010 05:20

right with you right there up at the top of my list behind the f-14


seth, e-mail, 11.01.2010 22:43

baddest of the bad i love this aircraft second only to the F-14 Tomcat


Frank Cosmen, e-mail, 06.01.2010 19:11

I worked on these as a Life Support troop in Myrtle Beach. Viewed a live fire, joint air attach mission at Ft. Stewart. These bad boys will put a hurtin' on whatever they set their sights on.


Bill Townsley, e-mail, 01.01.2010 17:07

Flew it for 5 years in the early 80's out of Louisana and South Korea - loved it.


Dave, e-mail, 07.09.2008 08:40

I believe that at least one early test version flew with a six barrel 20mm Vulcan gun before the seven barrel GAU-8A Avenger 30mm cannon was flight ready and installed.


Fred, e-mail, 02.08.2008 22:49

Recently the military channel did a piece on the A-10, and in one of the photos it showed a SIX barrel gatling gun. The version I've seen in the museums has a seven barrel version which I'm sure was the production configuration.
Can anyone shed any light on this item ?


steven jump, e-mail, 08.07.2008 13:14

one of the best attack/bomber aircraft in the air force inventory. i used to refuel these bad birds when they'd land at Homestead A.F.B, Fl. those GE Turbofans have a sound all their own.


Mike Morgan, e-mail, 20.05.2008 18:17

What is the cruise fuel burn?




All the World's Rotorcraft


Virtual Aircraft Museum