The A-10C is a subsonic, twin-engine, single-seat attack jet manufactured by American aerospace producer Fairchild Republic. The aircraft, named after the P-47 Thunderbolt lionized in World War II for its prowess at hunting ground targets, excels at a number of air-surface attack missions including close air support, armed reconnaissance, and strike.
Known by its pilots and crew as the “Hawg,” and popularly as the “Warthog” or just the “Hog,” The A-10 first flew on May 10, 1972 and is operated by the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard.
The A-10’s designers engineered this beast for maximum survivability, including giving it titanium armor around the cockpit and making all critical systems redundant, including the ability to manually operate crucial control surfaces should its hydraulic system fail. Designed for austere conditions, it can operate out of unimproved airfields, even off of dirt strips.
Its “stinger” on its nose is the business end of the General Electric GAU-8 Avenger, a 30mm high-speed rotary cannon able to destroy a range of targets, notably tanks. It has eleven hardpoints, allowing it to carry external fuel tanks, bombs, rockets, missiles, and an advanced targeting pod.
The A-10 features an unswept main wing with a span of 57 feet, 6 inches, an empennage with twin vertical stabilizers, and retractable tricycle landing gear. It is powered by two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofan engines that produce up to 9,000 pounds of thrust each. The Thunderbolt II has a range of 800 miles, a top speed of 420 miles per hour, and a ceiling of 45,000 feet.
Able to loiter at slow speeds at treetop level, and eminently maneuverable, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an aviation dream steeped in recent military victory. Pilots of all skill levels will rejoice at the wide range of possibilities available from within the cockpit of this stunning performer.