Friday, August 26, 2011

A10 Warthog the American Legend



The A10 Warthog is an American single pilot, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft made by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A10 was projected for the United States Air Force requirement to grant close air attacks for ground flotilla by blowing up everything in its way from tanks, robust vehicles, and other ground targets using a biased air interdiction capability. It is the first U.S. Air Force aircraft projected only for close air Attacks.

The A10 Warthog was projected around the GAU-8, a bulky gyratory cannon which forms the aircraft's important armor (which is the heaviest gyratory cannon ever put on an aircraft). The aircraft's hull is over 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of armor and was made using survivability as a priority, using protective dealings in place which consent the aircraft to continue airborne even after charming significant injury.

The aircraft can endure many hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectiles up to 23mm. Their self-sealing fuel cells are sealed by interior and outdoor foam.  Systems back up their unneeded hydraulic flight-control systems. This permits pilots to fly and disembark when hydraulics are crippled.

The A10 Warthog can be serviced and operated from bases using imperfect facilities near dispute areas. Many of the aircraft's parts are interchangeable left and right, counting the engines, landing gear and vertical stabilizers.

The A10 Warthog’s lawmaker name comes from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt of World War II, a fighter that was particularly effective at close air attacks. The A10 Warthog is typically known by its nickname "Warthog" or merely "Hog".  As a resulting mission, it provides brief forwards air dictate, guiding other aircraft onto ground targets.  The A10 has been mentioned to be replaced in 2028 or later.

The A10 Warthog has been given many upgrades over its career. The Warthog added the Pave Penny laser receiver pod at the start of 1978. It senses reflected laser radiation from a laser designator on a direct target for closer and more accurate direct identification. The A10 began receiving an inertial navigation method in the 1980’s. Later, the Low-Altitude Safety and Targeting Enhancement, the upgrade provided computerized weapon-aiming gear, an autopilot, and a ground-collision limiting method. The A10 Warthog is now compatible using nocturnal eyeful glasses for low-light transmit (night vision). In 1999, the aircraft began to hail common positioning navigation systems and a new multi-function pose. Its LASTE system is being upgraded with the Integrated Flight & Fire Control Computers.

In 2005, the complete A10 Warthog fleet also began receiving the Precision Engagement upgrades like electronic countermeasures, and the ability to take down smart bombs. The aircraft that hail this upgrade is the ultimate A10C. 



General Characteristics A10 Warthog “Thunderbolt II”

Primary Function: Close air support.
Contractor: Fairchild Republic Co.
Power Plant: Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans.
Thrust: 9,065 pounds (4079.25 kilograms) each engine.
Length: 53 feet, 4 inches (16.16 meters).
Height: 14 feet, 8 inches (4.42 meters).
Wingspan: 57 feet, 6 inches (17.42 meters).
Speed: 420 mph (Mach 0.56).
Ceiling: 1,000 feet (303 meters).
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 51,000 pounds (22,950 kilograms).
Range: 288 miles (250 nautical miles) carrying 9,500 pounds (4,275 kilograms) of weapons and with a 1.7-hour loiter time.
Armament: One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun; up to 16,000 pounds (7,200 kilograms) of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations, including 500 pounds (225 kilograms) of retarded bombs, 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of general-purpose bombs, incendiary and Rockeye II cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs; infrared countermeasure flares; electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 2.75-inch (6.99 centimeters) rockets; and illumination flares.
Crew: One.
Introduction Date: March 1976.
Unit Cost: $8.8 million.
Inventory: Active force, 72 A-10s and 60 OA-10s; ANG, 84 A-10s, 24 OA-10s; Reserve, 87 A-10s.

Wars:

Gulf War

The A10 Warthog was damaged in combat for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991, destroying more than 900 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 army vehicles, and 1,200 arms vehicles. The A10s destroyed two Iraqi helicopters using the GAU-8 cannon.


Bosnia and Kosovo

The A10 Warthog aircrafts fired approximately 10,000 30 mm rounds in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994–95.  On August 5, 1994, two aircrafts located and strafed an anti-tank sedan. Afterwards, the Serbs arranged to restore enduring heavy weapons. In August 1995, NATO launched a provoking called venture deliberate dilution. The thunderbolts flew close air missions, attacking Serbian missiles and positions.


Afghanistan and Iraq wars

During the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, A10 Warthog squadrons were deployed to Pakistan and Bagram Air base, Afghanistan, in 2002. United States Air military issued maneuver Iraqi Freedom: By the facts, a declassified convey regarding the aerial work in the conflict on 30 April 2003. During that invasion of Iraq, Warthogs had a mission able appraise of 85% in the war and fired 311,597 rounds of 30 mm ammunition.

Libya

In March 2011, six aircrafts were deployed as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn, the coalition intervention in Libya. They participated in attacks on Libyan ground forces there.



Get your piece of a true American War plane with a Mahogany Replica Wooden Model


This mahogany wood replica is made by hand with high detail out of mahogany wood.  Each model is carved with high detail.  All A10 Warthog models are glossed with three coats of polyurethane coating that gives each A10 Warthog model the best quality and shiny finish.  This perfectly crafted A10 Warthog model takes about 18 hours of labor to make.  If you are a collector or simply want a fine piece of art, this mahogany wooden model is sure to stand out in your home or office.

A10 Airplane Wing Span: 20" inches