How do you feel about the A-10's proposed retirement?

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 13:47:34 -0400

What are your opinions on the Thunderbolt II? Should it stay, or should it go?

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 26 at 2015 1:55 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 13:55:37 -0400

I do not like it on an visceral level, but as was brought up with one of our RP "meet and greets" the retirements stems largely from Versatility.

It's not that the A10 isn't amazing. It is, and is acknowledged as such, but it's a 1 trick pony. We only have so many pilots, and if we dedicate them to 1 trick ponies, we are missing out on other opportunities.

When you put the same pilot "billet" in a versatile plane, it goes from "This guy is a CAS pilot" to something more akin to "Every Marine is a Rifleman" (mixing metaphors). I cannot fault is logic on that. We need generalists more than we need specialists. Technology evolves, and the situation evolves. We need people that are capable of adapting, and versatile platforms support that better than the A10, even though it has significant cost savings.

Response by CCMSgt Michael Sullivan Ph.D made Jun 26 at 2015 2:07 PM

CCMSgt Michael Sullivan Ph.D — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:07:17 -0400

I didn't like it 20+ years ago when they retired the SR-71

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 26 at 2015 2:08 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:08:14 -0400

I'm 3 miles from the flightline at Davis-Monthan AFB (the A-10 Graceland). I sleep like a baby with those baby's flying all day through my front door and going out the back. That's the sound of freedom!

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jun 26 at 2015 2:42 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:42:14 -0400

This is how I feel about it - "YOU GO TO HELL! YOU GO STRAIGHT TO HELL!"

A completely rational response, I assure you.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Jun 26 at 2015 3:01 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:01:33 -0400

With UAV missions growing in combat hours, I want the intimidation factor of an A-10 still in our back pocket. There is a psychological advantage of 1, having pilots still flying combat sorties, and 2, having them flown using a machine like the A-10 who is proven to be outstanding CAS and feared by enemy ground forces.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Jun 26 at 2015 3:14 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:14:53 -0400

They saved our asses in Desert Storm. Seen them Taking out stuff that my one Dragon missile would have just pissed off. So I say keep it! I also say thank you to all of the pilot's out there that fly them.

Response by MSgt Jeff S. made Jun 26 at 2015 3:38 PM

MSgt Jeff S. — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:38:44 -0400

The A-10 was my first airframe. I worked the Hog for five years and to this day it remains my overall favorite. The following link sums up my personal feelings about this airframe very nicely (Warning, if you are PC, thin-skinned or don't care for profanity, you wont appreciate this ... ) http://www.badassoftheweek.com/warthog.html

Badass of the Week: The A-10 Warthog

The ultimate list of all badasses past and present.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 26 at 2015 3:40 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:40:21 -0400

It is as nonsensical as making everyone pull down US flags.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Jun 26 at 2015 3:41 PM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:41:22 -0400

http://articles.latimes.com/1991-02-08/news/mn-937_1_air-combat

Pilot Chalks Up First 'Warthog' Air Kill : Aerial combat: Iraqi copter is downed by a plane not...

Air Force Capt. Bob Swain had just fired two Maverick missiles at Iraqi tanks in central Kuwait when he saw something moving far below, several miles away."I noticed two black dots running across...

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jun 26 at 2015 3:51 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:51:18 -0400

I've said once & I'll say it again: Reinforce the landing gear and put a tail-hook on this beast. The Marines could get another 20-yrs of use of it!

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 26 at 2015 4:17 PM

COL Charles Williams — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 16:17:41 -0400

I believe this has been covered many times before PVT Private RallyPoint Member. The Army loves this system, there is none better, and nothing in the USAF arsenal to replicate what the A10 does. This argument has been going on for years. The USAF values Air Superiority fighters over CAS... CAS is what we value. Lots of posts on the A-10.... in RP

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/a-10-vs-taliban-fighters-shows-why-so-many-in-the-dod-want-to-keep-it-how-does-this-video-impact-your-perception-of-the-a-10

A-10 vs. Taliban fighters shows why so many in the DoD want to keep it. How does this video...

** Question for RP members: We see the A-10's awesome capabilities in this video clip. As some in the DoD are arguing that we should get rid of it, what other air assets could fill in well during this type of situation? Or is the A-10 the hands down best asset here? ** Survey options (vote below!): (1) Yes, the A-10 is the perfect air asset for this type of situation. (2) No, another air asset (explain) would have done just as well here. // So...

Response by MSgt John Grollimund made Jun 26 at 2015 5:04 PM

MSgt John Grollimund — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 17:04:07 -0400

worst.. move.. ever..

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jun 26 at 2015 5:56 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 17:56:47 -0400

I love the plane, hate to see it go, but it is a legacy aircraft, no longer made, no upgrade being planned for it. Even the P-51 had to be retired eventually. Same goes for the A-10, but I don't see the JSF as the replacement for it. It is not really a ground support aircraft.

Response by SrA Jeff Campbell made Jun 26 at 2015 6:41 PM

SrA Jeff Campbell — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 18:41:23 -0400

Man I wish that they would not!!!! The stats show how lethal this BAD boy is!! This is the only plane that ISIS fears! It is one bad machine and should continue to be used for support of ground troops!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 8:12 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 20:12:58 -0400

Give it to the Army so I can fly it if you don't want it anymore USAF.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 26 at 2015 10:03 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 22:03:41 -0400

Sometimes you want fast running backs, sometimes you want the big running back.

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Jun 27 at 2015 8:32 AM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 08:32:54 -0400

Just give them to the army and be done with it

Response by TSgt Michael Fjelstad made Jul 10 at 2015 2:45 PM

TSgt Michael Fjelstad — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 14:45:31 -0400

Nothing can do the job the A-10 does as well as the A-10. They have tried to retire her before, but wisdom has always stepped in. Let's hope it does again.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 11 at 2015 3:29 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 03:29:00 -0400

PVT Private RallyPoint Member, if my Congressional Representative Martha McSally has her way, it will stay!

Response by SPC Thomas Baldwin made Jul 11 at 2015 4:16 AM

SPC Thomas Baldwin — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 04:16:07 -0400

They tryed this ontill we got into the gulf war Ver 1.0 and found it does as designed. Close fire support role is a key roll in the operation underway in the middle east. and the A-10 is the only platform with a long loitering time over the F-16 and F-18. It has proven it's worth and we would be crazy to get rid of it. IT SHOULD STAY!!!

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Dec 16 at 2015 8:38 AM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 08:38:11 -0500

There is always some resistance to change. I am one of them. I HATE change. I am also wise enough to know that at some point you must make changes. Let me offer my POV:
1. If it works, don't screw with it.
2. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
3. The greatest War Machine ever built is the B-52. The only airplane to return to service from the Boneyard.
4. I loved the F-4. It was proof that with enough horsepower a brick can fly.
5. I found a new favorite, the F-15...it's everything the F-4 wasn't.
6. I was lucky enough to see portions of the fly-off witht eh A-7 and A-10. I thought the A-10 was gorgeous until they put those big blowers on it. You cannot argue with success. Just like the C-130.
7. We do need to make some changes but we do not need every damn new design to come down the pike.
Design, produce and buy airframes that can be easily modified to fit the needs of ALL the flying services.
8. The A-10 needs to be kept alive...just like the venerable B-52.
Note: When the final B-1 & B-2 airframes are relegated to the Boneyard, it WILL BE a B-52 doing the fly-by salute.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2015 11:01 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:01:45 -0500

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Response by SMSgt Dan Brewer made Dec 16 at 2015 1:30 PM

SMSgt Dan Brewer — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 13:30:55 -0500

This is one of the most successful aircraft that the Air Force has. The military industrial complex has tried to retire this plane several times because of how reliable it is. There are more expensive planes in the works that are not as reliable or as cheap to fly. This plane needs to stay until a suitable replacement can be found.

Response by TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA made Dec 17 at 2015 9:23 PM

TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 21:23:05 -0500

Crazy A 10 Pilot Missle Hit! https://youtu.be/o7JM82fa5ZY via @YouTube Love the A-10 and its Brave Pilot History! "A Wing and a Prayer!"...

Crazy A 10 Pilot Landed Missile Hit Plane Safely

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 9:29 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 21:29:33 -0500

Stay!