A-10 Thunderbolt
In 1966 the US Air Force formed the Attack Experimental A-X program office. In March 1967 the USAF released a request for information to 21 defense contractors for the A-X project. The objective was to create a design study for a low-cost attack aircraft. In 1969 the Secretary of the Air Force asked for detailed specifications for the secretly proposed A-X aircraft. Discussions with A-1 Skyraider pilots operating in Vietnam and analysis of the effectiveness of current aircraft used in the role indicated the ideal aircraft should have long loiter time, low-speed maneuverability, massive cannon firepower, and extreme survivability.
In May 1970, the USAF issued a modified and much more detailed request for proposals (RFP) for the aircraft. The threat of Soviet armored forces and all-weather attack operations had became more serious. Now included in the requirements was that the aircraft would be designed specifically for the 30 mm cannon. The RFP also specified an aircraft with a maximum speed of 460 mph, takeoff distance of 4,000 feet, external load of 16,000 pounds, a 285-mile mission radius, and a unit cost of $1.4 million.
Six companies submitted proposals to the USAF, with Northrop and Fairchild Republic selected to build prototypes: the YA-9A and YA-10A, respectively. General Electric and Philco-Ford were selected to build and test GAU-8 cannon prototypes.
The YA-10A first flew on 10 May 1972. After trials and a flyoff against the YA-9A, the Air Force announced its selection of Fairchild-Republic's YA-10A on 18 January 1973 for production. General Electric was selected to build the GAU-8 cannon in June 1973. The first production A-10 flew in October 1975, and deliveries to the Air Force commenced in March 1976. In total, 715 airplanes were produced, the last delivered in 1984.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II received its popular nickname "Warthog" from the pilots and crews of the USAF attack squadrons who flew and maintained it. The A-10 is the last of Republic's jet attack aircraft to serve with the USAF. The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was nicknamed the "Hog", F-84F Thunderstreak nicknamed "Superhog", and the Republic F-105 Thunderchief tagged "Ultra Hog". A less common nickname is the "Tankbuster". The saying Go Ugly Early has been associated with the aircraft in reference to calling in the A-10 early in combat.
Photo taken at the 2010 Air Expo, at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport, Williamstown West Virginia.
A-10 Thunderbolt
In 1966 the US Air Force formed the Attack Experimental A-X program office. In March 1967 the USAF released a request for information to 21 defense contractors for the A-X project. The objective was to create a design study for a low-cost attack aircraft. In 1969 the Secretary of the Air Force asked for detailed specifications for the secretly proposed A-X aircraft. Discussions with A-1 Skyraider pilots operating in Vietnam and analysis of the effectiveness of current aircraft used in the role indicated the ideal aircraft should have long loiter time, low-speed maneuverability, massive cannon firepower, and extreme survivability.
In May 1970, the USAF issued a modified and much more detailed request for proposals (RFP) for the aircraft. The threat of Soviet armored forces and all-weather attack operations had became more serious. Now included in the requirements was that the aircraft would be designed specifically for the 30 mm cannon. The RFP also specified an aircraft with a maximum speed of 460 mph, takeoff distance of 4,000 feet, external load of 16,000 pounds, a 285-mile mission radius, and a unit cost of $1.4 million.
Six companies submitted proposals to the USAF, with Northrop and Fairchild Republic selected to build prototypes: the YA-9A and YA-10A, respectively. General Electric and Philco-Ford were selected to build and test GAU-8 cannon prototypes.
The YA-10A first flew on 10 May 1972. After trials and a flyoff against the YA-9A, the Air Force announced its selection of Fairchild-Republic's YA-10A on 18 January 1973 for production. General Electric was selected to build the GAU-8 cannon in June 1973. The first production A-10 flew in October 1975, and deliveries to the Air Force commenced in March 1976. In total, 715 airplanes were produced, the last delivered in 1984.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II received its popular nickname "Warthog" from the pilots and crews of the USAF attack squadrons who flew and maintained it. The A-10 is the last of Republic's jet attack aircraft to serve with the USAF. The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was nicknamed the "Hog", F-84F Thunderstreak nicknamed "Superhog", and the Republic F-105 Thunderchief tagged "Ultra Hog". A less common nickname is the "Tankbuster". The saying Go Ugly Early has been associated with the aircraft in reference to calling in the A-10 early in combat.
Photo taken at the 2010 Air Expo, at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport, Williamstown West Virginia.