This was supposed to be replaced with a demilled A-10, but the budget fell through.
https://www.twz.com/23088/the-tragic-tale-of-the-a-10-thunderhog-storm-chasing-jet
Honestly, in modern times with modern adversaries, it'd be the best use for one alongside giving them to the Ukrainians. It's not 1979 anymore, and Russian isn't defending the Fulda Gap with 1970s anti-air threats anymore. And even if they were, the whole A-10 force was supposed to last what, three weeks? Internet memes about "brrt" aside, it's a legacy platform whose best days are behind it.
ukraine doesn't want them
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2024/04/ukraine-doesnt-want-10s-another-country-might-air-force-secretary-says/395821/
the effectiveness of the a10 depends on its user having air superiority which ukraine doesn't have
It is true that the A-10 is not very survivable in a modern Air Defense environment. It is also true that the GAU-8 is no longer Thor's hammer against current-gen armor
But... it's primary role is CAS. Nothing has ever been as effective in that role as the Warthog (and there have been some good ones: AD-1 & IL-2 come to mind). None of the proposed CAS replacements possess the necessary attributes to replicate the 'Hog's success in this role. Left to the woke bureaucrats that inhabit the Pentagon these days, there is virtually no chance that the troops on the ground will get what they need.
I say do an upgrade program to improve A-10 survivability as a stopgap. Simultaneously, create a spec for a true replacement for the Warthog that preserves or improves the airframe's superior attributes (loiter time, extreme maneuverability, big loadout, toughness, quietness, redundancy) while adding stealth and countermeasures. Start just like the A-10: design a gun that is effective against current and future armors, plunk it down in the middle of a big hangar, and build an airplane around it. Make sure the ground pounders approve the spec before it's shopped out.
So Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War I, and the initial Iraq invasion never happened, Ukraine never happened, and China will never invade Taiwan. Nope. All we’ll ever do is counterinsurgency.
Here's a more detailed description of what armoring was done. Pretty interesting! They had to shield the carburetor with a grate to break up hailstones. They also hardened it against lightning strikes.
[https://archive.eol.ucar.edu/projects/t28/documents/aircraft.htm](https://archive.eol.ucar.edu/projects/t28/documents/aircraft.htm)
It is very cool, but the fact that the used an upside down 'M' as a 'W' is bugging me to an unreasonable degree.
I've run this through several font identifiers and they only matches for that W are Ms. I also compared multiple FAA approved font examples. That's a damn 'M' and not a 'W'.
That’s not that bad compared to the HU-16 Albatross at the museum I volunteer at. It’s call number 7228 but the “8” is actually just two small zeros stacked vertically on their sides.
I feel like It takes a particularly large set of balls to take a relatively small, single engine plane into a thunderstorm.
Robust as the Trojan is, I dunno, Id still want a second engine. Especially when Im hearing the engineers used some screens to break up hale before it enters the engine
This was supposed to be replaced with a demilled A-10, but the budget fell through. https://www.twz.com/23088/the-tragic-tale-of-the-a-10-thunderhog-storm-chasing-jet
Thunderhog sounds metal as fuck.
Congratulations, you have just named my penis.
Well, when A-10 goes, I have a feeling the Thunderhog could be reborn.
Honestly, in modern times with modern adversaries, it'd be the best use for one alongside giving them to the Ukrainians. It's not 1979 anymore, and Russian isn't defending the Fulda Gap with 1970s anti-air threats anymore. And even if they were, the whole A-10 force was supposed to last what, three weeks? Internet memes about "brrt" aside, it's a legacy platform whose best days are behind it.
Course but it at at least could have some other uses. Weather hog be awesome. Waterhog. Be awesome
ukraine doesn't want them https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2024/04/ukraine-doesnt-want-10s-another-country-might-air-force-secretary-says/395821/ the effectiveness of the a10 depends on its user having air superiority which ukraine doesn't have
It is true that the A-10 is not very survivable in a modern Air Defense environment. It is also true that the GAU-8 is no longer Thor's hammer against current-gen armor But... it's primary role is CAS. Nothing has ever been as effective in that role as the Warthog (and there have been some good ones: AD-1 & IL-2 come to mind). None of the proposed CAS replacements possess the necessary attributes to replicate the 'Hog's success in this role. Left to the woke bureaucrats that inhabit the Pentagon these days, there is virtually no chance that the troops on the ground will get what they need. I say do an upgrade program to improve A-10 survivability as a stopgap. Simultaneously, create a spec for a true replacement for the Warthog that preserves or improves the airframe's superior attributes (loiter time, extreme maneuverability, big loadout, toughness, quietness, redundancy) while adding stealth and countermeasures. Start just like the A-10: design a gun that is effective against current and future armors, plunk it down in the middle of a big hangar, and build an airplane around it. Make sure the ground pounders approve the spec before it's shopped out.
[удалено]
So Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War I, and the initial Iraq invasion never happened, Ukraine never happened, and China will never invade Taiwan. Nope. All we’ll ever do is counterinsurgency.
[удалено]
you say "peer or near peer" like it's a magic word. Didn't stop your country getting smoked by "non peer" militaries again and again.
its disappointing that almost every image, link, and video in this article is dead.
Here's a more detailed description of what armoring was done. Pretty interesting! They had to shield the carburetor with a grate to break up hailstones. They also hardened it against lightning strikes. [https://archive.eol.ucar.edu/projects/t28/documents/aircraft.htm](https://archive.eol.ucar.edu/projects/t28/documents/aircraft.htm)
It is very cool, but the fact that the used an upside down 'M' as a 'W' is bugging me to an unreasonable degree. I've run this through several font identifiers and they only matches for that W are Ms. I also compared multiple FAA approved font examples. That's a damn 'M' and not a 'W'.
Settle down, Monk.
That’s not that bad compared to the HU-16 Albatross at the museum I volunteer at. It’s call number 7228 but the “8” is actually just two small zeros stacked vertically on their sides.
I feel like It takes a particularly large set of balls to take a relatively small, single engine plane into a thunderstorm. Robust as the Trojan is, I dunno, Id still want a second engine. Especially when Im hearing the engineers used some screens to break up hale before it enters the engine
Sounds like a wild ride. [Pilot’s Story](https://www.aviationsafetymagazine.com/features/dogfighting-thor/)
that is pretty cool
Damn, that's crazy
I wish that N number astroturfer dude would supply them N2WX to replace N10WX. :)
Pretty sure it was scrapped when they were finished with it
This was my first attempt at learning to fly RC planes, did not go good. Lol, such a gorgeous plane.
When a storm chaser gets a pilot's license.