Warbirds

Fairchild A 10 Thunderbolt II ‘Warthog’

The A 10 was developedin the sixties as a tank-killer. It was designed around the GAU-8/A cannon, a seven barreled, rotating Gatling design, that can fire as much as 4200 rounds a minute. The ‘Hog’ can also cary the AGM 65 ‘Maverick’ Air to Ground Missiles (AGM), several types of bombs against various ground targets. The A 10 is wel armored for protection of pilot and systems. The pilot is shielded by a bullet proof windscreen and encircled by a titanium armor ‘bathtub’. It can offer close air support to troops, and can do that a long time without refueling. Due to its’ long wings and low average speeds it is very manuverable, and allows it to fly at tree-top level in mountainous terrains, a skill that comes in handy above the battlefield. The A 10 is currently being fased out by the U.S. Airforce.

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