6
6
0
The sturdy A-10 Thunderbolt II, first built in the 1970s, is getting a new wing that will help it meet the demands of today's and tomorrow's war-fighters.
On Feb. 15, Hill Air Force Base and the Boeing Company commemorated completion of the first A-10 with a new enhanced wing assembly, designed to keep the aircraft flying until 2040.
"We hired Boeing to build new wings based on the original thick skin wing that Fairchild Republic built 30-plus years ago," said Mark Bibler, A-10 Wing Replacement Program manager for the Aerospace Sustainment Directorate. "However, we did add some enhancements to ease production, as well as several structural improvements to increase service life and ease maintenance."
The improvements target known fatigue locations with the current wing and create an improved wing that can fly for up to 10,000 hours without inspection.
Along with all its other advantages, the new wing will also help save the Air Force an estimated $1.3 billion over the next 30 years while simultaneously improving mission capability by up to 4 percent.
On Feb. 15, Hill Air Force Base and the Boeing Company commemorated completion of the first A-10 with a new enhanced wing assembly, designed to keep the aircraft flying until 2040.
"We hired Boeing to build new wings based on the original thick skin wing that Fairchild Republic built 30-plus years ago," said Mark Bibler, A-10 Wing Replacement Program manager for the Aerospace Sustainment Directorate. "However, we did add some enhancements to ease production, as well as several structural improvements to increase service life and ease maintenance."
The improvements target known fatigue locations with the current wing and create an improved wing that can fly for up to 10,000 hours without inspection.
Along with all its other advantages, the new wing will also help save the Air Force an estimated $1.3 billion over the next 30 years while simultaneously improving mission capability by up to 4 percent.
A-10 gets its new wings at Hill
Posted from hill.af.milPosted in these groups: 
A-10
Close Air Support (CAS)
A-10 Close Air Support (CAS)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
5
5
0
Great news about the A- 10 as the plane that the Air Force hated so much that Gen. Schwarzkopf had to request it personally from the Air Force in Desert Storm. I don't know why type- A fighter pilots (who became the USAF brass) dislike it so much yet two A-10s destroyed 35 tanks in two hours in Desert Storm. the USMC and the US Army ground pounders love it's ability to destroy the enemy and save their lives but the USAF is not proud of this tank killer. SGT Ben Keen SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSG Roger Ayscue SSG Carlos Madden CPO Tim Dickey SGT (Join to see) Sgt Mike Sarris SSG(P) Christopher Erickson SFC Eric Williams LTC Charles T Dalbec LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. SPC Corbin Sayi SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA PFC Christopher Ransome PFC Talal Al-Tunsi SGT Thomas Sullivan CPT Mark Gonzalez CPT Pedro Meza
(5)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
Capt Seid Waddell - I was influenced by John Cole, COL ret.,a friend from Afghanistan that I talk to daily. He told me about Schwarzkopf.
(2)
(0)
Capt Seid Waddell
LTC (Join to see), I thought the A-10 was the ugliest plane I had ever seen when I first saw them flying out of Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson. Then when I saw what they did in Iraq I thought it was the most beautiful thing with wings. You can't beat its success on the battlefield.
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
B-25 Mitchell being towed to the runway at Villeneuve Edmonton Air Show 8-25-15
Look at my other video where it both engines are started and warmed up. I love the D-day stripes on the fuselage
Capt Seid Waddell - I built it as a 1/48 scale model when I was 20 and I thought the tail section reminded me of a B-25 Mitchell.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXZCcqKXYCQ
(2)
(0)
Capt Seid Waddell
LTC (Join to see), never thought of that before, but you're right - there IS a resemblance.
(1)
(0)
4
4
0
Thanks for letting us know Capt Seid Waddell that the sturdy A-10 Thunderbolt II, first built in the 1970s, is getting a new wing that will help it meet the demands of today's and tomorrow's war-fighters. This sounds like an extended lease on the service life of the Warthog.
Thanks for tagging me LTC (Join to see)
Thanks for tagging me LTC (Join to see)
(4)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
Roger anytime, You are the SME on history here and if I am wrong you will call foul!
(2)
(0)
3
3
0
What the USAF astronaut sees when he lands on planet Earth in the distant future and he is shocked to see what is still flying near Ape City
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSG(P) Christopher Erickson SSG Roger Ayscue SrA Christopher Wright SrA Edward Vong MAJ Laurie H. 1LT(P) Jake Ledgerwood MAJ (Join to see) CPT Mark Gonzalez CPT L S CPT Pedro Meza COL Mikel J. Burroughs BG David Fleming III LTC Charles T Dalbec LTC Stephen F. CPO Tim Dickey TSgt Joshua Copeland TSgt Scott C. Brammer COL John Cole
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSG(P) Christopher Erickson SSG Roger Ayscue SrA Christopher Wright SrA Edward Vong MAJ Laurie H. 1LT(P) Jake Ledgerwood MAJ (Join to see) CPT Mark Gonzalez CPT L S CPT Pedro Meza COL Mikel J. Burroughs BG David Fleming III LTC Charles T Dalbec LTC Stephen F. CPO Tim Dickey TSgt Joshua Copeland TSgt Scott C. Brammer COL John Cole
(3)
(0)
CPT Pedro Meza
A-10 that is one beautiful plane, and of course the same applies to Puff the Magic Dragon.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google