Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>A-10>HA1302
A-10A 91-0964 USAF, 23rd Fighter Group, Sept. 2002 "MIL Killer"
General Background
A-10 was the first USAF aircraft designed specifically for “Close Air Support ” (CAS) . It can be described as the outcome of the experience gained in the Vietnam War and the threats of the Soviet Union armor forces during the Cold War era. The first A-10A “Thunderbolt II” was delivered October 1975 and deployment in March 1976.
A-10's pilot is protected by titanium armor around his seat and the canopy isa large bubble canopy which provides all-round vision. The aircraft is designed with dual engines and the self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam . Extra titanium is used to protect some flight control system parts of the aircraft. All these insure the plane and pilot's safety from enemy fires.
Though A-10 may be slow comparing to other aircraft s, it is extremely maneuverable and have proven itself as a deadly machine. Its main weapon, the GAU-8A gun, can fire 30mm shells made of uranium at a rate of 4,000 rounds a minute which is sufficient to destroy most armored targets.
A-10's pilot is protected by titanium armor around his seat and the canopy isa large bubble canopy which provides all-round vision. The aircraft is designed with dual engines and the self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam . Extra titanium is used to protect some flight control system parts of the aircraft. All these insure the plane and pilot's safety from enemy fires.
Though A-10 may be slow comparing to other aircraft s, it is extremely maneuverable and have proven itself as a deadly machine. Its main weapon, the GAU-8A gun, can fire 30mm shells made of uranium at a rate of 4,000 rounds a minute which is sufficient to destroy most armored targets.
The Aircraft
The A-10a No.81-0964 was flown by Captain Todd "Shanghai" Sheehy of the 511th TFS in Jan 1991. On Feb.15, 1991, during his 27th combat sortie, Captain Sheehy identified an Iraqi's Mi-8 "Hip" helicopter and he started shooting at about 8,000 feet using the 30 mm cannon for around 300 rounds . The "Hip" caught fire at the tail section and Captain Sheehy fired another 200 rounds to put an end to the "Hip".
The "81-0964" was one of the two A-10s which had ever achieved air-to-air kills in combat (the first was the "77-0205" flown by Captain Bob Swain who downed an Iraqi Bo 105 C helicopter during the "Operation Desert Storm" in 1991) . In 2002, it was stationed with the 23rd Fighter Group with shark mouth nose art linking her to the proud history of the 23 rd Flying Tigers of WWII.
The "81-0964" was one of the two A-10s which had ever achieved air-to-air kills in combat (the first was the "77-0205" flown by Captain Bob Swain who downed an Iraqi Bo 105 C helicopter during the "Operation Desert Storm" in 1991) . In 2002, it was stationed with the 23rd Fighter Group with shark mouth nose art linking her to the proud history of the 23 rd Flying Tigers of WWII.
Specifications :
| Crew : | One |
| Main role : | A-10 - close air support, OA-10 - airborne forward air control |
| Manufacturer : | Fairchild Republic Co. |
| Power Plants : | Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans |
| Thrust : | 9,065 pounds per engine |
| Length : | 16.16 meters |
| Height : | 4.42 meters |
| Wingspan : | 17.42 meters Speed: 420 miles per hour (Mach 0.56) |
| Ceiling : | 13,636 meters |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight : | 22,950 kg. |
| Range : | 800 miles (695 nautical miles) |
| Armament : | One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun (fixed) |
| M aximum 7,200 kg of mixed ordnance including : 225 kg “ Mk-82 ” and 900 kg “ Mk-84 ” series low/high drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, mine dispensing munitions, AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs , infrared countermeasure flares , electronic countermeasure chaff , jamming pods , 6.99 cm (2.75in.) rockets , illumination flares , AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles |