Lawmaker, an A-10 vet, aims to protect Warthog

AirForce Times — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 09:46:00 -0500

From: Air Force Times

One of the newest lawmakers on Capitol Hill is a former A-10 driver, and she is wasting no time protecting her former aircraft.

Rep. Martha McSally, a freshman Republican from Arizona, on Jan. 29 sent a letter to President Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urging them not to seek to retire the A-10 in their fiscal 2016 budget request, expected to be unveiled Feb. 2.

The Air Force attempted to retire the jet last year, but Congress blocked the move. Officials have said they will try again this year.

McSally is a retired Air Force colonel and has 325 combat hours in the A-10 in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also commanded an A-10 squadron.

"From my experience as an A-10 pilot and squadron commander, I know first hand the unique capabilities of the A-10 in close air support, forward air control-airborne, and combat search and rescue missions," McSally wrote. "The Warthog is anything but a 'single mission aircraft' and there is simply no other asset that can match its lethality, loiter time, and survivability. The decision to retire it is reckless and will put American lives at risk."

The Air Force has said it would save $3.5 billion over five years by phasing out the A-10. The move would free up money and personnel to help bed down the F-35 over that time span. The jet was originally expected to stay in the Air Force until at least 2028 following new wings and other lifespan-extension projects.

The A-10 has recently been deployed to the Middle East to fight the Islamic State terrorist group. The Air Force has said the A-10 has flown 11 percent of total Air Force sorties.

"This statistic contains an important caveat," McSally wrote. "Other Air Force assets have been engaged in operations against ISIS since August, but the Air Force did not start deploying the A-10 until November. That the A-10 was used in 11 percent of all operations in just three months signals the Air Force is frequently using the aircraft against the group.

"In fact, recent reports stated that an A-10 mission carried out airstrikes that killed and wounded dozens of ISIS components near Mosul. Iraqi News went so far as to note that 'the aircraft sparked panic in the ranks of ISIS.' ''

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/01/29/mcsally-a10-letter/22533095/

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 30 at 2015 1:56 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 13:56:49 -0500

Rep. Martha McSally. Please join us here on RallyPoint and claim your Commendation Medal!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 30 at 2015 2:36 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 14:36:02 -0500

I have a long standing rule, which I have never broken.

"I don't testify in front of Congress"

However.... If given the chance, I would to save the Warthog.

I would ask "Why in the hell would you get rid of an artillery piece with wings?"

I just don't get it. From a cost perspective, the A-10 is significantly less expensive. It's been proven to work. And it's just #%^#$% awesome.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Feb 12 at 2015 1:47 PM

COL Ted Mc — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 13:47:24 -0500

Since the USAF doesn't want the A-10, why not swap some of the USMC F-35s for A-10s on a $ for $ basis. That should clear out all of the USAF inventory and would probably only cost the USMC about three or four F-35s. If you did it on an amortized basis, it would probably cost the USMC less than one F-35.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 12 at 2015 1:53 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 13:53:25 -0500

I really hope she succeeds!

Response by PO1 Chris Crawley made Feb 12 at 2015 2:13 PM

PO1 Chris Crawley — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 14:13:52 -0500

Until they come up with a replacement for the Hog, with the same CAS capabilities, loiter time, durability, and price tag, the Hog must stay.
The F-16 can't do it.
The F-35 can't do it.
F-15, F-15E, F-22........un, no.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2015 2:16 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 14:16:45 -0500

Ma'am,

I support you 100%. The A10 needs to stay in the arsenal.

V/r

1SG Haro

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Feb 12 at 2015 2:23 PM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 14:23:19 -0500

When I was Chair of the HI GOP, she was our Lincoln Day Dinner speaker. She was fantastic, was very impressed with her and know that she will do great things for our country!

Response by CPL Brendan Hayes made Feb 12 at 2015 2:54 PM

CPL Brendan Hayes — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 14:54:57 -0500

I love seeing politicians with millitary backgrounds. I really hope she wins this fight. An impressive piece of equiptment that has proven its value time and again needs to stick around until they can field something that is more effective. It just doesn't seem like the F-35 is quite there yet.

Go get 'em Ma'am.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2015 3:53 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 15:53:20 -0500

love the warthog hope its here to stay couldn't imagine the military without it

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2015 4:53 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:53:30 -0500

If I had my way, if the Air Force didn't want them anymore, I'd bet the Army would gladly take them off their hands. But I suppose there's something in the Key West agreement of 47 that prevents that...

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Feb 12 at 2015 5:31 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 17:31:45 -0500

SAve my ass a few times in Desert Storm! Leave the hog alone!

Response by MSgt Jim Pollock made Feb 13 at 2015 6:50 AM

MSgt Jim Pollock — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 06:50:11 -0500

I'd like to plug the Hog from another perspective.

The simplicity of the Hog with its roomy fuselage, fly by steel wire controls and exposed nacelles makes it the most easily maintained aircraft in the inventory IMO. An old warrior in flight beats a fancy toy in the hanger every time.

The troops love it, it's reliable and effective. Keep the Hog around until something does its role better.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 7:00 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 07:00:07 -0500

As long as we have boots on ground in combat, there will ALWAYS be a need for the highly effective close air support that the A-10 provides. Scrapping it would be a complete disservice to the entire military. that is my two cents.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 7:02 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 07:02:39 -0500

If the Air Force doesn't want her, give her to the Army and Marine Corps. I'd go flight Warrant in a heartbeat if I could have the chance to be an A-10 pilot.

Response by Cpl Raul DeMoura made Dec 10 at 2015 9:28 PM

Cpl Raul DeMoura — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 21:28:54 -0500

There USED to be a video on R.P., which I can't seem to find again. "Building the A-10". As I recall, it all started with " the bath tub"! Protect the Pilot, bring them back alive. Now, I was a CH-53 flight line mechanic in the Marine Corp. I always wanted to be a fixed wing mechanic, but I digress.... In my simple, utilitarian, commen sense type gear-head mind, isn't that THE MOST important thing? Aircraft can be repaired. Experienced Pilots don't come on a shelf at the exchange!!! The A-10 was built AROUND the Pilot! It's combat tested. It's not, the most sophisticated aircraft, but I REALLY can't see mothballing something that works so well. And the MONEY! Ultimately, just how much will the "replacement" aircraft cost? In dollars, in lives lost because of a "program error", ..... I could go on. I just want to know, what happened to the video?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 1 at 2019 2:11 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 01 May 2019 14:11:17 -0400

I really don't understand why we should send in the most expensive plane to conduct CAS when there is a cheaper and more effective alternative.

Response by SMSgt David A Asbury made Oct 23 at 2020 4:12 PM

SMSgt David A Asbury — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 16:12:49 -0400

Hope she wins re-election

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Aug 29 at 2021 6:40 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 18:40:42 -0400

A worthy cause.