It needs a 'Peace through superior firepower' badge on the centerbolt of the gun. It looks like this one flew through a severe hailstorm judging by the damage to the leading edges.
RabidAllen, I wouldn't suggest a titanium bathtub capable of absorbing up to a 57 mike-mike to be an afterthought.
Too bad USAF brass keep trying to get rid of the A-10, it just doesn't go far enough in the quest to outspend the admirals.
I remember when I was a young man at airshows wondering if my offensive linemen frame would squeeze into the Thunderbolt II's cockpit. I'd pass up the F-15s and F-16s to drool on one with fantasies of tearing up T-72 tanks over France.
23rd Tactical Fighter Wing. They flew out of my hometown when I was a kid, deployed to SE Asia from there many times. Their last deployment from my hometown was Desert Storm. England AFB was closed after Desert Storm. The 23d is currently at Moody AFB.
Got to see them very up close in flight once. Was doing a ride-along on a KC-135 and laying down in the trainers side of the refueling station, watching the operator feed a trio of them out over the Atlantic.
Was doing an FTX during PLDC when a squadron of these babies starting doing gun runs on the adjacent hill (about a klick away, and well outside our "box", I later found out. . . but it looked like we were a transposed map grid away from a Really Bad Day. . . )
They were firing while directly overhead our position, and we had direct line of sight on the target range. Late morning, perfect lighting, and CAVU conditions. Freaking awesome.
I don't know what was cooler, watching that, or watching an AC-130 doing a night live fire while we monitored the air-to-ground freq the FAC was using with them. . .
Smile for the Birdie . . . .
ReplyDeleteIt needs a 'Peace through superior firepower' badge on the centerbolt of the gun. It looks like this one flew through a severe hailstorm judging by the damage to the leading edges.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Tank bustin' machine cannon with an airplane built around it. Hoo-rah!
ReplyDeleteWished we had those at Bien Hoa instead of A37s. Would have been a lot more effective.
ReplyDeleteSmile for the little birdy!
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th
Gerry
And the answer to "what caliber for tanks" is...Warthog!
ReplyDeleteA Marines best friend. God bless the Warthog.
ReplyDeleteGotta love the gun that required a plane to be designed around it. Cockpit and nose gear were afterthoughts.
ReplyDeleteSweet! PA State cop hit the airshow out in Redding and sent me a bunch of photos. Would have been a good time.
ReplyDelete"It works, so we MUST get rid of it!"
ReplyDeleteThat looks like ISIS traffic control to me.
ReplyDeleteAngry Bird, indeed.
ReplyDeleteRabidAllen, I wouldn't suggest a titanium bathtub capable of absorbing up to a 57 mike-mike to be an afterthought.
ReplyDeleteToo bad USAF brass keep trying to get rid of the A-10, it just doesn't go far enough in the quest to outspend the admirals.
I remember when I was a young man at airshows wondering if my offensive linemen frame would squeeze into the Thunderbolt II's cockpit. I'd pass up the F-15s and F-16s to drool on one with fantasies of tearing up T-72 tanks over France.
When you smile at America...America smiles back.
ReplyDelete23rd Tactical Fighter Wing. They flew out of my hometown when I was a kid, deployed to SE Asia from there many times. Their last deployment from my hometown was Desert Storm. England AFB was closed after Desert Storm. The 23d is currently at Moody AFB.
ReplyDeleteEvery American should have one of these. :)
ReplyDeleteThat shoulder thing that goes up. Way, way up.
ReplyDeleteJim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX
I have seen that critter in action, and it is my very favorite bird*.
ReplyDeleteNothing like BRRRRRRP!, and then seeing that thing roar past.
It's straight up recruiting poster, moto-boner goodness. of course the fucking gov't had to kill it.
*Exempting anything I ever actually got to ride in.
Got to see them very up close in flight once. Was doing a ride-along on a KC-135 and laying down in the trainers side of the refueling station, watching the operator feed a trio of them out over the Atlantic.
ReplyDeleteThat leading edge damage isn't from flying thru hail, it's from flying thru AMERICAN AWESOMENESS!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWas doing an FTX during PLDC when a squadron of these babies starting doing gun runs on the adjacent hill (about a klick away, and well outside our "box", I later found out. . . but it looked like we were a transposed map grid away from a Really Bad Day. . . )
ReplyDeleteThey were firing while directly overhead our position, and we had direct line of sight on the target range. Late morning, perfect lighting, and CAVU conditions. Freaking awesome.
I don't know what was cooler, watching that, or watching an AC-130 doing a night live fire while we monitored the air-to-ground freq the FAC was using with them. . .
rickn8or:
ReplyDeleteThe fighter mafia will never be able to kill the warthog.
Every time they try, the Army demands the Airforce hand them over so they can put warrant officers in the driver's seat.
Heh. 19 year old warrants -- "High School to Flight School".
ReplyDeleteIs it true that Warrant Officer Candidates still have to show a note from their mom before they can enter the club at Fort Rucker? {grin}
I would LOVE to see the A-10s in Army service, under an "amendment" to Key West. Probably stick ALL of them in the National Guard, too. . .