C!T ROM 2/ctrom_ii_b.zip/ctrom_ii_b/FLIGHTSI/VLIEGTUI/PL_A10/A10READ.TXT

Text File | 1992-12-18 | 2KB | 37 lines

              FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC A-10 WARTHOG

     THE A10 WARTHOG WAS DESIGNED TO REPLACE THE A1
SKYRAIDER, THE A4 SKYHAWK, AND THE A7 CORSAIR II IN THE
TANK ATTACK AND CLOSE AIR SUPPORT ROLE. THE FIRST FLIGHT WAS
DECEMBER OF 1974. EARLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT LIFE AND
PRE-FLIGHT TESTING SOME ONE HUNG THE NAME "WARTHOG" ON THE
A10. THE ORIGINAL AND OFFICIAL NICKNAME WAS THUNDERBOLT II
BUT THE DECALS WERE REMOVED WITHIN AN HOUR OF THE DEDICATION
AND THE WARTHOG MONIKER STUCK. THE AIRCRAFT NAMING
DEPARTMENT AT REPUBLIC HASN'T HAD MUCH LUCK. THE P-47
THUNDERBOLT QUICKLY BECAME KNOWN AS THE "JUG" DUE TO IT'S
DISTINCTIVE SHAPE.
     THE A10 HAS SOME NOTABLE FEATURES. THE GATLIN GUN
ASSEMBLY IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE! THE GUN
BARREL REVOLVES KEEPING THE FIRING BARREL ON THE CENTER LINE
OF THE AIRCRAFT TO AVOID FLIGHT DISTURBANCES. THE GUN IS
KNOWN OFFICIALLY AS THE GAU-10 30MM BUILT BY GE. IT IS
CAPABLE OF 4,200 ROUNDS PER MINUTE! IN PRACTICE IT IS FIRED
IN SHORT BURSTS. THE SOUND IS LIKE A LOUD RIPPING NOISE.THE
TWIN ENGINES ARE MOUNTED HIGH AND CLOSE IN FOR SEVERAL
REASONS. LESS POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH FOD (FOREIGN OBJECT
DAMAGE); REARMING CAN TAKE PLACE WHILE ENGINES REMAIN ON;
LESS PROBLEM WITH AIRCRAFT CONTROL IN THE EVENT AN ENGINE IS
LOST; AND THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE TEND TO MASK THE ENGINES
FROM I.R. SEEKING GROUND FIRE. THE LANDING GEAR IS HIGH,
WIDE, AND LARGE FOR ROUGH FIELDS.
     I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE A PAIR OF A10'S FROM MYRTLE
BEACH AFB PERFORM IN A FIREPOWER DEMONSTRATION. THE AIRCRAFT
IS HANDLED LIKE A PITTS SPECIAL AND THE GATLIN IS AWESOME!
     ANY COMMENTS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS WELCOMED.

BILL BARHAM
CIS 71201,2015