General Discussion

bluedigger

(17,438 posts)

14. The Air Force always hated the Warthog.

Wed Nov 20, 2013, 12:26 PM

Nov 2013

Congress forced them to buy it, and they put as many as they could straight into the AF Reserve, as I recall. Ground support aircraft aren't sexy enough for fighter jocks - they want to dogfight other fighters, not blow up shit on the ground. No surprise that the Warthog is an endangered species now. Too bad - it was one of the most effective weapons systems we had, dollar for dollar.

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Cold War-era 'Warthog' plane targeted for retirement amid budget cuts [View all] Zorro Nov 2013 OP

This is going to upset the US Army the most MrScorpio Nov 2013 #1

Correct... Decaffeinated Nov 2013 #8

This is one wild looking aircraft. JimboBillyBubbaBob Nov 2013 #2

dumb move ragemage Nov 2013 #3

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #44

welcome to DU gopiscrap Nov 2013 #47

Wow, interesting post. chknltl Nov 2013 #49

It appears as though Milton has gone the way of the Dodo bird Cali_Democrat Nov 2013 #51

Was it my breath? chknltl Nov 2013 #53

Just picture a drone Boom Sound 416 Nov 2013 #4

During the cold war, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #5

Part Air Force culture, part overemphasis on "multirole" JHB Nov 2013 #37

As a tanker, I have a certain affection and respect for the "tanker's friend", the Warthog. Aristus Nov 2013 #6

Tanks are next zipplewrath Nov 2013 #24

That's an interesting idea. Aristus Nov 2013 #26

Still deployed. Still busting Taliban ass. bluedeathray Nov 2013 #7

Last I checked, the Taliban don't have tanks tina tron Nov 2013 #11

The Taliban would occasionally capture tanks from the Soviets during their war then. Aristus Nov 2013 #12

You don't know what you're talking about. bluedeathray Nov 2013 #15

Wow. That was rather vicious of you. And completely unnecessary. Aristus Nov 2013 #19

I think you're mis-analyzing the post bluedeathray Nov 2013 #25

Wow, I didn't realize being in favor of retiring the A10 was tantamount to supporting the Taliban NuclearDem Nov 2013 #28

I was responding to the rah rah aspect of the reply bluedeathray Nov 2013 #33

I'm sorry... NeoGreen Nov 2013 #39

Please allow me to apologize bluedeathray Nov 2013 #50

If I had to choose one aircraft to keep tech3149 Nov 2013 #9

Bravo. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #10

See my post above. Aristus Nov 2013 #13

You are wrong. bluedeathray Nov 2013 #17

Then it's time to come home from Kabul. Aristus Nov 2013 #21

Man, it's PAST time to come home bluedeathray Nov 2013 #31

Thank you for your post. Aristus Nov 2013 #32

Thank you for your insight. nt bluedeathray Nov 2013 #34

"In today's high-intensity, close-combat..." Chan790 Nov 2013 #41

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #45

That and you need to knock out about half the aircraft before it feels uncomfortable Posteritatis Nov 2013 #54

Another feature of the A-10 is that it is extremely quiet at low speed PeoViejo Nov 2013 #60

The Air Force always hated the Warthog. bluedigger Nov 2013 #14

It was fun to use in Battlefield 3... Blue_Tires Nov 2013 #16

I got targeted by one. Damn scary. lastlib Nov 2013 #18

Tough as nails... bobclark86 Nov 2013 #20

They built the aircraft AROUND the gun! A HERETIC I AM Nov 2013 #57

Dammit! We need more P-38's, too (poster): grahamhgreen Nov 2013 #22

I was a Crash Fire and Rescue Firefighter in the Air Force Puzzledtraveller Nov 2013 #23

Good God, don't let any of the Bones pilots hear you say that. NuclearDem Nov 2013 #29

They are fun to watch Puzzledtraveller Nov 2013 #38

I'd rather get rid of the B-1s before the A-10. MicaelS Nov 2013 #35

The biggest problem with this plane Turbineguy Nov 2013 #27

Incredibly bad idea. NuclearDem Nov 2013 #30

Killing the Warthog is strike three... catnhatnh Nov 2013 #36

They can't be made anymore. clffrdjk Nov 2013 #42

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #46

Here's an idea: get rid of the B-1 instead JHB Nov 2013 #40

They're a major part of the local air guard's mission IDemo Nov 2013 #43

Does it still use depleted uranium rounds? chknltl Nov 2013 #48

The Gau-8 can fire other types of 30mm Ammunition PeoViejo Nov 2013 #55

Yes, I knew it could but i am concerned about the DU rounds chknltl Nov 2013 #56

That's an issue with the command structure PeoViejo Nov 2013 #58

I fully agree chknltl Nov 2013 #59

The Air Force wanted to get rid of the A-10 before the first Gulf War Gothmog Nov 2013 #52