-
If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
-
Be sure to enter the NES/MFS May Giveaway ***Canik METE SFX***
US Air Force Is Planning to Build a Super A-10 Warthog
- Thread starter jtnf
- Start date
Loved watching them come in and strife areas we called for. Hell of a weapon system.
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2008
- Messages
- 3,413
- Likes
- 1,215
They are going to over engineer it, and it will never be able to take a beating like they old ones.
When or what was the last military plane that was designed that has not been plagued with problems.
Dean
When or what was the last military plane that was designed that has not been plagued with problems.
Dean
knoxy
NES Member
I hate to say it but there is no way they can make a modern A-10. Iv heard stories of them having wings shot off and kept flying. I'm not sure why they pulled them out of use. They should just take our existing fleet and update them.
They do, and have been updated. In the FlightAware discussion thread somebody noted that the wing root boxes (of those still flying) have been upgraded to extend airframe cycles, and I know from other sources new avionics and targeting systems have been incorporated.
GE has apparently been trying to sell the Air Force upgraded engines with 40% more thrust and 10% less fuel burn (also from the Flight Aware thread.)
http://flightaware.com/squawks/view...rce_Is_Planning_to_Build_a_Super_A_10_Warthog
PaulR
NES Member
The old one is getting old and is also rather underpowered.
The Air Force is actually talking about a low-high mix for close air support. At the low end would be a turboprop like the Tucano. At the high end would be this A-10 replacement.
I think they are smoking dope financially. I don't think there is any way they can fund two more programs.
cockpitbob
NES Member
The plane is an accessory for the gun, not the other way around ![[rockon]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/020.gif "Rockon [rockon]")
ISOTOX
NES Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2008
- Messages
- 8,266
- Likes
- 5,346
Big ass turbines whining as they slowly rolled would scare the shit out of the camel hummpers alone. Never mind the hell they would unleash. Amazing aircraft. If I had to describe the devil this plane would be it.
Here is more information on the trial balloon floated for two new CAS aircraft: http://www.defensenews.com/story/de...rce-secretary-budget-a10-warthog-ax/87578930/
They haven't. Yet. But they've been trying. The reason is money and politics and has despite their contentions otherwise, has nothing to do with the A-10's capabilities. They've spent so much money on the F-35 that if they don't retire the A-10 it will be an admission the whole program and billions or trillions was a waste and a failure.
Read the book "The Pentagon Wars" for insight into why this occurs. The movie is lame but the book is shocking. And it's 30 years old.
http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/03/books/corrupt-from-top-to-bottom.html
M60
NES Member
Last edited by a moderator:
The A-10 is old. Very old. The youngest A-10 is more than 30 years old. Fighter/attack aircraft don't have an infinite life. After a certain number of flight hours, they are pretty much done.
mibro
NES Member
Three words. B-52.
An aircraft is just a collection of spare parts flying in formation. AKA the ship of Theseus.
It would be a piece of cake to retrofit the A-10 fleet. Problem is there's not enough pork in a project like that.
A-10 Warthogs Could Serve Until 2040
![[rolleyes]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/042.gif "Roll Eyes [rolleyes]")
F/A-18 E/F
B-52 is very different. As a bomber, it rarely pulls any g's. The A-10 pulls a fair number of g's.
All airframes have a limited life span. Once you get near it, you either tear the aircraft down completely and start replacing main structural elements like wing spars, or the start coming apart in mid-air like some of our F-15cs.
The F/A-18 initially had its share of issues. The E/F is a major redesign from the C/D.
Rockrivr1
NES Member
I'd have to say the transition from the F/-18 Hornet to the Super Hornet was an upgrade that went very well with only minimal issue and a significant upgrade from the original version. Not all upgrades have to be an issue if it's done right to fix issues the original model has.
Chevy 2 65
NES Member
Yes and make a ton more, just like the old one.
Rockrivr1
NES Member
Seems I missed this by a few seconds. I was involved in the migration of my squadron from F4s, to F/A-18C to F/A-18E and it was a very good improvement each time. Now to say that the C/D version had their share of issues is a huge understatement. Stabilizer slap, cracked engine mounts and faulty wiring harnesses in the wings were just the start of the fun. Though it was night and day coming from F4s, which were basically held together with duct tape and baked on hydraulic fluid.
