50 Amazing Facts About The A-10 Thunderbolt

The United States Air Force only has one aircraft dedicated solely to air-to-ground support, the A-10 Warthog.  Production began in 1976 and the A-10 is still active today.

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Where The Name Came From

Because of it’s cumbersome appearance the A-10 was nicknamed “Warthog”.

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The Cockpit

 The A-10 cockpit and flight control systems are surrounded by 1,200 pounds of protective armor called the “bathtub”. It’s capable of withstanding 50-cal bullets or 23mm armor-piercing rounds.

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Heaviest Front Auto Cannon

The 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger sits in the front of the aircraft, with the barrel protruding from the nose of the A-10. It is the heaviest automatic cannon ever mounted on an aircraft.

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Gatling Gun

The Gatling gun accounts for 16 percent of the A-10’s weight.

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False Canopy

Some A-10 Thunderbolt’s have a ‘false canopy’ painted on the belly of the aircraft.

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Engine Mounting

The A-10’s General Electric TF-34-GE-100 engines are mounted high, above and behind the wings. This positioning gives them protection from ground fire.

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Photo by Capt. Heath Allen/188th Fighter Wing

Rounds Per Minute

The Gatling gun is designed to fire high explosive incendiary and armor-piercing depleted uranium rounds at a rate of 3,900 rounds per minute.

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The Original Thunderbolt

The Thunderbolt II gets its name from the P47 Thunderbolt, used in WWII. Both Thunderbolts are/were ground support aircraft.

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Operating Capabilities

The A-10 can operate underneath 1,000-foot ceilings with 1.5-mile visibility.

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The Dragon

There is a special vehicle created just for loading ammunition into the A-10 Thunderbolt. It’s called “The Dragon”.

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Hot Handed

The Gatling gun heats up so fast that pilots can’t fire for more than a few seconds at a time. Doing so would overheat the barrel and render it ineffective.

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The Landing Gear


The landing gear, engines, vertical stabilizers and some other parts on the A-10 are left and right interchangeable – meaning they can operate on either side.That allows it to be serviced at a forward location and put back in combat much sooner than other aircraft.

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Take-Offs

The A-10 Thunderbolt’s straight, large wings and wide wheelbase allow it to take off and land from a short runway, giving it the ability to land as close to the front line of battle as possible.

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Heavy Payload

The A-10 carries more weight in weapons than it weighs itself. The Thunderbolt weighs 12 tons and, including the GAU-8/A cannon, carries a maximum of 13 tons of armament.

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Hydraulics

The A-10 was built to survive. The hydraulics systems are double-redundant and a backup mechanical system controls the plane if the hydraulics are lost.

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A-10_An A-10C Warthog pilot in Fort Wayne, Ind taxis across the flight line

Since 1991

The first time the A-10 entered combat was in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War. During its service in the war the A-10 was responsible for destroying 900 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 other military vehicles and 1,200 artillery pieces in addition to two air-to-air kills.

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A-10_An A-10 Warthog is displayed on the flight line during the 2016 Japanese-American Friendship
Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Baker, U.S. Air Force

Rescue Capabilities

A-10_An A-10C Warthog pilot in Fort Wayne, Ind taxis across the flight line

In 1999, an A-10 assisted in the rescue of a downed F-117 pilot in Kosovo. The A-10 provided ground support while three helicopters executed the rescue mission.

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A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II over the Mediterranean Sea

Still Going

A-10_An A-10 Warthog is displayed on the flight line during the 2016 Japanese-American Friendship
Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Baker, U.S. Air Force

The Air Force and the U.S. government struck a deal to keep the A-10 alive.

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A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies over Afghanistan

Wingspan

A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II over the Mediterranean Sea

This is definitely one of our unbelievable A-10 Warthog facts you need to know. The A-10 is almost as long as it is wide. The wingspan measures 57 feet 6 inches and it’s length measures 53 feet 4 inches long.

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A-10_Three A-10C aircrafst fly in formation during a flight training session

Tank Buster

A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies over Afghanistan

One of the pieces of armament the A-10 carries is the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile. Each missile weighs 670 pounds and can destroy a tank in a single shot.

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A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies a close-air-support mission over Afghanistan different angle

Night Vision

A-10_Three A-10C aircrafst fly in formation during a flight training session

The A-10 is an all-weather, all-day aircraft. They are equipped with Night Vision Imaging Systems and a goggle-compatible seat in the cockpit.

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A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II departs from the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

The First A-10

A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies a close-air-support mission over Afghanistan different angle

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., received the first-ever production A-10 in October 1975. It didn’t see combat until over 15 years later.

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A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II departs after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker

Perfect Attendance

A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II departs from the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

The A-10 has seen combat in every major conflict the United States’ has been involved in since 1991.

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A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 188th Wing, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith

Honeycomb Design

A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II departs after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker

One of the A-10s defining traits is its survivability. A honeycomb panel design make up the leading edges of the wing and tail, making them more resistant to battle damage.

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A-10_An A-10 flies off the wing of a KC-135 Stratotanker

The Fuselage

A-10_An A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 188th Wing, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith

The front landing gear retracts from under the wings in an offset position, with the rear wheels in line with the fuselage. This set up allows room for the massive machine gun in the nose.

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A-10_An A-10 Bomber maneuvers through various training scenarios at the Grayling Air Gunnery Range

Landin Gear

A-10_An A-10 flies off the wing of a KC-135 Stratotanker

Even when the wheels are retracted, they protrude outside of the nacelle just a bit. This way if the A-10 has to land with its gear up, it will limit damage to a degree.

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A-10_An A-10 performs sorties daily providing top cover for ground forces in Southwest Asia

Maneuverability

A-10_An A-10 Bomber maneuvers through various training scenarios at the Grayling Air Gunnery Range

The left and right ailerons on the A-10 are larger than most any other aircraft. This gives the Thunderbolt more maneuverability than its air-to-ground assault counterparts.

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A-10_Airmen refuel an A-10 Thunderbolt II

NFL Pilot

A-10_An A-10 performs sorties daily providing top cover for ground forces in Southwest Asia

An NFL player once piloted the A-10 in the Persian Gulf War. Chad Hennings was a defensive lineman with the Dallas Cowboys after he served in the Air Force.

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A-10_A-10C pilot prepares for takeoff during Operation Guardian Blitz

Bugs & Beer

A-10_Airmen refuel an A-10 Thunderbolt II

The Gatling gun in the A-10 Thunderbolt fires bullets the size of a beer bottle out of a gun that’s bigger than a Volkswagen Bug.

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A-10_A-10 turning

Canon Smoke

A-10_A-10C pilot prepares for takeoff during Operation Guardian Blitz

The cannon creates so much smoke while it’s being fired that it could choke out a jet engine.

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Cross Look

A-10_A-10 turning

On the second day of the First Iraq War, two A-10’s destroyed 23 Iraqi tanks across three sorties. This impressive display caused the Iraqi soldiers to refer to the A-10 as the “Cross of Death” – because of the plane’s semblance to a cross from underneath.

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Engine Location

The Air Force nearly chose the Northrop YA-9A over the A-10. The deciding factor was that the engines, mounted to the root of the wings, and the single tail were too vulnerable.

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A-10_A-10 Thunderbolt II does a show of force maneuver

Fuel Capacity

The Warthog has an internal fuel capacity of 10,000 gallons, giving the A-10 an 800-mile range.

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A-10_A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia

Wing Replacement

A-10_A-10 Thunderbolt II does a show of force maneuver

Damaged wing skins can be replaced relatively easy in the field – even with makeshift materials. The production skins aren’t load bearing which means replacing them is simple.

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A-10_A-10 piloted by Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Wing commander

Manual Override

A-10_A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia

In 2003, Capt. Kim Campbell’s A-10 was hit by ground fire and took on extensive damage to the horizontal stabilizer, starboard vertical stabilizer, aft fuselage, and engine. She was able to land the plane safely after switching controls to manual and manually controlling the plane.

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A-10_A10 pilot flies in formation with his wingman during a combat sortie in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

Bubble Canopy

A-10_A-10 piloted by Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Wing commander

The A-10’s cockpit is outfitted with a bubble canopy that allows 360-degree views of the battlefield. Bombs are released using precise technology but the cannon, for the most part, is fired the good old fashioned way – with a pair of eyeballs.

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A-10_A-10 against a sunset

Fuel Cells

A-10_A10 pilot flies in formation with his wingman during a combat sortie in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

The Warthog’s fuel cells are self-sealing and are protected by anti-explosion foam on the inside and the outside.

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A-10_1970s - The A-10 Thunderbolt in flight

Heads Up Display

A-10_A-10 against a sunset

The A-10 weapons delivery systems include heads-up displays that indicate altitude, navigation information, dive angle, airspeed, and weapons aiming references.

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A-10_407th Expeditionary Operation Support Squadron commander, takesoff in an A-10

Mission Capable Rate

A-10_1970s - The A-10 Thunderbolt in flight

A-10s had a mission capable rate of 95.7 percent in the Gulf War across its 8,100 sorties. That’s pretty good considering that other active Air Force aircraft, like the B-1 bomber, have an availability rate below 50 percent.

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A-10_ Support Squadron commander conducts a preflight munitions check on an A-10 Thunderbolt II

Operation Reduction

A-10_407th Expeditionary Operation Support Squadron commander, takesoff in an A-10

As of 2015, the A-10 Thunderbolt has flown about 11 percent of all United States Air Force sorties against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. That’s a reduction from what it flew in Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Afghanistan – about 32 percent of the combat sorties in both theaters.

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A-10_ Support Squadron commander carries out a preflight check on an A-10 Thunderbolt II

Secondary Role

A-10_ Support Squadron commander conducts a preflight munitions check on an A-10 Thunderbolt II

The A-10’s secondary role is to provide forward air controller support. In this role, the A-10 pilot would direct other attack aircraft in ground supporting roles – all planes used for this tactic are referenced as OA-10.

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A-10_ flies over the Atlantic Ocean during the National Salute to America’s Heroes Air and Sea Show media day

Single Seat Variant

A-10_ Support Squadron commander carries out a preflight check on an A-10 Thunderbolt II

The A-10A single-seat variant was the only model ever produced. In 2005, an upgrade program was implemented to give all A-10 current avionics and precise bombing technology – these updated models are now known as A-10C.

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A-10_ a pair of A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flying

Aircraft Production

A-10_ flies over the Atlantic Ocean during the National Salute to America’s Heroes Air and Sea Show media day

715 A-10’s were delivered when production stopped in 1984. At peak production, 12 aircraft were delivered per month.

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A-10_ 122nd Fighter Wing from the Indiana Air National Guard flew A-10 Thunderbolt II's for close air support and combat search and rescue training

The Recoil

A-10_ a pair of A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flying

The recoil from the cannon is so powerful that it affects the airplanes’ trajectory. Therefore, the GAU-8/A 30mm cannon was installed slightly off-center to offset that change caused by the recoil.

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A-10- A-10C pilots maneuver in formation June 4, 2012

Turning Radius

A-10_ 122nd Fighter Wing from the Indiana Air National Guard flew A-10 Thunderbolt II's for close air support and combat search and rescue training

The front landing gear, which is offset from the center because of the Gatling gun’s massive recoil, causes the A-10 to have an unequal turning radius. Turning to the right on the ground takes less distance than turning left.

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A-10- A-10 Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, Ark-Master

Maintenance In Mind

A-10- A-10C pilots maneuver in formation June 4, 2012

The A-10 was designed with maintenance and turn-around time during battle in mind. The engines being located high on the plane allow them to continue running while receiving maintenance in a forward location.

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Camouflage

A-10- A-10 Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, Ark-Master

Because the A-10 Thunderbolt II flies so low to the ground, paint schemes for camouflage are more important here than with other aircraft.