The A-10 was designed for close support in low intensity conflicts during the Vietnam War, yet it came to be seen as a dedicated anti-armor platform by the early 1970s. ... As A-10's entered service in the USAF around 1977, and as vulnerability of the A-10 was questioned it was slowly withdrawn in favor of the F-16.

What planes flew in Vietnam?

These jets defined the conflict that defined a generation.

• Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.
• LTV A-7 Corsair II.
• McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II.
• Republic F-105 Thunderchief.
• Vought F-8 Crusader.
• Northrop F-5 Tiger II.
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15.
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17.

Has the A-10 ever shot down an aircraft?

April 8, 2003 – An A-10A Thunderbolt II (Serial Number : 78-0691) was shot down over downtown Baghdad by an Iraqi Roland surface-to-air missile.

Could an A-10 win a dogfight?

Can Warthogs dogfight? Conventional wisdom says slow attack jets like the A-10 can't dogfight. ... The Thunderbolt II's 30mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun can fire 3,900 rounds a minute and can defeat an array of ground targets to include tanks.

Can an A-10 destroy an Abrams?

'As pretty much everyone else answering this question has pointed out… the A-10 can fairly easily destroy a tank. As can anything else slinging either an AGM-65 Maverick or an AGM-114 Hellfire. ... A freakin' Cessna, can kill a tank, people. It's really not that hard, given the right tool for the job.

Flying the F-111 in the Vietnam War - Brad Insley (Part 1)

36 related questions found

How many a 10s were shot down?

(Many returned to base almost unflyable, but only seven Warthogs have ever been shot down or crashed due to combat.) Production had been shut down since 1984, and zero effort had been put into coming up with a direct replacement.

Where was the A-10 first used?

The A-10 first flew on May 10, 1972, as the war in Vietnam was winding down. The Pentagon recognized the need for an updated Close Air Support (CAS) airframe to support ground troops. The Air Force didn't want to spend money on a slow-moving airframe and pressed F-4 Phantoms and F-111s into service.

Why is the A-10 called Warthog?

The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt was built for close air support. Soldiers and airmen nicknamed it “Warthog,” due to the guttural belch made by its giant 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon that sticks out its mouth.

How much does an A-10 round cost?

How much does it cost to buy an A-10? The A-10 costs between $19,000 and $20,000 per hour to fly.

How powerful is the A-10 Warthog?

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly called the "Warthog," is basically a flying gun. It is built around the 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger, a powerful cannon able to fire at a rate of roughly 4,000 rounds per minute. ... "They make a big deal out of it because the gun is a big deal for the A-10."

Which was better MiG 15 or F 86?

Performance: The MiG had a better climbing rate and a higher ceiling than the F-86 and could also turn more sharply. Operations: ... Flown by WW2 veterans, they were moderately successful in hunting down and intercepting the MiG-15's.

How many Huey helicopters were lost in Vietnam?

Helicopter Losses During the Vietnam War

There are specific tail numbers for 11,827 total helicopters that served in the Vietnam War from all branches of the service. 1,925 Hueys were lost in combat, while 1,380 were lost in operational accidents.

Did the f15 serve in Vietnam?

The F-15 can trace its origins to the early Vietnam War, when the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fought each other over future tactical aircraft. ... This point was reinforced after the loss of two Republic F-105 Thunderchief aircraft to obsolete MiG-17s on 4 April 1965.

Was the F 14 used in Vietnam?

The F-14 flew air patrol missions in the last days of the Vietnam War without engaging in combat. In 1981, carrier-based F-14s directly engaged Libyan fighters in air-to-air combat, and in 1986 they flew combat air patrol during bombing operations against that country.

Where are the A-10 Warthogs stationed?

In addition to the A-10Cs from the 127th Wing, which is stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, personnel from the active-duty 355th Wing, based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, are also taking part in the highway drills.

Do Marines use A-10?

“MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 and AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom aircraft from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 are conducting fixed-wing escort training incorporating the A-10,” Lt. ... It's not the first time the A-10 has provided escort cover for the MV-22.

How many a 10s are still in service?

Over 367 A-10 aircraft are in service with the US Air Force, Air Combat Command, the US Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard. The aircraft variants currently in service in the US Air force are A-10 (143), and A-10C (70); Reserve A-10 (46) and OA-10 (6); ANG, A-10 (84) and OA-10 (18).

Was the A-10 Warthog used in Vietnam?

The A-10 was designed for close support in low intensity conflicts during the Vietnam War, yet it came to be seen as a dedicated anti-armor platform by the early 1970s. ... Although the A-10 was never exported, it was redesignated OA-10 for the Forward Air Control role.

Why does nobody want to fight the A-10 Warthog?

The problem is, part of the reason why the Air Force wants to cut A-10s is because the branch says they are no longer relevant to a war with China, which has high-end anti-aircraft weaponry that can shoot down the slow-moving Warthog. ... Whatever happens though, the A-10 still has many years of BRRRTing ahead of it.

How many US aircraft were shot down in Vietnam?

In total, the United States military lost in Vietnam almost 10,000 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs (3,744 planes, 5,607 helicopters and 578 UAVs ). The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973.

What does the A-10 Warthog shoot?

Dubbed Warthog, Hog or just Hawg, the A-10 Thunderbolt II is, basically, an airplane built around the GAU-8 Avenger 30-mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-type cannon. The Avenger cannon is the Hog primary weapon and is able to fire 3,900 bullets per minute.

Where is a ten stationed?

The Air Combat Command A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, stationed out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, brings the aircraft to air shows around the country to showcase the unique combat capabilities of the A-10 "Warthog." They perform precision aerial maneuvers while highlighting the mission and ...