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Description
Pictured above is an artist rendition of a 1990's proposal to turn USAF A-10 Warthog's into aerial firefighting aircraft. Given the fact the United States Air Force has no plans to retire the A-10 anytime soon it is highly unlikely that we will ever see this advanced civilian counterpart become reality. Rendition by Jack Young. Article on this Concept !

The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single seat, twin-engine , straight wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic for the United States Air Force . Its official name comes from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt , a fighter particularly effective at close air support. The A-10 is more commonly known by its nicknames "Warthog" or "Hog". The A-10 was designed for close-in support of ground troops, close air support , providing quick-action support for troops against helicopters , vehicles, and ground troops. It entered service in 1976 and is the only production-built aircraft that has served in the USAF that was designed solely for CAS. Its secondary mission is to provide forward air controller - airborne (FAC-A) support, by directing other aircraft in attacks on ground targets. Aircraft used primarily in this role are designated OA-10.
The A-10 was intended to improve on the performance of the A-1 Skyraider and its poor firepower. The A-10 was designed around the 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon that is its primary armament. Itsairframe was designed for durability, with measures such as 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of titanium armor to protect the cockpit and aircraft systems, enabling it to absorb a significant amount of damage and continue flying. Its short takeoff and landing capability permits operation from airstrips close to the front lines, and its simple design enables maintenance with minimal facilities. The A-10 served in Operation Desert Shield , and Operation Desert Storm , the American intervention against Iraq's invasion of Kuwait , where the A-10 distinguished itself. The A-10 also participated in other conflicts such as Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, the Balkans , Afghanistan, Iraq, and against the Islamic State in the middle east.
The A-10A single-seat variant was the only version produced, though one pre-production airframe was modified to become the YA-10B twin-seat prototype to test an all-weather night capable version. In 2005, a program was begun to upgrade remaining A-10A aircraft to the A-10C configuration with modern avionics for use of precision weaponry. With a variety of upgrades and wing replacements , the A-10's service life may be extended to 2028.

Role: Fixed-wing close air support , forward air control , and ground-attack aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Fairchild Republic
First flight: 10 May 1972
Introduction: March 1977
Status: In service
Primary user: United States Air Force
Produced: 1972–84
Number built: 716
Unit cost: US$18.8 million

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
Wingspan : 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Wing area: 506 ft² (47.0 m²)
Airfoil : NACA 6716 root, NACA 6713 tip
Empty weight : 24,959 lb (11,321 kg)
Loaded weight: 30,384 lb (13,782 kg)
CAS mission: 47,094 lb (21,361 kg)
Anti-armor mission: 42,071 lb (19,083 kg)
Max. takeoff weight : 50,000 lb (23,000 kg)
Powerplant : 2 × General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans , 9,065 lbf (40.32 kN) each
Internal fuel capacity: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
Performance
Never exceed speed : 450 knots (518 mph, 833 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) with 18 Mk 82 bombs
Maximum speed : 381 knots (439 mph, 706 km/h) at sea level, clean
Cruise speed : 300 knots (340 mph, 560 km/h)
Stall speed : 120 knots (138 mph, 220 km/h)
Combat radius :
CAS mission: 250 nmi (288 mi, 460 km) at 1.88 hour loiter at 5,000 ft (1,500 m), 10 min combat
Anti-armor mission: 252 nmi (290 mi, 467 km), 40 nmi (45 mi, 75 km)) sea-level penetration and exit, 30 min combat
Ferry range : 2,240 nmi (2,580 mi, 4,150 km) with 50 knot (55 mph, 90 km/h) headwinds, 20 minutes reserve
Service ceiling : 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
Rate of climb : 6,000 ft/min (30 m/s)
Wing loading : 99 lb/ft² (482 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight : 0.36
Armament
Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling cannon with 1,174 rounds (Capacity 1,350)
Hardpoints : 11 (8× under-wing and 3× under-fuselage pylon stations) with a capacity of 16,000 lb (7,260 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets:
4× LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19× / 7× Hydra 70 mm rockets, respectively)
4× LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19× CRV7 70 mm rockets)
6× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× 127 mm (5.0 in) Zuni rockets )
Missiles:
2× AIM-9 Sidewinders air-to-air missiles for self-defense
6× AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
Bombs:
Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs or
Mk 77 incendiary bombs or
BLU-1, BLU-27/B Rockeye II, Mk20, BL-755 and CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster bombs or
Paveway series of Laser-guided bombs or
Joint Direct Attack Munition (A-10C) or
Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (A-10C)
Other:
SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys and chaff dispenser pod or
AN/ALQ-131 or AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or
Lockheed Martin Sniper XR or LITENING targeting pods (A-10C) or
2× 600 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for increased range/loitering time.
Avionics
AN/AAS-35(V) Pave Penny laser tracker pod (mounted beneath right side of cockpit) for use with Paveway LGBs (Currently the Pave Penny is no longer in use)
Head-up display (HUD) for improved technical flying and air-to-ground support.
Other Images of this aircraft:

Documentary on this aircraft:
Great Planes Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

Be sure to follow me on Dailymotion !

Description
Pictured above is an artist rendition of a 1990's proposal to turn USAF A-10 Warthog's into aerial firefighting aircraft. Given the fact the United States Air Force has no plans to retire the A-10 anytime soon it is highly unlikely that we will ever see this advanced civilian counterpart become reality. Rendition by Jack Young. Article on this Concept !

The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single seat, twin-engine , straight wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic for the United States Air Force . Its official name comes from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt , a fighter particularly effective at close air support. The A-10 is more commonly known by its nicknames "Warthog" or "Hog". The A-10 was designed for close-in support of ground troops, close air support , providing quick-action support for troops against helicopters , vehicles, and ground troops. It entered service in 1976 and is the only production-built aircraft that has served in the USAF that was designed solely for CAS. Its secondary mission is to provide forward air controller - airborne (FAC-A) support, by directing other aircraft in attacks on ground targets. Aircraft used primarily in this role are designated OA-10.
The A-10 was intended to improve on the performance of the A-1 Skyraider and its poor firepower. The A-10 was designed around the 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon that is its primary armament. Itsairframe was designed for durability, with measures such as 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of titanium armor to protect the cockpit and aircraft systems, enabling it to absorb a significant amount of damage and continue flying. Its short takeoff and landing capability permits operation from airstrips close to the front lines, and its simple design enables maintenance with minimal facilities. The A-10 served in Operation Desert Shield , and Operation Desert Storm , the American intervention against Iraq's invasion of Kuwait , where the A-10 distinguished itself. The A-10 also participated in other conflicts such as Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, the Balkans , Afghanistan, Iraq, and against the Islamic State in the middle east.
The A-10A single-seat variant was the only version produced, though one pre-production airframe was modified to become the YA-10B twin-seat prototype to test an all-weather night capable version. In 2005, a program was begun to upgrade remaining A-10A aircraft to the A-10C configuration with modern avionics for use of precision weaponry. With a variety of upgrades and wing replacements , the A-10's service life may be extended to 2028.

Role: Fixed-wing close air support , forward air control , and ground-attack aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Fairchild Republic
First flight: 10 May 1972
Introduction: March 1977
Status: In service
Primary user: United States Air Force
Produced: 1972–84
Number built: 716
Unit cost: US$18.8 million

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
Wingspan : 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Wing area: 506 ft² (47.0 m²)
Airfoil : NACA 6716 root, NACA 6713 tip
Empty weight : 24,959 lb (11,321 kg)
Loaded weight: 30,384 lb (13,782 kg)
CAS mission: 47,094 lb (21,361 kg)
Anti-armor mission: 42,071 lb (19,083 kg)
Max. takeoff weight : 50,000 lb (23,000 kg)
Powerplant : 2 × General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans , 9,065 lbf (40.32 kN) each
Internal fuel capacity: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
Performance
Never exceed speed : 450 knots (518 mph, 833 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) with 18 Mk 82 bombs
Maximum speed : 381 knots (439 mph, 706 km/h) at sea level, clean
Cruise speed : 300 knots (340 mph, 560 km/h)
Stall speed : 120 knots (138 mph, 220 km/h)
Combat radius :
CAS mission: 250 nmi (288 mi, 460 km) at 1.88 hour loiter at 5,000 ft (1,500 m), 10 min combat
Anti-armor mission: 252 nmi (290 mi, 467 km), 40 nmi (45 mi, 75 km)) sea-level penetration and exit, 30 min combat
Ferry range : 2,240 nmi (2,580 mi, 4,150 km) with 50 knot (55 mph, 90 km/h) headwinds, 20 minutes reserve
Service ceiling : 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
Rate of climb : 6,000 ft/min (30 m/s)
Wing loading : 99 lb/ft² (482 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight : 0.36
Armament
Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling cannon with 1,174 rounds (Capacity 1,350)
Hardpoints : 11 (8× under-wing and 3× under-fuselage pylon stations) with a capacity of 16,000 lb (7,260 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets:
4× LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19× / 7× Hydra 70 mm rockets, respectively)
4× LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19× CRV7 70 mm rockets)
6× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× 127 mm (5.0 in) Zuni rockets )
Missiles:
2× AIM-9 Sidewinders air-to-air missiles for self-defense
6× AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
Bombs:
Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs or
Mk 77 incendiary bombs or
BLU-1, BLU-27/B Rockeye II, Mk20, BL-755 and CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster bombs or
Paveway series of Laser-guided bombs or
Joint Direct Attack Munition (A-10C) or
Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (A-10C)
Other:
SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys and chaff dispenser pod or
AN/ALQ-131 or AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or
Lockheed Martin Sniper XR or LITENING targeting pods (A-10C) or
2× 600 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for increased range/loitering time.
Avionics
AN/AAS-35(V) Pave Penny laser tracker pod (mounted beneath right side of cockpit) for use with Paveway LGBs (Currently the Pave Penny is no longer in use)
Head-up display (HUD) for improved technical flying and air-to-ground support.
Other Images of this aircraft:

Documentary on this aircraft:
Great Planes Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

Be sure to follow me on Dailymotion !