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Stare Master
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quote:
Originally posted by warpusher
1stRAKBATT,
The most effective CAS plane there was the A-1 Skyraider...a WWII prop plane.
I'll disagree with that. The A-10 is a much better CAS platform. Range and TOT are comparable to A-1. A-10 carries more ordinance, not to mention the 30 mm gun. Plus the A-10 can take punishment much better, which is crucial for a CAS bird. The A-10 has two engines but can fly if it loses one, literally. The protection for the pilot in the A-10 is superior to anything in the inventory. For it's time the A-1 was a great CAS platform. But now the A-10 is superior in all respects.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Hard Charger
 
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| The A-10 is a great platform for close air support and if the USAF wants to get out of that the Army will reacquire that capability.
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Ei Temporis Vita Semper Resumo Sese
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...except existing A-10 airframes are starting to fall apart at the seams. A new production run of the T-bolt would be required to keep it in service much longer.
"The degenerative and loony should never be denigrated but, rather, thanked. In their absence, the rest of you would be obliged to fill congressional seats... positions naturally unsavory to the sane and honorable." Thorax
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Seasoned Vet
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quote:
Originally posted by khyros
A new production run of the T-bolt would be required to keep it in service much longer.
And that is EXACTLY what the US Army should do IMO. I wonder how many A-10s one could buy for $6 Billion. Now that would be REAL Army Transformation.
Ok, here is another $15 Billion that is being flushed down the toilet by the Army that could be used for planes and other more important war fighting equipment:
http://www.paratrooper.net/aotw/commo/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8868
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Ei Temporis Vita Semper Resumo Sese
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Well... there is a problem with starting production up again. The lines that made the T-bolt were re-tooled years ago. It would actually be easier and more efficient to simply go with a new design... heavily based on the successfull features of the A-10 but also reducing it's shortcomings.
"The degenerative and loony should never be denigrated but, rather, thanked. In their absence, the rest of you would be obliged to fill congressional seats... positions naturally unsavory to the sane and honorable." Thorax
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Trooper
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In 1964 the 11thAAD had a OV1 Mohawk Bn(226 Avn Bn) which was to provide in flight supression and CAS. It also had a couple of CV2 Caribou companies which could provide a limited transport ability for the division. The AF demanded and got the Mohawks taken out of the fire supression role and they were refitted with SLAR and used for recon. The CV2's(later C-7) was given to the AF in 1967.
While there has been an offer to give the A-10 to the Army for CAS there are some reasons not to accept this.
1. There would be no transfer of troops to man the A-10 which would require training Army folks to fly and maintain the system. None of you remember when the Army got the OV-1 but it was known as "Widowmaker" due to the number of accidents. This was caused by Army pilots that were used to flying 100 Knot A/C getting into a 340 Knot bird and being behind the A/C. My estimate is it would take the Army 3-5 years to integrate the system fully into operation.
2. All of the Army's aviation systems were designed prior to 1982. We don't need another aging system to mantain.
3. While the UAV may not look like much now, remember it took out those terrorists in SA. Futhermore there was no possibility of a pilot being hurt. Also UAV don't go down because of brownouts or whiteouts (In Artic areas). UAV's are all weather and don't get colds. Futhermore if UAV's had made the run that the Apaches got shot up on in Iraq there would have been no POW's. The next generation of manned fighters may be the last as the UAV might take over this role. In the next 50 years the only people flying A/C will be transporting troops and supplies.
4. The UAV is attractive to the bean counters for a number of reasons.
There are no pilots to be killed or captured. The are cheaper to operate. The operators will not draw flight pay. Remember Apache pilots and Sp Ops pilots make 12,000 per year plus flight pay and regular pay. By going to UAV's the navy can run smaller cheaper A/C carriers. The defnse contractors may not like UAV's but as a taxpayer it is a deal.
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Strac Trooper
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To build New A-10s is not that easy of task. To begin, the company that built them has been folded into the one of the New Military corporations, like Boeing, Lockheed MArtin, etc. etc. Republic doesn't exist anymore.
Also, all the tooling and master molds for the plane are gone. Third, the plane is basically deep down a 1960's era design. Last time I checked, even the army got rid of 1960's designs like the M-60 MBT, the M-16A1, Solid green fatigues, etc. etc...
 
Fighters are our salvation, But BOMBERS alone provide us with the means of VICTORY! - Winston Churchill
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Ei Temporis Vita Semper Resumo Sese
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UAVs also take a living, breathing man out of cockpit and rely a joystick jockey sitting safe & sound in a hut somewhere who might as well be playing an X-box game for all he cares. Also, UAVs have notoriously bad situational awareness compared to piloted aircraft.
"The degenerative and loony should never be denigrated but, rather, thanked. In their absence, the rest of you would be obliged to fill congressional seats... positions naturally unsavory to the sane and honorable." Thorax
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