The Warthog, The A-10 Thunderbolt II
- Tushar B.
- Apr 21, 2019
- 2 min read
I just want to start this off by saying that for as ugly as a plane this may be, it is insanely effective. Don't judge a book by it's cover may as well have been its motto.
The A-10 is a plane known by many names: The Warthog, Hog, Tank Killer, and the Thunderbolt II. It packs an incredible punch, and is known to be ground forces' number one choice when it comes to close air support. The plane was one of the first aircraft created specifically for that role, and it excels at it; able to carry up to 16,000 pounds of explosives on 11 pylons. Its most iconic feature, however, is easily its 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger gatling gun, able to fire up to almost 4,000 rounds per minute.
The whole design is an example of form following function, as it was designed primarily around its massive gatling gun. They placed it along the centerline of the aircraft so that its recoil wouldn't yaw the plane and cause it to lose its aim. This however, meant that they had to place the forwards landing gear a little off the center to accommodate the massive gun. Another major change that came as a result of the plane's function was the placement of the two engines. They couldn't be placed under the wings as that area was already taken by the munitions pylons, and the fuselage was too narrow for two large turbofan engines. Because of this, and a few other factors, the engines were placed at the back of the plane and slightly further up. This allows for the exhaust from the gun to flow past the engine and gives it a greater measure of protection when flying close to the ground (It's harder to hit them up there than it would be if they were directly beneath the wings).
The Warthog is capable of fielding a vast range of munitions to destroy anything from enemy helicopters and aircraft, to tanks, armored trucks, and buildings. Its primary weapon is, of course, its gatling gun. Effective at a range of 4,000 feet and deadly in its precision, this gun is not something anyone wants to be downrange of. Additionally it can employ anything from 500 pound Mk-82 bombs to 2,000 pound Mk-84 bombs to Maverick and Sidewinder missiles and much more. This versatility means that it is always perfectly equipped to handle the mission assigned to it, helping it reach its extraordinary 96% mission capable rating in the Gulf War. Add to this already powerful machine an extra thick titanium cockpit to shield the pilot from surface-to-air attacks and you have the perfect plane for close air support.
(No images yet, but if I ever see one i'll be sure to add a picture of it)
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions; or if you think I got something wrong please leave a comment and I'll be sure to respond as soon as I can.