| Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Close air support, and ground-attack aircraft | |
| Crew | 1 | |
| Passengers | 1 | |
| First flight | ||
| Entered service | ||
| Manufacturer | Fairchild Aircraft | |
| Produced | 716 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 53 ft 4 in | 16.26 m |
| Wingspan | 57 ft 6 in | 17.42 m |
| Height | 14 ft 8 in | 4.42 m |
| Wing area | 505 sq ft | 47.01 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 24,959 lb | 9,761 kg |
| Loaded | 14,846 kg | |
| Maximum takeoff | 50,000 lb | 22,680 kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engine | 2 × General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans | |
| Power (each) | 9,065 lb st | 40.32 kN |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 420 mph (Mach 0.56)(Sea Level 439 mph) | (Sea Level) 706 km/h |
| Cruising speed | 560 km/h | |
| Range | 4091 km | |
| Ceiling | ||
| Rate of climb | 6,000 ft per min | 1,829 m per min |
History[]
An A-10 landing
The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the result of the Attack Experimental (A-X) program, which was formed in 1966 to develop a new close air support attack aircraft to succeed the A-1 Skyraider. 21 companies were prompted to make first concepts for such an aircraft in 1967. Three years later, designs were submitted by Boeing, Cessna, Fairchild, General Dynamics, Lockheed and Northrop. Fairchild-Republic's and Northrop's designs were declared as the winners on 18 December 1970.
Both companies manufactured one prototype, the YA-9 by Northrop and the YA-10 by Fairchild-Republic. The competition was won by the YA-10.
The first A-10 aircraft were delivered in October 1975 to the Davis–Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. A total of 715 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft have been produced.
Specifications[]
Armament[]
The A-10's 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger cannon.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II is literally built around its 30-mm General Electric GAU-8 Avenger seven barrel cannon, the most powerful gun ever fitted to an aircraft of this class, designed to be used for tank burst. The A-10 features eleven under-wing/under-fuselage hard-points and can carry 16,000lb of ordnance -- including AGM-65 Maverick anti-armor missiles, cluster bombs, LGBs, and AIM-9 AAMs.
Nickname[]
The A-10 Thunderbolt II received its popular nickname "Warthog" (sometimes simply hog) from the pilots and crews of the USAF attack squadrons who flew and maintained it.
