Having spent much of my life around aircraft, in the Air Force and in the aerospace industry, it was distressing to learn that the A-10 Thunderbolt II was slated for the budgetary chopping block.

An A-10 Warthog flies over a Special Forces unit in close air support. Flying low and at slower speeds, A-10 pilots have great visibility as they  loiter over a target area. (usaf photo)

Yes, it’s been flying for four decades, but we’re still flying the B-52 and the C-130, which have been in the air for five and six decades, respectively.  These and other aging aircraft still carry out valuable missions thanks to the upgrading of their avionics and engines.

The A-10 is commonly referred to the Warthog rather than by its official moniker, obviously because of its looks.  It doesn’t have the sleek lines of modern fighter aircraft.

The A-10 won kudos for its work during the Iraq war and in Afghanistan.  Ideal as a close air support aircraft, one would think it would be the airplane of choice in the kind of warfare we find ourselves now. Continue reading →