Entering service in 1976, the A-10 was the first purpose-built American ground attack aircraft. Although capable of carrying 16000 lbs of guided and unguided munitions, its real charm lies in its seven-barreled, 30mm GAU-8/A "Avenger" cannon, capable of killing tanks from as far as four miles away. The A-10 combines simplicity, ruggedness, and lethality in a single devastating package.%n
