| The A-10 and OA-10 Thunderbolt
IIs are the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support
of ground forces. They are simple, effective and survivable twin-engine
jet aircraft that can be used against all ground targets, including tanks
and other armored vehicles.
The A-10/OA-10 have excellent
maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and are highly accurate
weapons-delivery platforms. They can loiter near battle areas for extended
periods of time and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings (303.3 meters) with
1.5-mile (2.4 kilometers) visibility. Their wide combat radius and short
takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations
near front lines. Using night vision goggles, pilots can
Thunderbolt IIs have compatible single-seat cockpits forward of their wings and a large bubble canopy which provides pilots all-around vision. The pilots are encircled by titanium armor that also protects parts of the flight-control system. The redundant primary structural sections allow the aircraft to enjoy better survivability during close air support than did previous aircraft. The aircraft can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles up to 23mm. Their self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam. Their redundant hydraulic flight-control systems are backed up by manual systems. This permits pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power is lost. Many of the aircraft's parts are interchangeable left and right, including the engines, main landing gear and vertical stabilizers. The Thunderbolt II's 30mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun can fire 3,900 rounds a minute and can defeat an array of ground targets to include tanks. Some of their other equipment includes an inertial navigation system, electronic countermeasures, target penetration aids, self-protection systems, and AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. The first production A-10A was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., in October 1975. It was designed specially for the close air support mission and had the ability to combine large military loads, long loiter and wide combat radius, which proved to be vital assets to America and its allies during Operation Desert Storm. In the Gulf War, A-10s, with a mission capable rate of 95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles. General Characteristics Primary Function:
A-10 -- close air support, OA-10 - airborne forward air control
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| One of the more
valuable additions to the literature of the Persian Gulf War, this is the
story of the pilots who flew the A-10 Thunderbolt II--affectionately
dubbed the Warthog for its lack of aesthetic appeal--in it. Their experiences
necessarily included getting a plane without automatic
pilot halfway around the world, learning to operate an aircraft intended
for daylight work by night, carrying out deep-penetration
missions in a close-support plane, and surviving (in most cases) battle
damage that would have sent any other plane in the
world out of the sky. Smallwood's primary sources are the pilots' accounts.
Although knowledge of the overall history of the war will help
in fully appreciating the book, it is a definite plus for Gulf War and
aviation collections.
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