A-10 raining death on Islamic State militants.

2015-01-02T01:59:34-05:00

Gotta love the A-10. The Air Force wants to kill her but she is like a timex watch. "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking" Guess they can't do without her!

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/12/18/a-10-attacking-islamic-state/20586137/

A-10 attacking Islamic State targets in Iraq

The plane that the Air Force wants to kill is regularly raining death on Islamic State fighters defense officials confirmed. The A-10 Thunderbolt II

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 2 at 2015 2:02 AM

2015-01-02T02:02:17-05:00

I've lost touch. Did they reverse themselves or are they still going to act like boneheads and retire the old girl?

Response by COL Ted Mc made Jan 2 at 2015 2:06 AM

2015-01-02T02:06:35-05:00

The A-10 is an impressive piece of kit and its pilots understand that CAS means actually hitting the specific target that the groundpounders want you to hit (and not a 10 acre patch that may - or may not - contain the target [which you may - or may not - actually hit while you are making the dust bounce]).

The only real problem with the A-10 (and that problem is endemic to almost all of the "modern" kit) is that it costs too damn much to operate. (Mind you, compared to the F-35, it's a bargain [on the other hand it can't do a straffing run at Mach 3].)

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 2:06 AM

2015-01-02T02:06:45-05:00

They spend millions on fast movers that won't fly but this time - tested machine, like you say takes a kicking and keeps on ticking. Sounds like fraud and abuse wins again.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jan 2 at 2015 2:22 PM

2015-01-02T14:22:28-05:00

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member The way I heard it was the AF originally wanted to re-align and close several bases to save the money, but were refused that course of action by congress. The "kill the A-10" was a less preferred option they were forced into...I think.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Jan 2 at 2015 2:46 PM

2015-01-02T14:46:34-05:00

I came here just to like the Post because i love the A-10 and they should never retire her.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 3:52 PM

2015-01-02T15:52:50-05:00

My impression is that the Air Force is struggling to pay for the F-35; that jack of all trades, master of none aircraft that will cost almost twice as much to sustain as the legacy aircraft it's replacing. In order to help pay for that massive bill they seem to be trying to streamline as much as possible. The best solution I suspect is to transfer both the aircraft and the it's sustainment funding to the Army and let them manage the aircraft that exists to support an Army mission.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jan 2 at 2015 4:17 PM

2015-01-02T16:17:41-05:00

An A-10 story,, likely with incorrect terms that will make a TAC cringe...
In a creek bed, high ground on two sides, ridge line across to ridge line at the top, about 1100 meters. Rotary wing Av assets went off line to rearm/refuel. Started taking fire from the high ground just below the ridge line... Called for air.. was told they had nothing on station that could prosecute the target .. infill, line of attack, escape route, blah blah.... There was a pair of A10 on station that heard most of the conversation and said they would take a look. JTAC said the target was not..... I forget the term he used, but basically said the A10 were not capable of getting to the target...Im not positive I heard a snicker, as Af pilots can tell you there hair is on fire, wing is missing and still sound like they are responding to their wife about what they want for dinner.. calm, cool, no emotion...lol

1 A10 came screaming up the valley... climbed up and out of the valley over the ridge line.. the TAC with me said.... Ah pilot said get to cover, they got this.... three runs later..... not sure if they killed the target or they decided to make a run for it.. but nobody shot at us for the next few hours while we recovered the broken MRAP

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 12:54 PM

2015-01-04T12:54:24-05:00