End of the line for the A-10 Warthog?
Discussion
aeropilot said:
There have been no A-10's in the UK since Bentwaters/Woodbridge closed in early 1993.
I think maybe there might have been a display at Mildenhall by a mainland Europe based A-10 in the late 90's, but I certainley can't recall any A-10 displays for at least 15+ years.
There have been occasional deployments and airshow appearances...I think maybe there might have been a display at Mildenhall by a mainland Europe based A-10 in the late 90's, but I certainley can't recall any A-10 displays for at least 15+ years.
Lakenheath has played host to them a few times, notably in 2005:
...and 2008:
Display at RIAT, July 2011:
Low level in Wales, August 2011:
I'm aware of all the deployments in the UK, but I can't think of any solo aero's displays by an A-10 at a UK show since 2000 at least, and there weren't many in the 5 or 6 years before that.
Last A-10 demo display I remember was actually at an airshow in the USA back in 1997...!!
(if there was a aeros display at the 'hall in '98 or '99 then it would have been then, but I don't actually remember if there was one?)
Last A-10 demo display I remember was actually at an airshow in the USA back in 1997...!!
(if there was a aeros display at the 'hall in '98 or '99 then it would have been then, but I don't actually remember if there was one?)
aeropilot said:
I'm aware of all the deployments in the UK, but I can't think of any solo aero's displays by an A-10 at a UK show since 2000 at least, and there weren't many in the 5 or 6 years before that.
Last A-10 demo display I remember was actually at an airshow in the USA back in 1997...!!
(if there was a aeros display at the 'hall in '98 or '99 then it would have been then, but I don't actually remember if there was one?)
Cant remember if they did a display but they were at RIAT in 1995. My very shaky pre stabilisation video. Skip to 3 mins and they are airborne about 6.Last A-10 demo display I remember was actually at an airshow in the USA back in 1997...!!
(if there was a aeros display at the 'hall in '98 or '99 then it would have been then, but I don't actually remember if there was one?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKBTMWW2cb0
aeropilot said:
I'm aware of all the deployments in the UK, but I can't think of any solo aero's displays by an A-10 at a UK show since 2000 at least, and there weren't many in the 5 or 6 years before that.
They used to exercise in pairs quite close to my house. They stopped doing this shortly after an A10 wiped out a British troop carrier in Iraq.
eccles said:
I have fond memories of the driver shouting at me very loudly whilst trying to deploy the built in crew ladder... I was absent mindedly pulling at the canopy jettison panel instead of the ladder release one.....oh how laughed afterwards! 
I have another but thats not for an open forum....
[quote]The A-10, a slow-flying airplane designed to stay close enough to the ground for pilots to be able to distinguish friend from foe, often with their own eyes, has saved hundreds of lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. And it has performed in a way that modern planes — flying high and fast — never could, supporters say.
[/quote]
They could have said the same about the Harrier !.....
[/quote]
They could have said the same about the Harrier !.....
JVaughan][quote said:
The A-10, a slow-flying airplane designed to stay close enough to the ground for pilots to be able to distinguish friend from foe, often with their own eyes, has saved hundreds of lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. And it has performed in a way that modern planes — flying high and fast — never could, supporters say.
They could have said the same about the Harrier !.....To be fair the Harrier was originally developed to fly low and fast (hence the low cockpit and low gust response wing in the GR1/3) and over the top to deliver cluster bombs and SNEB rockets, and not hang around in a turning fight. A more traditional close air support concept of ops than the A-10.
The A-10 couldn't operate from small short field strips either.
Different but complimentary beasts really.
The A-10 couldn't operate from small short field strips either.
Different but complimentary beasts really.
Edited by andy97 on Wednesday 23 April 11:55
Yertis said:
Here's my advice:
I want one of those!Despite the high exhaust temperature of the harrier though, the IR missile loss rate per sortie of A10 vs GR1 was similar. Threat of S-18 in Libya meant A10s restricted to 15k+. If you're going to stay at medium altitude, doesn't really matter what your IR signature is WRT manpads...
JVaughan said:
somebody said:
The A-10, a slow-flying airplane designed to stay close enough to the ground for pilots to be able to distinguish friend from foe, often with their own eyes, has saved hundreds of lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
mybrainhurts said:
JVaughan said:
somebody said:
The A-10, a slow-flying airplane designed to stay close enough to the ground for pilots to be able to distinguish friend from foe, often with their own eyes, has saved hundreds of lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Fus P.P. Atkinson (RRF)
Fus C.P. Cole (RRF)
Pte N. W. D. Donald (QOHldrs)
Pte M. Ferguson (QOHldrs)
Fus R. A. Gillespie (RRF)
Pte J. W. Lang (QOhldrs)
Fus K. Leech (RRF)
Fus S. T. Satchell (RRF)
Fus L. J. Thompson (RRF)
They were a mixed bag of Fusiliers (of 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers), and Privates of 1st Battalion Queen's Own Highlanders (attached to 3RRF). All in their teens and early twenties too. As was I.
A further 38 British lives were lost in the 1990/1991 Gulf war.
Mave said:
I want one of those!
Despite the high exhaust temperature of the harrier though, the IR missile loss rate per sortie of A10 vs GR1 was similar. Threat of S-18 in Libya meant A10s restricted to 15k+. If you're going to stay at medium altitude, doesn't really matter what your IR signature is WRT manpads...
Nothing wrong with the "hot" nozzle temp-it's where it is situated that's the issue and along with the "cold" nozzle the fuselage heating just makes it a great big IR beacon ...Despite the high exhaust temperature of the harrier though, the IR missile loss rate per sortie of A10 vs GR1 was similar. Threat of S-18 in Libya meant A10s restricted to 15k+. If you're going to stay at medium altitude, doesn't really matter what your IR signature is WRT manpads...
..."IR missile loss rate per sortie of A10 vs GR1"... Oh Reilly?
At least the GR1/3 were a "wee" bit better at the top end...
Mojocvh said:
Mave said:
I want one of those!
Despite the high exhaust temperature of the harrier though, the IR missile loss rate per sortie of A10 vs GR1 was similar. Threat of S-18 in Libya meant A10s restricted to 15k+. If you're going to stay at medium altitude, doesn't really matter what your IR signature is WRT manpads...
Nothing wrong with the "hot" nozzle temp-it's where it is situated that's the issue and along with the "cold" nozzle the fuselage heating just makes it a great big IR beacon ...Despite the high exhaust temperature of the harrier though, the IR missile loss rate per sortie of A10 vs GR1 was similar. Threat of S-18 in Libya meant A10s restricted to 15k+. If you're going to stay at medium altitude, doesn't really matter what your IR signature is WRT manpads...
..."IR missile loss rate per sortie of A10 vs GR1"... Oh Reilly?
At least the GR1/3 were a "wee" bit better at the top end...
Still think its a great bit of kit though, the guys who designed it obviously has a strong vision of how it was going to be used.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff