Agree 110%Words can’t express how much I love the warthog.
The US Air Force is replacing the A-10 Thunderbolt II with a combination of other aircraft, primarily in South Korea and other key regions. The replacements include upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15EX Strike Eagle IIs, and F-35A Lightning IIs. While the A-10's ground attack role is being taken over by these more advanced jets, some see a potential role for the A-29 Super Tucano, a smaller, more agile aircraft, particularly in low-intensity conflict scenarios.
Maybe the Army can save itself and the Warthog from the F35 Bush/Obama Turd:
IDK: A 15 can fly with one wing; the A10 role can be reproduced from greater stand-off distances(?)...
With an extremely sad exception during Desert Storm; the A10 is a visible, lingering Angel to Grunts. That morale boost can't be duplicated with choppers; IMHO. From what I've seen they hover behind the front and snipe.
Maybe I'm just being nostalgic: I'd love the Army to order a few from Fairchild and cross train some Apache pilots. In my mind the A10 shares the same effectiveness/quality/mystique as a Nickel Steel Model 12 16ga and is suffering from similar "improvements".
One wing 15:
Bonus:
However if they come out as a fag, they are in the clear.The greater standoff distance is the problem when the enemy has some of the same equipment and the only difference is an orange combat identification panel on TOP of friendly vehicles and a couple of reflective painted numbers and arrows on the sides. Iraq had some of the same 5 tons, deuce and a halfs and M113 armored personnel carriers during Desert Storm we sold them when they were our "friends" fighting Iran. Close air support needs to be CLOSE, and that is the A10. Replacing it comes down to certain senators and congressmen with aircraft plants in their districts wanting the kickbacks from big fat military contracts. Just build new updated A10's, it's not like they won't get into the air anymore.
It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world.However if they come out as a fag, they are in the clear.