The A-10 Warthog, officially known as the A-10 Thunderbolt, is named after its illustrious World War II predecessor, the P-47 Thunderbolt. However, it is the nickname "Warthog" that is so popular that it even appears in official documents. This is a much-loved fighter: a rugged ground attack aircraft that has been proven time and time again in battle. And the story behind it is just as interesting as its battle record.
1. The A-10 Warthog is designed to meet the changing demands of warfare
The A-10 reflects the changing nature of warfare at the time. As the conflict in Vietnam unfolded, it became clear that the U.S. military needed a new generation of ground attack aircraft: faster and stronger to be able to deliver fire to the battlefield while dodging enemy fire. The U.S. Army solution was to develop a new generation of attack helicopters, from the AH-1 Cobra to the peak of the AH-64 Apache a few years later. The Air Force had other ideas, looking for fixed-wing solutions. The existing propeller attack aircraft were very unsuitable, so they looked for another direction.
2. Fairchild responds to tenders
In 1966, the U.S. Air Force issued a tender outlining the need for ground attack aircraft and inviting manufacturers to submit possible designs. The requirements are simple, but difficult to meet. New aircraft needed to be inexpensive, rugged, with a payload of 16,000 pounds, a take-off range of 4,000 feet or less, long idle times, excellent low-speed maneuverability and extreme survivability. A company called Fairchild Republic responded to the tender and began work on what would become the prototype of the A-10.
3. The first flight encountered some glitches
While the A-10 was known for its durability, there were some problems with the aircraft's initial use. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona took delivery of the first production A-10 in October 1975. When full-scale production began in 1976, initial fatigue testing failed to meet the 8,000-hour life standard. However, further testing by Fairchild engineers found that the airframe needed to be reinforced to solve this problem. After modification, 715 were produced at a rate of 15 aircraft per month.
4. The A-10 narrowly failed to go into production
The Air Force narrowly chose the Northrop YA-9A over the A-10. Ultimately, the YA-9A had weaknesses: the engine mounted at the root of the wing and the single vertical tail. (Northrop YA-9 prototype ↓)
5. The Air Force and the U.S. government reach an agreement to maintain the A-10 program
Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger said in 1973 that it was Air Force General George H. Smith, then Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. S. Brown supports the future of the A-10.
6. A-10 has a secondary role
The secondary role of the A-10 is to provide forward support. A-10 in a ground support role: All aircraft used for this tactic are referred to as OA-10s.
7. The unique design of the A-10 warthog makes it unique
The design of the A-10 is almost unique. It embodies the mission. Large airfoils, large left and right ailerons, and high aspect ratios all contribute to the A-10's excellent maneuverability, especially at low speeds. The A-10 is almost equal in length and width. The wingspan is 57 feet 6 inches. The length is 53 feet 4 inches. The wing design and large turbofan engine enabled the A-10 to take off and land on shorter rudimentary runways. These designs allow the aircraft to take off and land as close to the front line as possible. The fuselage is designed as a honeycomb structure to reduce weight while increasing strength. This allows the A-10 to fly farther and engage targets.
8.The A-10 has some unique specifications
The A-10 can fly in 1,000 miles of visibility below 1.5 feet. This capability, combined with its long time in the air, gives the A-10 acclaimed ground support capabilities. It also has 10,000 gallons of internal fuel capacity, giving the A-10 an 800-mile range. The A-10's battery is self-sealing and protected internally and externally with explosion-proof foam.
9. "Titanium bathtub" weather monitor
One of the features of the A-10 is its armor. The aircraft skin is not structural, and any damage to it will not damage the heavily reinforced fuselage. The cockpit and flight control functions are most closely protected. They are surrounded by 12,000 pounds of titanium armor, which is affectionately known as the "titanium bathtub." Deflecting incoming firepower, the armor has a near-perfect track record of keeping pilots safe. The canopy is also resistant to small arms fire – the aircraft's total armor accounts for just over 7% of its empty weight. Interestingly, the A-10's armor can fly through superunit thunderstorms – the Air Force even uses the A-10 to monitor bad weather.
10. Dual universal engines provide excellent power and maneuverability
The key to the success of the A-10 was its design, which included an impressive engine. Twin General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofan engines provide great power. The A-10 has a top speed of 439ml/h and a cruising speed of 300ml/h. The A-10 stalled at a very low speed: 138ml/h – giving the A-10 excellent low-speed maneuverability. To align with its ground attack mission, the A-10 has a combat radius of up to 290ml. Ground missions also affect the position of the engine. Because foreign objects on rudimentary runways could cause damage, the A-10's engines were located above the wings to help protect them. The Air Force asked the A-10 for quick maintenance in combat.
11. A-10 has many coating options
Since the A-10 flies very low, camouflage is very important. It comes in several variants – sandy, yellow and pastoral brown "peanut color scheme", a black and white version suitable for winter work, and brown, green and tan versions. Many A-10s have shark teeth or warthog's head painted on the nose of the aircraft.
Some A-10 aircraft have "false canopies" painted on their belly. This was to fool enemy pilots into thinking it was a real canopy projection – to trick opponents into thinking that the A-10 was flying in different directions at different altitudes.
12.A-10 is designed for survival and quick repair
The A-10 uses dual redundant hydraulics, which fail and the backup system will control the aircraft. Damaged wing skins can be replaced relatively easily – even with alternative materials. The skins are not weight-bearing, which means replacing them is simple. Engineers even considered the importance of wheel shrinkage. When the wheels are retracted, they remain slightly exposed outside the cabin. The purpose is to reduce the damage to some extent if the landing gear is damaged and landed. In addition, the A-10's landing gear, engine, vertical stabilizer and some other components are interchangeable left and right – meaning they can be operated on either side. This allows the aircraft to be serviced in a leading position and put into battle faster than other aircraft.
In 2003, Captain Kim Campbell's A-10 was hit by ground fire, causing severe damage to the horizontal tail, right vertical tail, rear fuselage, and engine. After switching to manual control, the aircraft landed safely.
13. The A-10 can perform all-weather missions
The A-10 is an all-weather aircraft. The aircraft contains a night vision imaging system.