A-10A "Thunderbolt II" - Lackland AFB - San Antonio, Texas
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 29° 23.532 W 098° 37.304
14R E 536703 N 3251498
Close air support attack aircraft on display adjacent to the main parade field at Lackland Air Force Base.
Waymark Code: WM3CHW
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/15/2008
Views: 14
A-10A
"Thunderbolt II"
This twin turbofan attack aircraft carries up to 16,000 pounds (7,257 kg) of
external payload, plus an internally mounted 30 mm rapid-fire cannon with high
velocity ammunition capable of penetrating the latest tanks and heavily armoured
vehicles. It is able to fly and maneuver at very low altitudes. It
must be able to survive intense antiaircraft fire, surface-to-air missiles and
attacks by other aircraft.
The A-10 mission is close air support under 100-foot overcast with two
nautical miles visibility. There is no other airplane in the Air Force
inventory that can do it.
In Operation Desert Storm the A-10's flew 8,100 sorties with a mission
capability of 98 percent, they launched ninety percent of the maverick missiles
used and achieved the only two air-to-air gun kills in the war. The A-10
proved a vital asset to Operation Desert Storm.
With the LASTE upgrade, A-10 units took three of the top seven spots, faring
better than units with higher technology aircraft. The LASTE sytem, an
integrated computer and software page developed by General Electric, gives the
A-10 enhanced accuracy for gunnery and bombing.
Accommodation: Single-seat enclosed cockpits, well forward of wings,
with large transparent bubble canopy to provide all-around view, bullet proof
windscreen.
| Manufacture: Fairchild Republic Company |
Speed: 439 mph |
| Wing Span: 57' 6" |
Power Plant: Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 Turbofan |
| Length: 53' 4" |
Engines, Each About 9,000 pounds (4,082 kg) of thrust |
| Height: 14' 8" |
|
| Empty Weight: 25,000 lbs |
|
| Equipped Weight: 50,000 lbs |
|
Information from sign in front aircraft.