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**Bigcountry02** · 01-31-2012, 05:17 PM

They tried before the 1st Gulf War in 1990 to kill the A-10 from the inventory and the old Girl proved her best. The best Close Air Support (CAS). DoD is not thinking and they want the F-35 Lightning II to take its mission sets once it enters the Air Force fleet in numbers.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/01/airforce-5-a10-squadrons-cut-013012/

http://www.military.com/news/article/af-eyes-a10s-guard-reserve-in-planned-closures.html?comp=1198882887570&rank=1

**Vikingdad** · 02-01-2012, 05:02 AM

That's called putting all your eggs in one basket. Then again I wouldn't want an A-10 flying over my place.

unclebear · 02-01-2012, 05:36 AM

that's bull, I know the A10 an old warbird but it's pretty much the best at what she does (my opinion), she's a little slow but that's just better for dropping munition close in, plus that 30MM cannon in the nose kicks the hell out of tanks, and well pretty much anything else it needs too. I mean can teh F-35 Lightning II really match up? I don't know I might just be crazy but the warthog is one of my favorites, I think this would be a big mistake.

**robocop10mm** · 02-01-2012, 05:39 AM

Seems like a huge step backwards. The A-10 is one of the most feared planes by ground troops and tankers.

BodySnatcher · 02-01-2012, 06:36 AM

I used to think this administration had its collective head such up its pop chute. Now i'm worried that they are intentionally hollowing out our ability to protect our boys. That single engine plastic plane, F35, won't take the hits like the hog can. Stealth won't do crap when you are low and slow over friendlies. I don't give a rats hind-quarter about the VTOL version being for close air support. This is madness.

rjd3282 · 02-01-2012, 07:18 AM

It's a great old plane and it does it's job well but it is pushing 40 years old and combat airframes don't last forever. At some point the maintenance simply becomes to expensive for the return.

**Bigcountry02** · 02-01-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjd3282

It's a great old plane and it does it's job well but it is pushing 40 years old and combat airframes don't last forever. At some point the maintenance simply becomes to expensive for the return.

Cost is cheap from article and from mechanics I know. However, it is the lobbyist and the money that want a change.

I fellow A-10 mechanic during the 1st Gulf War had a A-10 shot up real bad and missing a section of the wing and tail section's. The bird landed and the pilot wanted to return to the fight. This bird came in on 1 engine!

Here is a link battle damage A-10 over Baghdad April 7, no year given! This is from the OIF.

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Stories1/001-100/0016_A-10-battle-damage/story0016.htm

**Yunus** · 02-01-2012, 08:25 PM

Parts are getting difficult to find. You can't order some of them, they have to be canned to be had making it difficult to keep operational.

**ScottA** · 02-01-2012, 08:30 PM

It may be the best single purpose built plane the Air Force ever fielded.

What's the old joke: A-10 flight simulator training... they put you in a metal trash can, close the lid, and throw rocks at you.

**Overkill0084** · 02-01-2012, 08:45 PM

They just spent a large pile of $$ upgrading the avionics on the A-10. Brilliant. Big $$ have been spent on trying to get new wing assemblies made. I haven't been keeping to close of an eye on it.
I seem to recall that the USAF was making the same noises in the late 80s/early 90s. Talking about adapting the F-16 to the same job. I seem to recall that things didn't work out that way.

As for "canning" parts. It's what we call "Recreational Maintenance." Ever since the USAF went to a smarter

, supply system (fewer parts on hand, got to order from somewhere else), cannibalization has become normal ops, for a number of reasons (some better than others).

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