Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>A-10>HA1336
A-10A Thunderbolt II "Arctic Scheme" 80-0221, 18th TFS, 343rd Composite Wing, Alaska, March 1982
General Background
October 1975 saw delivery of the first USAF A-10A and deployment in March 1976. Built specifically for close ground support the pilot is protected by titanium armor while being covered by a bubble canopy giving a commanding view. The Warthog has everything needed to survive, dual engines; self-sealing fuel cells; redundant flight control systems protected by titanium armor; a 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun; a wide array of bombs and missiles. This plane packs a heavy punch and can stay on scene a long time to deliver its payload.
The Aircraft
December 18, 1981 saw the arrival of the first two A-10s, 80-221 and 80-222 assigned to Eielson AFB. Soon after their arrival 80-221 received an Arctic white paint scheme that differed from the usual all grey or green. This was an experimental scheme for the upcoming exercise “Cool Snow Hog '82-1” that was the first test for the A-10 operating at a forward base in Alaska. The exercise took place from March 8 to 16, 1982 in the area of Kotzebue, Alaska. The Snow Hog operating in Alaska never panned out.
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 |
| Maximum 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 |