F-16 Pilot Opinion of A-10
 

https://www.outkick.com/culture/jason-cooper-a10-david-hookstead-interview

It's one mean machine

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One of my first jobs in aerospace was finding out why the A-10's Gatling gun would jamb and not rotate. We (taxpayers) bough a half million dollar rotation + compression hydraulic actuator to replicate the gun's motion. Fixed it!

At an air show about 40 years ago, I was talking with a F111 pilot about flying low level in exercises. He recounted an incident in which they were flying nap of the earth at about 100 feet when a Warthog flew under them at right angles, about 50 feet off the desert.
"Those guys are crazy. "

Best
Les

When I used to use the public range in the Ocala National Forest on occasion the A-10s would be doing their target practice a few miles away. Nothing quite like having a cold range and then hearing the "braaap" come from a few miles off....

There used to be a poster over on the 912bbs that was a Warthog driver for many years before flying for FEDEX.
Had a really nice 912 Targa too.
My son got to meet him once when he was back east. Nice guy according to him.

Wow, I just googled him and found this:
https://www.courant.com/obituaries/stephen-l-meltsner-west-hartford-ct/

RIP Steve.

The government got its money's worth on the Warthog project. That thing is bada$$.

I saw them flying practice in Idaho years back. Seemed to defy any sort of physical law. It was spooky/cool what they can do.

Thank you for posting that.

to put it in perspective,
this is the gun assy. out of an A-10

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1718648503.jpg

It's fitting it was named Thunderbolt...a role the WWII version filled nicely.

Had 3 of them come by--super low-- over the ocean @ Amelia Island about a month ago
Assuming they were headed to the Ocala bomb zone
Quite a sight to see them at eye level outside of your bedroom window. Badass

Sacred feces!!!

They can fire depleted uranium bullets (heavier than lead), but I hear they're getting away from that.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1718652975.jpg

Hm. I just did a little math. Warthogs only carry about 30 seconds of ammunition but that is enough: Sixty-four 30mm rounds per second. Muzzle velocity: 3400 fps. Apparently, whoopass is now available in barrels too.

I remember an episode of "Wings over the Gulf" docuseries. They were interviewing an A-10 pilot.

Can't recall all of the story but this line stuck with me...

"There was a helicopter firing, I came around and put about 15 seconds worth into it...There wasn't much left".

Growing up around Eglin AFB, we would see A-10s flying around. I can remember at times riding around the neighborhood on our bicycles, me and my friends, and I would hear them testing the guns, and it always sounded like a giant cat purring.

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The Warthog would have made Dr Porsche proud: Form Follows Function. Super stable even at low speeds.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1718669961.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1718670054.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1718670235.jpg