                    FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC A10 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  

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