I was a forward air controller mid 80s. I use to give them my position as a target on the range and they would "attack" my position. Of the pair that came in, one was an experienced major, and one was a new pilot who never went below 500ft. The major however... came in from his IP (starting point) and went directly out of site.. because he was flying 20 ft off the ground below the trees on the range road... once he got east of my position he popped up, flipped upside down, point his nose at me, and flipped upright saying "guns guns guns" on the radio as he came in on me from out of the sun... once he flew past, he dove back down and flew away down the range road again out of site. All this happened in 10 seconds. Dude was a bad man.
My son was a Marine with 2/8 in Fallujah and in Ramadhi. He said the most comforting thing was to be in close combat and the Lt. to announce the A-10's were inbound. I can not have much more appreciation than to say, "Thank you. You helped bring my son home alive."
I was with Golf 2/10 in the same area. I've never felt safer than when we got the call "A-10s on station". Hog Drivers drink for free when the Marines are around.
@@forrestdevine2336 Yep, Marines coming safely back to the ships said the same, "We wouldn't be here if it weren't for the A-10s coming in danger close with surgical strikes."
@@georgewelford8648 Tanks today have active protection systems to take out rpgs and atgms. I would love to see a Warthog decked out with a similar system to provide protection from manpads.
From what I've read, they now intend to keep them in service until the 2040s. And yes, I haven't heard of any other plane beating it when it comes to close air support. It's a full-fledged legend.
@@EEE_MMM Yeah I heard they have extended their service life for now. But the Air Force has been trying to get rid of the A-10 since before Desert Storm. Desert Storm proved how good it could be and the fighter jock community in command won't hear it.
@@CombatIneffective yeah I know they have been out for the A-10 for decades... Some people unfortunately don't recognize a good piece of equipment when they hear it go "Brrrrrrt".
I like to think of the A-10 as the Colt 1911 equivalent of jets in its reliability and appreciation from the troops. "The aircraft that forgot to retire"
AC130 would like to have a word... They flew slicks when they ran out of gunships just so Terry didn't come out to play. They knew what the sound of the 4 fans of freedom meant.
Hearing the scream of a Hog passing overhead, causing the desert sand to dance from the vibrations, is something that you'll never forget. And when the belching starts.... Oh my!!!
Can’t help but smile big watching clips like these. My dad flew the Hog for over 2 decades and 2 wars. He’s retired now but when other guys when we’re out someone find out he was a Hog pilot they always offer to buy him a round lol. All the ground troops always say how much they loved hearing these suckers coming into the fight n how the enemy would always shit a brick. In his home office he’s got one of the barrels for the Gau-8 avenger mounted up on his wall. Had to do some major wall structural reinforcement to hold it up there. Had the whole barrel custom chromed plated. Hell of a conversation piece. Always proud of my dad. #ProudAmerican
We affectionately refereed to it as "Double Ugly" and "Warthog." Having worked on them as a weapons loader, I fell in love with them, great aircraft and fun to fly (I got to fly the simulator.)
I really don’t care what USAF or anyone else says. Ground support cannot be conducted from fast movers at higher altitudes. Sure if you’ve got them lined up to hell & back they might be able to hit the bad guys. The bravery & courage of War Hog pilots is second to none.
I NEVER got tired of saying, “Cleared Hot”. Hearing that BRRRRRT and watching something/one “go away” always made me smile! When a flight of A-10’s check on, you automatically knew the day was going to get better.
My Uncle once described this plane to me. At the time I was only 15. He never talked about his service or where he was stationed. But he often talked about and still talks about the A-10. When I asked him about the A-10. He said exactly this ; 'Well...because young man, sometimes Fuck You just doesn't cut it'.
I served in Desert Storm. The "Hog" and the Apache were a soldier's best friends. Along with the "Queen of battle"... Artillery. The M1 tank ranks in there too!
Fun fact: The 30mm cannon in the A-10 is so powerful that it slows down the plane when it is shooting. Because of this they had to move the nose landing gear aside and put the cannon in the middle. If not it would cause the plane to turn when fired.
@@jameshisself9324 Yea, like I said if you look at photos of it from the front you'll see that at about the 7 position it's basically in the middle. Funny how that works huh and seems to be the consensus everywhere you look online. I said the gun is offset. The barrel firing is in the middle. Maybe between 6 and 7. But my main point still stands. The gun is offset.
The A10 is the equivalent of a flying morale boost for any folk on the ground I swear. minute you hear the rounds hit the floor and that buzz you know everything that was in that thing's sights is absolutely toasted.
Years ago,we live in a very remote area on 360 acres,A10’s would do low overhead passes over our ranch,we stretched a huge American flag ,”not touching the ground”,where they could see it,they really put a show on for us,gave me goosebumps and a lump in my throat,but mainly it made me proud of our country and our military men and women🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸👍🇺🇸
The gun ain't got shit on the weapons the A-10 carries. That's it's real strength: the amount of weapons it can carry as suspended ordinance. The gun is just for softer targets not worth hitting with a bomb.
In Vietnam, the sound every soldier wanted to hear that inbound Huey to come and save them. Today, it's the A-10 and her extreme badassery. I've never experienced combat but from all the videos I've seen and stories I've heard, this is what you want to see when the enemy needs to absolutely die in a hail of bullets.
I used to work with the 74th and 75th A-10 fighter squadrons when it came to delivering their munitions… just watching them taxi and takeoff was really cool, along with hearing the signature brrrrts since the base was next to the firing range for the A-10s
I really really love your concept of two American fighter jets escorting two A-10s. The latter ones are not exactly air-to-air fighters, but upon enemy fighters approaching the CAS fighters would give the Warthogs a warning; - A-10s, getaway right now. We have incoming enemy fighter jets. - Copy, Lincoln 2, thank you for the warning. We are history. See ya at the base. - Sure, Tim. Beers on you then at the Canteen? - Absolutely :-) - Alright, you did a good one. - Yeah. Now, you have a good one :-) - We always do. You can count on us.
Back at the airbase, a female official approached Tim. She asked, - Who is your A-10 partner? - Sorry I cannot disclose that. Have a nice day, madam. - Heaven's sake, Tim. I work in the canteen. You have known me for years.
Romana puella formosa ante Timotheum centurionis venit et clara voce petivit; - Esne pater meus? - Mel est possibile. - Cur non es in domo nostra, tata? Non amas mom amplius? - Scilicet matrem meam amo. Sed miles sum. Qualem sit morte mori. Mater Siun particeps securior invenit :-) - Tim! Es adverisne?
At the end of the day, the A-10 pilot, Sergeant Tim entered the American military base canteen. The female bartender recognized Tim. She said, - Hey Tim. Are you okay? - Hey, I am fine, thank you. - What would you like? An Irish whiskey on the rocks? - You know me way too well. - I know, right :-)
Seing that A-10 with "DM" on the tail @ 1:11 brings back so many memories of the many, MANY times of seeing these planes fly around when I used to live in Tucson, AZ when my dad was stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB. It was always a treat.
I've never been a fan of neither modern nor solely american aviation, but this video is honestly superb. I must give credit where it's due, the combination of metal and a pure powerhouse which is A-10 turned out perfect. I'm willing to have 3:06-3:11 on repeat in my subconsciousness for the rest of my life, somewhere in between a massive Il-2 attack and some WW2 dogfights.
A truly truly wicked aircraft. I live next to the AFB where the Warthogs called home until just after the Cold War ended. Man, do I miss seeing those guys.
While I love the F-22 for it's maneuverability as a jet, there will ALWAYS be a special place in my heart for the 'Hog... It really says something when modern armies/combatants fear the sound of it's guns more than the forces on the ground, and the ones it protects, as another person mentioned, that it sounded like Angel's wings coming to give them help...
As much as you and I love how the A-10 says BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR there is nobody who loves it more than the grunt on the ground watching it gank the bad guys and hearing that lovely lovely gatling music.
I watched in1968 guys in the C-130's doin tree top training . could read the wattage of the red light. OV-10 A also built in Columbus, Ohio, test flown through our bottom ravine. I could shake hands with them. Throwing rocks would of brought one down. North American Rockwell !
Nice story and all, but it's not like they were actually ever in a fight against it and on the top of that, they also have their own version of A-10 at all, named Su-25 and it fulfills the exactly same role that A-10 does. So I really don't understand why they would be scared of these.
@@hunterxsimple3821 and do you yet at all realise that ex-Soviets and Americans were never at the gunpoint at such extension? At which point was the GAU-8 Avenger actually aimed at any living ex-Soviet soldier? Because if that was the case it would lead to an all out war because both sides were twitchy and just waiting for a disaster to happen. I’ll stand my case since I don’t believe he saw any Soviets at all. I’m not saying A-10 is a crap airplane, quite contrary, I just see his post as some of a subjective propaganda.
My Dad flies the F/A-18. In one of the squadrons he flew in, a photographer and short film maker made a montage of the squadron training events with this song playing in the background. Awesome video :)
What’s the video called if it’s on RUclips, love what I assume to be a F-18 as my country uses CF-18s, something about the design of the wings, cockpit, everything about it is beautiful
The Brits beat you to it, Back in WW2 there was the De Haviland Mosquito (Built from wood with a pair of Rolls Royce merlin engines (same as a Spitfire) and a 6 pounder anti tank field gun - think towed artillery;- Molins auto-cannon 2.2 inch/ 57mm - weighing in at over a ton) Used to great effect against the U-Boats
I've seen this video at least 15 times and i should say "it's not enough times". This Squad is amazing. I've my own A10-A (yes, i know it's the arcade mod... sorry, i'm maybe not worthy) and i feel so allmighty!!!! Thanks for this amazing edition. Keep flying! Greetings from Argentina.
The A-10 survives in service not because of the gun, but because it can largely ignore almost anything trying to kill it, carry enough ordinance to make the suspension squawk in protest snd STILL dance, and hang ALL day long. It is a plane they got right. The Gun is a nice cherry on a Mayhem Sundae.
Some may consider the a10 crude, old, outdated. And they would be right. But the a10 was built so basically that it could be repaired 'on the fly' with readily available parts. It's could Cary and impressive load and the damage it could take was 2nd to none of the b17
@@Kristof1 yeah, but it's still interior to the F-35 tech wise, and now it can't even do its job of dirt cheap COIN That's why the Sky Warden is gonna be the replacement. It's similar tech level, but it's cheap as dirt and as reliable.
I was being wheeled into the operating room for a minor heart op, noted there was speakers on the ceiling on the ceiling of the operating room. I asked if they pumped music in while operating. One of the staff, said if they could, what would I like to hear, I told them "' Kick Start My Heart" I was only kidding, they actually did it. It was freaking awesome, the nurses are hopping n bopping. Thank you St. Pauls Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
If your on the other side that burp is the last thing you hear !!! Personally I think the A-10 is the best aircraft as they started with the primary weapon and built the aircraft around it !!! Instead of building an aircraft then trying to add weapons to it !!!
Terror - looking in your rearview mirror and seeing an A10 closing in on you. . .Sheer terror - being in a convoy and seeing 4 A10's moving in on you. . .The A10 is the baddest ass plane on this planet!
I think this is fitting for all air combat pilots A well known military aviation poem "High Flight", written by John G. Magee on September 3, 1941. The version that most nearly follows the original manuscript is as follows: Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds,-and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark nor ever eagle flew- And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God
You really have to give a standing ovation for how realistic they made a video game plane. In fact, an A-10 is so hard to fly in the game that by the time you learn how to fly it, you can hop in an actual one and know most of what to do. Look it up.
I can't believe I just found this video. I was a weapons flight chief, ya know the "Load Toads" at DM before I retired and the A-10 was one of my favorite jets to work on. Got to see them in action a few times-BBRRRRRTTTT! I worked on F-15s, (Bitburg and Iceland) love them too, F-111D (yuck triple threat-shoot ya, bomb ya or fall on ya)(Clovis), F-105D, (Kansas), B-52D (Utapao Thailand, Linebacker II) and F-4E, Homestead before it blew away and at Seymour Johnson. Great Vids yall got!!!!
1:43 so nice of the A-10's to fly protective close escort to those Air Force fighters. "Don't worry my little jets, Uncle Warthog will keep you safe with my Gatling gun."
Truly an aviation marvel! This flying tank is unmatched as an anti-armor aircraft. The A-10 has a double-redundate hydraulic back-up systems. If they fail it also has a mechanical back-up system. Even missing parts of wings or an engine it can still stay in tha air.....when they say it's virtually impossible to shoot down, they are not exaggerating in the least. As an ex-19Echo I had the privilege of seeing a couple "Warthogs" fly in outta England AFB, La to the tank gun range on what was then "North Fort" on Fort Polk, La. They had an old WWII era half-track setting out in the target area. I was acting as a loader that day in a M60A1 battle tank. These two A-10s came in from behind us and as quiet as they are, we didnt see them until they were right over top of us. Just when they got in front of us they both unloaded their GAU-8 30mm cannons. Well, needless to say, that friggin half-track disintegrated! My TC turned toward me and said, "We all oughta be damn glad those things are on our side." On a more personal note my uncle the late Corky McKenize actually worked at a plant(Fairchild) in Western Maryland that made the porcelain cockpits that went into the A-10 aircrafts.
Oh my GOSH this is literally one of THE COOLEST cinematics I have ever seen!!! A similar one to this was made a while ago but it was IRL footage, but this one is better edited and the use of DCS is juste PERFECTION.
Finally a video dedicated to the most hated plane by the brass at the top, and most beloved by those actually doing the fighting. Well done! I always imagined as a kid that if a WWII fighter plane and a modern jet fighter had a baby, it would be the A-10 with its turbo fan engines, straight wings, and armor. I was born in 1980. Top Gun was THE definitive airplane movie back in the in day. So all of my friends and classmates were all Tomcat Tomcat Tomcat Tomcat!! I saw one documentary on the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and that was my plane. In elementary school no one knew what it was because it wasn't in Top Gun, Iron Eagle, or Flight of the Intruder. During Desert Storm I read stories from pilots talking about flying A-10s home with huge chunks of wing missing, or whole pieces of the stabilizers. I was finally able to point to the pictures and those articles and say "That's the A-10 and that's why it's so bad ass!"
@@l337pwnage, yes, there were. The Germans weren't the only ones experimenting with turbine engines either. The straight wing design, sub sonic speed, coupled with being gun oriented calls back to glory days of piston engine planes. The technology on the modern refit is clearly 4 gen.
One of the most devastating weapons of war ever created for the battlefield. Truly iconic. By the time you heard it's engines, it was already too late to run. 👍👊👉💥💥💥
If Any single one of our U.S. Armed Forces sees this , 12/7/2024 , there are millions of us 'quiet Americans' who haven't served , but think good thoughts about you every day . I am Grateful .
Still getting re-used to the A-10 C II in DCS as a returning player with a new hotas, and I can't stop watching this. Especially now that the A-10 got announced for war thunder as well.
When I was in Afghanistan, I loved, Loved, LOVED when the Warthogs showed up. There’s just something a big fucking cannon shooting really fucking fast from somewhere in the sky does to make a person duck and cover that no 500 or 2000 lb bomb from an F16 can ever do. Save the bombs for hard targets that can’t run away (and the jet jockey might actually be able to see).
Also there’s just something very Steelpunk about that aircraft, with its rectangularness and fuselage mounted engines. There will never be another aircraft quite like it again.
With incredible firepower, and the fact that it is so resilient that it could receive the beating of its life and still keep its pilot safe from harm just like it's predecessor, I would say that the A-10 earned the Thunderbolt name.
(From August 2023) Thank you for creating and posting this awesome visual/music sync! I used to make them for myself for the fun of it! But to the point: The A-10, my second favorite military aircraft (First = the F-14)! All I need to hear is the sound of its 30mm rotary cannon, and I instantly know what’s there. If you haven’t wiki’d it yet, I highly recommend do so: that gun, poking its nose out just a little=very deceptive. That gun runs the length from its tip to the the leading edges of the wing roots. As you probably already know, the gun was the ultimate prerequisite for any bids from aerospace companies. The challenge was to build a plane around that gun!👏🏽 There were also other prerequisites: The plane needed to be able to fly home with half the tail missing, half of one wing missing, on one engine.😮 I love this plane for several reasons, primarily its role as close air support/loiter time. Imagine a little group of scared 18 y/o soldier boys taking cover, they can hear the enemy getting closer and surrounding them. And what to do? Call an angel. Give the pilot the numbers, establish “danger close” and the guy or gal on the radio hopes the numbers are right and screams “Fire for effect!” Heads down and wait for a few seconds, then you hear the whine of the A-10s turbofans, music to the ears in such a moment, then an orchestra of BOOMS and BRRRRRT. The angel comes back around and more loud BOOMS and BRRRRRRT. And before they know it, they are the only people alive within a half mile radius. I can’t imagine how many vets still walk this Earth only because an A-10 saved them. Oh yeah, and those 30mm depleted uranium rounds can go through any tank armor like the proverbial “hot knife through butter.” I never got why it picked up the nickname Warthog because many consider it ugly, and I’m like, are we looking at the same plane here? The A-10? Because I think it is gorgeous! Instead of Warthog it should be ANGEL. And a beautiful one at that. But I’m sure any vets who got saved by one, never ever again thought it ugly. For such vets, they see an A-10 and think “Savior.”😇
A long, long time ago, I was in my boss’s office, for him to sign off on paperwork. We finished up with the signatures, and he hands me another piece of paper. “Read that, and tell me what you think.” It was very nice paper, and on it was the most polite letter I’ve ever read. It was from a member of an A 10 squadron, asking if they could please use one of product logos belonging to the company I worked for, as their squadron insignia. I said “He’s incredibly polite. Are you going to let them do it?” My boss, Mike, said “I asked what you think.” I said “I think you should. They call A 10’s Warthogs, after all. And that would look incredible on a plane!” Mike grinned back at me, and said “That’s what I think, too.” I gave the paper back, and Mike started scribbling on it. “Especially if they paint teeth on the nose like the Flying Tigers, but with tusks, like a hog!” Mike snickered at me, handed the paper back, and said “Take that up to Legal. Tell ‘em to call me if they have questions.” Mike had just directed Legal to give the A 10 squadron the right to use the logo, no caveats, and no licensing fee. And when the Gulf War rolled around, there was footage on the Evening news of an A 10 squadron that was being deployed - and every one of their planes had the Exide “SuperHog” logo on it, and there were a lot of nose guns framed in very sharp teeth, and tusks, too. Wherever you are, Mike, I will always be proud of you for that call, and proud of the planes and pilots who truly are Super Hogs.
Yep the A10s out of England AFB Louisiana, that was the Flying Tigers, also a squadron or 2 from the 926 out of Belle Chasse also went over there in 1991. My father was working in the England AFB command post when the orders came to get them overseas to the gulf.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
We just hit 1 MILLION views! Thanks a lot, you guys are awesome!
BRRRRRRRRRRRT
Loved the video! How did you make this without getting copyright striked?
Why retire it?
@@flyhawai Thanks! The video got claimed. I'm allowed to use the music, but I can't earn any money from this video.
Thanks for replying! I was just curious as I just started making my own DCS videos and plan to do some more.
Here's a song request for one of your next videos. The Titanic Overture by WASP.
ruclips.net/video/pzlp5K66Ank/видео.html
I was a forward air controller mid 80s. I use to give them my position as a target on the range and they would "attack" my position. Of the pair that came in, one was an experienced major, and one was a new pilot who never went below 500ft. The major however... came in from his IP (starting point) and went directly out of site.. because he was flying 20 ft off the ground below the trees on the range road... once he got east of my position he popped up, flipped upside down, point his nose at me, and flipped upright saying "guns guns guns" on the radio as he came in on me from out of the sun... once he flew past, he dove back down and flew away down the range road again out of site. All this happened in 10 seconds. Dude was a bad man.
Holy shit
He literally is in the fucking weeds
like a crouching tiger below radar. nice
this range was at Eglin AFB in North Florida. The range roads are about 100ft wide with 50ft pine trees lining both sides of the road.
If you hear the brrrt it means you weren’t the target
@@WillSmith-rx5jl Now that is one bad ass Pilot talk about Map of the earth.
Nothing like a plane being built around a cannon.
ikr
Reformist ideology 💀
I remember someone say “If you heard the BRRRRRRRRRRRAP, you were not the target.”
That's true. The bullets goes faster than sound. If you are the target the bullets will fall on you before you hear it.
@@inexgeaa21a1Unless you’re firing an actual musket all bullets go faster than sound
What?? This makes no sense
@@ethernetmumasmr_3231 You'll get it one day
@@ethernetmumasmr_3231 also, most muskets are actually more powerful than a lot of modern rifles
This airplane has saved my life more than once. This is like the sound of angels to me.
Thank you for your service
Thanks for your service
@@paulschilling6561 Dad?!
@@corden9941 no but maybe kin?
@@paulschilling6561 lol, just had to check because my dad's name is Paul too.
My son was a Marine with 2/8 in Fallujah and in Ramadhi. He said the most comforting thing was to be in close combat and the Lt. to announce the A-10's were inbound. I can not have much more appreciation than to say, "Thank you. You helped bring my son home alive."
I was with Golf 2/10 in the same area. I've never felt safer than when we got the call "A-10s on station". Hog Drivers drink for free when the Marines are around.
Like they say ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE
@@forrestdevine2336 Yep, Marines coming safely back to the ships said the same, "We wouldn't be here if it weren't for the A-10s coming in danger close with surgical strikes."
I can confirm. Sleep well. This platform is today, not dispensable. Maybe upgraded, not retired.
@@georgewelford8648 Tanks today have active protection systems to take out rpgs and atgms. I would love to see a Warthog decked out with a similar system to provide protection from manpads.
A pilot in one of these beauties saved my life in Kuwait. Already a fan, but now a worshipper
😷😷😷😷😷😷😷😷..........oh thank you for your apresiated, is my job..............goodbless to your family so be strong........................🤕🤕🤕🤕🤕🤕🤕
@Helicopter_rides_4_communists Pretty sure he's talking about Desert Storm.
Lmao
I have a kuwait shirt that im wearing right now my dad got it for me when he was deployed last year
@@BruhYoustupid-c3j Any got a Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt that says "Closed, due to strong Desert Storm"? I had one.
When the US Air Force finally gets their wish to retire this aircraft, it will go down as the most legendary air to ground platform ever imagined.
yessir
Beat me to it
From what I've read, they now intend to keep them in service until the 2040s. And yes, I haven't heard of any other plane beating it when it comes to close air support. It's a full-fledged legend.
@@EEE_MMM Yeah I heard they have extended their service life for now. But the Air Force has been trying to get rid of the A-10 since before Desert Storm. Desert Storm proved how good it could be and the fighter jock community in command won't hear it.
@@CombatIneffective yeah I know they have been out for the A-10 for decades... Some people unfortunately don't recognize a good piece of equipment when they hear it go "Brrrrrrt".
I like to think of the A-10 as the Colt 1911 equivalent of jets in its reliability and appreciation from the troops. "The aircraft that forgot to retire"
1911 platform is famous for jamming.
That could be said about the B-52, as well.
Like how the 1911 is "the gun that forgot to become obsolete"
@@KaiTakApproach for using the round that weren't supposed to be used in that gun.
@@nissanskylinegt-rr32nismo49 in all seriousness, please do go on. Are you saying the 1911 was not originally designed for .45 acp? I was not aware.
The A-10, the only aircraft that brings both air support and emotional support to our troops
Not unless your pat Tillman or the British
AC130 would like to have a word... They flew slicks when they ran out of gunships just so Terry didn't come out to play. They knew what the sound of the 4 fans of freedom meant.
🐗🏁 This is my emotional support hog.
@@ostrich00 Spooky!
Gotta love, both, Spooky and, the Hog!!! Whenever either one shows up, ya know the enemy's in for it, big time!!!
The A-10 in actuality is a great stealth aircraft; nobody will notice, *if there is nobody TO notice*
And no witnesses 👀
Remember, it's only a war crime if there's evidence!
Awesome comment😂
I can see this logic working in practice…
Ah, the orks version of stealth.
This platform saved my life. Period. Respect from Romania.
Storytime!
nu inteleg de ce ti-a salvat viata ? :)
@@victorminea2005 nu trebuia sau ce?? Apropo, nu ma refer la jocul asta in sine...
@@legionarulsquad6676 now I get it
@@victorminea2005
He means the aircraft itself. The A-10 Thunderbolt has undoubtedly saved many lives.
Hearing the scream of a Hog passing overhead, causing the desert sand to dance from the vibrations, is something that you'll never forget. And when the belching starts.... Oh my!!!
Be still my heart!❤️
Haven’t heard one for a few years now.
You hear it you weren't the target braaaaaaaaaaaaaap
Can’t help but smile big watching clips like these. My dad flew the Hog for over 2 decades and 2 wars. He’s retired now but when other guys when we’re out someone find out he was a Hog pilot they always offer to buy him a round lol. All the ground troops always say how much they loved hearing these suckers coming into the fight n how the enemy would always shit a brick.
In his home office he’s got one of the barrels for the Gau-8 avenger mounted up on his wall. Had to do some major wall structural reinforcement to hold it up there. Had the whole barrel custom chromed plated. Hell of a conversation piece.
Always proud of my dad. #ProudAmerican
We are all proud of your dad. ❤❤❤❤❤
Your old man's a hero
post a photo, man!! edit: of the gau-8 barrel.
When was you dad a hog pilot? I was at Davis-Monthan in the early 1980's and knew many of the aircrew.
Your dad rocks!
I always hear "it won't win any beauty contests" I think this is one the most beautiful planes ever.
Form follows function. Anything designed to be that good at what it does automatically becomes beautiful.
There is beauty in practicality, like a good gun or pocket knife.
We affectionately refereed to it as "Double Ugly" and "Warthog." Having worked on them as a weapons loader, I fell in love with them, great aircraft and fun to fly (I got to fly the simulator.)
It's ugly, but bad ass
It is not a plane. It is a weapons platform that does BRRRRRRRRRRRRT
I really don’t care what USAF or anyone else says. Ground support cannot be conducted from fast movers at higher altitudes. Sure if you’ve got them lined up to hell & back they might be able to hit the bad guys.
The bravery & courage of War Hog pilots is second to none.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣..............thank you for your apresiation in job.........................🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑
Bro is a reformist
F@CK YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You ever been to war? These men should know. They lived it. We love our veterans.
They save our troops when they are getting attacked. They kill the enemy from the air. THAT IS how they save our troops.
This is the most adrenaline pumping-American thing I have ever seen ⚡️🇺🇸 🤘
Magic number so here's a comment instead
It is also on the magic number for me, so here's a comment instead
Especially when you hear the (BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT)
@@natecondy4125 BBBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Less you've seen the 16inchers from a US battleship fire!
I NEVER got tired of saying, “Cleared Hot”. Hearing that BRRRRRT and watching something/one “go away” always made me smile! When a flight of A-10’s check on, you automatically knew the day was going to get better.
My Uncle once described this plane to me. At the time I was only 15. He never talked about his service or where he was stationed. But he often talked about and still talks about the A-10. When I asked him about the A-10. He said exactly this ; 'Well...because young man, sometimes Fuck You just doesn't cut it'.
The A-10 was born to be a rock star. A killer rock star...
I served in Desert Storm. The "Hog" and the Apache were a soldier's best friends. Along with the "Queen of battle"...
Artillery. The M1 tank ranks in there too!
Thank you for your service.
Thank You for your service, I was a worthless Hippie
@@69legman Dammit Man! My older cousin is STILL a hippie. I love him just the same.
@TheManWhoPlans-vc7kw As the old Bartles & James wine cooler commercial back in the 80's used to go, "Thank you for your support!"
Thanks for mentioning us 19K
Fun fact: The 30mm cannon in the A-10 is so powerful that it slows down the plane when it is shooting. Because of this they had to move the nose landing gear aside and put the cannon in the middle. If not it would cause the plane to turn when fired.
If you’re ever in war, I want this behind me been there done it Iraq
@@hellcatredeye-g6582 Agreed, A-10 CAS is legendary
The gun is actually offset from the centerline as well. This is done so that the rounds exit the barrel in the 7 oclock position and fire dead center.
@@Megamax-ms9xu The active barrel is in the middle. There is always someone who goes even further than I do. 🙄🙄
I like it, it makes me look normal. 😆
@@jameshisself9324 Yea, like I said if you look at photos of it from the front you'll see that at about the 7 position it's basically in the middle. Funny how that works huh and seems to be the consensus everywhere you look online. I said the gun is offset. The barrel firing is in the middle. Maybe between 6 and 7. But my main point still stands. The gun is offset.
I want more cinematics like this with badass 70s-80s music in the background. Here is a sub!
Thanks for the sub! I have more cinematics like this planned already
Yes
I like this one but I think I prefer the one set to Hells Bells more. Makes it more ominous less fun seeming.
Lol.
True
The A10 is the equivalent of a flying morale boost for any folk on the ground I swear. minute you hear the rounds hit the floor and that buzz you know everything that was in that thing's sights is absolutely toasted.
No, it’s not just a morale boost, but it’s also a nightmare for anyone in front of it.
Years ago,we live in a very remote area on 360 acres,A10’s would do low overhead passes over our ranch,we stretched a huge American flag ,”not touching the ground”,where they could see it,they really put a show on for us,gave me goosebumps and a lump in my throat,but mainly it made me proud of our country and our military men and women🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸👍🇺🇸
The gun is nice and all, but i love how it's kitted out to it's full potential with Mavericks, APKWS hydras and LJDAMS 38's
uhh cool big words and stuff i know those too
The beauty of the gun is you see the vehicle in front of you become instant Swiss cheese before you see the plane or hear the gun
@@SgtCheemsy missiles, rockets, and bombs
@@flyboy6392 i understood that part but i dont know the names
The gun ain't got shit on the weapons the A-10 carries. That's it's real strength: the amount of weapons it can carry as suspended ordinance. The gun is just for softer targets not worth hitting with a bomb.
In Vietnam, the sound every soldier wanted to hear that inbound Huey to come and save them. Today, it's the A-10 and her extreme badassery. I've never experienced combat but from all the videos I've seen and stories I've heard, this is what you want to see when the enemy needs to absolutely die in a hail of bullets.
Too bad more often than not the people dying in hails of bullets are friendlies
"if you hear it, it's too late"
well designed.
If You hear it, it wasn’t aimed at You!
something about the A-10 always makes me smile.
It all about the brrrrrrrrtttt
probably its 30mm cannon :)
Definitely the brrrrrrrrt🙂
Military: will you quit all ready?!?!?!?!
A-10: no
@@ironbull08x93 also A-10: not yet i still have mission to do
this beast saved our asses a few times on deployments. sweetest sound on earth is that gun
They should never retire this beast!!!
It should have the life similar to the B-52. Fact.
I used to work with the 74th and 75th A-10 fighter squadrons when it came to delivering their munitions… just watching them taxi and takeoff was really cool, along with hearing the signature brrrrts since the base was next to the firing range for the A-10s
I really really love your concept of two American fighter jets escorting two A-10s. The latter ones are not exactly air-to-air fighters, but upon enemy fighters approaching the CAS fighters would give the Warthogs a warning;
- A-10s, getaway right now. We have incoming enemy fighter jets.
- Copy, Lincoln 2, thank you for the warning. We are history. See ya at the base.
- Sure, Tim. Beers on you then at the Canteen?
- Absolutely :-)
- Alright, you did a good one.
- Yeah. Now, you have a good one :-)
- We always do. You can count on us.
Back at the airbase, a female official approached Tim. She asked,
- Who is your A-10 partner?
- Sorry I cannot disclose that. Have a nice day, madam.
- Heaven's sake, Tim. I work in the canteen. You have known me for years.
Exactly. So?
Please do not ask.
Romana puella formosa ante Timotheum centurionis venit et clara voce petivit;
- Esne pater meus?
- Mel est possibile.
- Cur non es in domo nostra, tata? Non amas mom amplius?
- Scilicet matrem meam amo. Sed miles sum. Qualem sit morte mori. Mater Siun particeps securior invenit :-)
- Tim! Es adverisne?
At the end of the day, the A-10 pilot, Sergeant Tim entered the American military base canteen. The female bartender recognized Tim. She said,
- Hey Tim. Are you okay?
- Hey, I am fine, thank you.
- What would you like? An Irish whiskey on the rocks?
- You know me way too well.
- I know, right :-)
“God bless the A 10 and their crew and support staff.” Every ground combat soldier.
Except the ones that it took out, including all the friendlies.
Seing that A-10 with "DM" on the tail @ 1:11 brings back so many memories of the many, MANY times of seeing these planes fly around when I used to live in Tucson, AZ when my dad was stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB. It was always a treat.
Went to U of A; when the weather got nice the pilots flew lower on their approach over the campus 😂
POL at Luke AFB 28yrs!
Best Idea Ever: To build an airplane around a Cannon
Dude stop using this unfunny overused joke
The Henschel 129 says hi junior.
Agreed 😂
@@sledge2105 Crying in 20mm???
If I remember correctly, the Bell Air Cobra had a similar concept
A-10 drivers, the only Air Force guys that don't have to pay for drinks around US Army infantry.
You forgot the Air Force TACPs on the ground with the Army infantry and a radio to the A10 pilot to save the grunts!
However they pay double whenever they meet British service personnel
Mid-late 80's, called for CAS. Gave coord's, replied, within 50 yards. I approved. Shit blew up, but we came Home. Kudos to those guys.
That's so freakin badass! Thank you every vet for fighting for my freedom! I wish I could afford to show more of my appreciation. Happy Veterans day!
if you hear the brrr you werent the target. What a legend the A-10
I've never been a fan of neither modern nor solely american aviation, but this video is honestly superb.
I must give credit where it's due, the combination of metal and a pure powerhouse which is A-10 turned out perfect.
I'm willing to have 3:06-3:11 on repeat in my subconsciousness for the rest of my life, somewhere in between a massive Il-2 attack and some WW2 dogfights.
A truly truly wicked aircraft. I live next to the AFB where the Warthogs called home until just after the Cold War ended. Man, do I miss seeing those guys.
While I love the F-22 for it's maneuverability as a jet, there will ALWAYS be a special place in my heart for the 'Hog... It really says something when modern armies/combatants fear the sound of it's guns more than the forces on the ground, and the ones it protects, as another person mentioned, that it sounded like Angel's wings coming to give them help...
As much as you and I love how the A-10 says BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR there is nobody who loves it more than the grunt on the ground watching it gank the bad guys and hearing that lovely lovely gatling music.
My father was with the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing (1987-1991) England AFB, LA. The flying Tigers baby!!!
Every A-10 in real life should have the baddest external audio playin this at the enemy
Plane is good,but you have to be billy the badass to be a pilot of that aircraft. I will never forget that sound.
My brother is a retired A-10 pilot.
@@amygromel2297 retired or not, he's still a badass.
You dont have to be a badass to fly an a10, it makes you a badass
A-10 Warthog! My favorite flying gatling gun! 😎👍🇺🇸
Old school, puff the magic dragon.
@@douglsward3114 Yeah The 47 was a soldiers prefered sound on the battlefield
Built right here, on Long Island, by Fairchild-Republic, out in Farmingdale!! Holla, folks!!
Had some of these guys fly by my house out in the country once. It's surreal to have a pilot waving at you at eye level from his seat!
I watched in1968 guys in the C-130's doin tree top training . could read the wattage of the red light. OV-10 A also built in Columbus, Ohio, test flown through our bottom ravine. I could shake hands with them. Throwing rocks would of brought one down. North American Rockwell !
I was a Forward Observer in the early 80s. These are even more impressive when you're calling them in. Soviets were scared
sh!tless of these guys.
Nice story and all, but it's not like they were actually ever in a fight against it and on the top of that, they also have their own version of A-10 at all, named Su-25 and it fulfills the exactly same role that A-10 does. So I really don't understand why they would be scared of these.
@@SmukY123 so these were used against Soviets...? Damn it would be cool to hear one irl. Until my life depended on it and I was scared for my life...
Holy shit I can’t believe what I am even reading lol 🤦♂️ do you guys realise Soviet union doesn’t even exist anymore, right?
@@SmukY123 he told about the 1980's. Soviet Union was still standing (more or less) strong in early 80's
@@hunterxsimple3821 and do you yet at all realise that ex-Soviets and Americans were never at the gunpoint at such extension? At which point was the GAU-8 Avenger actually aimed at any living ex-Soviet soldier? Because if that was the case it would lead to an all out war because both sides were twitchy and just waiting for a disaster to happen. I’ll stand my case since I don’t believe he saw any Soviets at all. I’m not saying A-10 is a crap airplane, quite contrary, I just see his post as some of a subjective propaganda.
My Dad flies the F/A-18. In one of the squadrons he flew in, a photographer and short film maker made a montage of the squadron training events with this song playing in the background. Awesome video :)
What’s the video called if it’s on RUclips, love what I assume to be a F-18 as my country uses CF-18s, something about the design of the wings, cockpit, everything about it is beautiful
@@alucardtherealvampire6470 It's not on YT, they handed out CD's at the end of the graduations
@@Fox2-Videos Awwww wish I could see the video
Yeah wanted to watch it too that’s sad 😢
Respect to your father for his service. Pretty awesome job he has.
A plane that's built around a gigantic gun, rather than the other way around.
And it became one of the most feared planes in history to date
The Brits beat you to it, Back in WW2 there was the De Haviland Mosquito (Built from wood with a pair of Rolls Royce merlin engines (same as a Spitfire) and a 6 pounder anti tank field gun - think towed artillery;- Molins auto-cannon 2.2 inch/ 57mm - weighing in at over a ton)
Used to great effect against the U-Boats
I've seen this video at least 15 times and i should say "it's not enough times". This Squad is amazing. I've my own A10-A (yes, i know it's the arcade mod... sorry, i'm maybe not worthy) and i feel so allmighty!!!! Thanks for this amazing edition. Keep flying! Greetings from Argentina.
Love the "wurp" sound best sound you can ever hear as an infantry man
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTT-VOOOOOOOOM
as long as it is allie infantry 😅
Or worst
The A-10 survives in service not because of the gun, but because it can largely ignore almost anything trying to kill it, carry enough ordinance to make the suspension squawk in protest snd STILL dance, and hang ALL day long.
It is a plane they got right. The Gun is a nice cherry on a Mayhem Sundae.
Best video I've seen in a long time. Well done.
40 Years still in active Inventory? What an amazing airframe.
Some may consider the a10 crude, old, outdated. And they would be right. But the a10 was built so basically that it could be repaired 'on the fly' with readily available parts. It's could Cary and impressive load and the damage it could take was 2nd to none of the b17
All aircraft are repaired with readily available parts. If they're not readily available, you have a museum piece.
It was literally built around the gatling gun, which is impressive alone
@@raymondsullivan7474That gun is really good at friendly fire, mainly because you have to use binoculars to find targets.
@@Falfan42 yes, back in iraq, they upgraded it nowadays, but that was a hell of an issue
@@Kristof1 yeah, but it's still interior to the F-35 tech wise, and now it can't even do its job of dirt cheap COIN
That's why the Sky Warden is gonna be the replacement. It's similar tech level, but it's cheap as dirt and as reliable.
I was being wheeled into the operating room for a minor heart op, noted there was speakers on the ceiling on the ceiling of the operating room. I asked if they pumped music in while operating. One of the staff, said if they could, what would I like to hear, I told them "' Kick Start My Heart" I was only kidding, they actually did it. It was freaking awesome, the nurses are hopping n bopping. Thank you St. Pauls Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Legendary!! 😂 Glad u hear to share that!
As a US veteran the most wonderful sound on the battlefield is a Warthog !!!
Unless you are on the wrong side of the Hog.
If your on the other side that burp is the last thing you hear !!!
Personally I think the A-10 is the best aircraft as they started with the primary weapon and built the aircraft around it !!! Instead of building an aircraft then trying to add weapons to it !!!
Terror - looking in your rearview mirror and seeing an A10 closing in on you. . .Sheer terror - being in a convoy and seeing 4 A10's moving in on you. . .The A10 is the baddest ass plane on this planet!
Kickstart My Heart and the A-10... a winning combination. Well done!
Thanks for watching!
As a former POL troop I have refueled many, many A10’s. Simply an impressive war bird. Up close and personal that 30mm Canon is the balls!
POL 32YRS!!!!
I never realised how well Kickstart My Heart fits the A-10 until today.
affectionately referred to as the warthog, originally because of its stubby look but now because shes low to the ground and meaner than hell
I was an Infantryman (retired) and fought 2 wars. I love this plane. (And the Apache)
I think this is fitting for all air combat pilots
A well known military aviation poem "High Flight", written by John G. Magee on September 3, 1941. The version that most nearly follows the original manuscript is as follows:
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds,-and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor ever eagle flew-
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God
Without a doubt this is the best video on all of RUclips.
When the song really kicks in and all hell breaks loose?
Masterpiece.
Thanks!
You really have to give a standing ovation for how realistic they made a video game plane. In fact, an A-10 is so hard to fly in the game that by the time you learn how to fly it, you can hop in an actual one and know most of what to do. Look it up.
If this doesn't give you goosebumps nothing else will. ❤❤❤
I can't believe I just found this video. I was a weapons flight chief, ya know the "Load Toads" at DM before I retired and the A-10 was one of my favorite jets to work on. Got to see them in action a few times-BBRRRRRTTTT! I worked on F-15s, (Bitburg and Iceland) love them too, F-111D (yuck triple threat-shoot ya, bomb ya or fall on ya)(Clovis), F-105D, (Kansas), B-52D (Utapao Thailand, Linebacker II) and F-4E, Homestead before it blew away and at Seymour Johnson. Great Vids yall got!!!!
Whoever conceived and developed the A-10 was a genius. Best close air support weapons platform of all time.
1:43 so nice of the A-10's to fly protective close escort to those Air Force fighters. "Don't worry my little jets, Uncle Warthog will keep you safe with my Gatling gun."
I live near an A-10 base... I THRILL everytime I hear that distinctive sound! Sounds like freedom!
Davis-Monanthan?
Cries jealousy in European 💔
Truly an aviation marvel! This flying tank is unmatched as an anti-armor aircraft. The A-10 has a double-redundate hydraulic back-up systems. If they fail it also has a mechanical back-up system. Even missing parts of wings or an engine it can still stay in tha air.....when they say it's virtually impossible to shoot down, they are not exaggerating in the least. As an ex-19Echo I had the privilege of seeing a couple "Warthogs" fly in outta England AFB, La to the tank gun range on what was then "North Fort" on Fort Polk, La. They had an old WWII era half-track setting out in the target area. I was acting as a loader that day in a M60A1 battle tank. These two A-10s came in from behind us and as quiet as they are, we didnt see them until they were right over top of us. Just when they got in front of us they both unloaded their GAU-8 30mm cannons. Well, needless to say, that friggin half-track disintegrated! My TC turned toward me and said, "We all oughta be damn glad those things are on our side." On a more personal note my uncle the late Corky McKenize actually worked at a plant(Fairchild) in Western Maryland that made the porcelain cockpits that went into the A-10 aircrafts.
Oh my GOSH this is literally one of THE COOLEST cinematics I have ever seen!!! A similar one to this was made a while ago but it was IRL footage, but this one is better edited and the use of DCS is juste PERFECTION.
Should post the link to the IRL footage vid in that case
Finally a video dedicated to the most hated plane by the brass at the top, and most beloved by those actually doing the fighting. Well done!
I always imagined as a kid that if a WWII fighter plane and a modern jet fighter had a baby, it would be the A-10 with its turbo fan engines, straight wings, and armor.
I was born in 1980. Top Gun was THE definitive airplane movie back in the in day. So all of my friends and classmates were all Tomcat Tomcat Tomcat Tomcat!! I saw one documentary on the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and that was my plane. In elementary school no one knew what it was because it wasn't in Top Gun, Iron Eagle, or Flight of the Intruder. During Desert Storm I read stories from pilots talking about flying A-10s home with huge chunks of wing missing, or whole pieces of the stabilizers. I was finally able to point to the pictures and those articles and say "That's the A-10 and that's why it's so bad ass!"
There were jet planes in WWII...
@@l337pwnage, yes, there were. The Germans weren't the only ones experimenting with turbine engines either. The straight wing design, sub sonic speed, coupled with being gun oriented calls back to glory days of piston engine planes. The technology on the modern refit is clearly 4 gen.
One of the most devastating weapons of war ever created for the battlefield. Truly iconic.
By the time you heard it's engines, it was already too late to run.
👍👊👉💥💥💥
I just love the sound of the A-10's cannon. I hope they never take this beast of an aircraft out of service!
Had this playing on surround sound and it hit a sweet spot
A10....."We're still kicking ass ".
Keep those A-10's flying! There was one on my squadron's flightline when I was stationed at Cherry Point! What a BEAUTIFUL aircraft! OOO-RAH!
the 3 sweetest sounds ever...the twin engines howling, the BRRRRRRRRRP and Motley Crue
If Any single one of our U.S. Armed Forces sees this , 12/7/2024 , there are millions of us 'quiet Americans' who haven't served , but think good thoughts about you every day . I am Grateful .
Being an Army FO (forward observer) for 21 years, and a Gulf War vet, I hope they only improve this platform. It’s the best ground sport ever made.
Dude, you made the A-10 the best plane in the world with this video
Still getting re-used to the A-10 C II in DCS as a returning player with a new hotas, and I can't stop watching this. Especially now that the A-10 got announced for war thunder as well.
I saw them work their MAGIC in 1990 during desert storm. They are beautiful death machines. Hate to be in the receiving end. Great vid
Best Rock video I've seen in awhile!
The end is perfect, the music stop epicaaly and then the "brrrrrrrt", perfect !
When I was in Afghanistan, I loved, Loved, LOVED when the Warthogs showed up. There’s just something a big fucking cannon shooting really fucking fast from somewhere in the sky does to make a person duck and cover that no 500 or 2000 lb bomb from an F16 can ever do. Save the bombs for hard targets that can’t run away (and the jet jockey might actually be able to see).
Also there’s just something very Steelpunk about that aircraft, with its rectangularness and fuselage mounted engines. There will never be another aircraft quite like it again.
This is the advertisement military needs. If I saw this at the age of 18 I would have left everything behind to enlist. Great video!
Yep.
With incredible firepower, and the fact that it is so resilient that it could receive the beating of its life and still keep its pilot safe from harm just like it's predecessor, I would say that the A-10 earned the Thunderbolt name.
A major difference is that you can't move around in the cockpit to avoid enemy fire.
back then yes, but against modern Manpad systems, it's a sitting duck, hence it's retirement.
I have spent (1996- 2020 in the Idaho ANG) 20 + years with this aircraft and you see here is just a small part of what this aircraft can do.
The A-10 is my third favorite plane (1st C-130 and 2nd SR-71) and this video was awesome. Couldn't have ended it any better either.
Those warthog fellas kept me and my fellow paratroopers alive in the desert, no doubt about it!
I can actually picture a pilot jamming out to some music while in flight and taking out targets like a badass
When I get high, get high on speed, 30mm machine gun is a drug for me.
😂😂😂
(From August 2023) Thank you for creating and posting this awesome visual/music sync! I used to make them for myself for the fun of it! But to the point: The A-10, my second favorite military aircraft (First = the F-14)! All I need to hear is the sound of its 30mm rotary cannon, and I instantly know what’s there. If you haven’t wiki’d it yet, I highly recommend do so: that gun, poking its nose out just a little=very deceptive. That gun runs the length from its tip to the the leading edges of the wing roots. As you probably already know, the gun was the ultimate prerequisite for any bids from aerospace companies. The challenge was to build a plane around that gun!👏🏽 There were also other prerequisites: The plane needed to be able to fly home with half the tail missing, half of one wing missing, on one engine.😮 I love this plane for several reasons, primarily its role as close air support/loiter time. Imagine a little group of scared 18 y/o soldier boys taking cover, they can hear the enemy getting closer and surrounding them. And what to do? Call an angel. Give the pilot the numbers, establish “danger close” and the guy or gal on the radio hopes the numbers are right and screams “Fire for effect!” Heads down and wait for a few seconds, then you hear the whine of the A-10s turbofans, music to the ears in such a moment, then an orchestra of BOOMS and BRRRRRT. The angel comes back around and more loud BOOMS and BRRRRRRT. And before they know it, they are the only people alive within a half mile radius. I can’t imagine how many vets still walk this Earth only because an A-10 saved them. Oh yeah, and those 30mm depleted uranium rounds can go through any tank armor like the proverbial “hot knife through butter.” I never got why it picked up the nickname Warthog because many consider it ugly, and I’m like, are we looking at the same plane here? The A-10? Because I think it is gorgeous! Instead of Warthog it should be ANGEL. And a beautiful one at that. But I’m sure any vets who got saved by one, never ever again thought it ugly. For such vets, they see an A-10 and think “Savior.”😇
A long, long time ago, I was in my boss’s office, for him to sign off on paperwork. We finished up with the signatures, and he hands me another piece of paper. “Read that, and tell me what you think.”
It was very nice paper, and on it was the most polite letter I’ve ever read. It was from a member of an A 10 squadron, asking if they could please use one of product logos belonging to the company I worked for, as their squadron insignia.
I said “He’s incredibly polite. Are you going to let them do it?”
My boss, Mike, said “I asked what you think.”
I said “I think you should. They call A 10’s Warthogs, after all. And that would look incredible on a plane!”
Mike grinned back at me, and said “That’s what I think, too.”
I gave the paper back, and Mike started scribbling on it.
“Especially if they paint teeth on the nose like the Flying Tigers, but with tusks, like a hog!”
Mike snickered at me, handed the paper back, and said “Take that up to Legal. Tell ‘em to call me if they have questions.”
Mike had just directed Legal to give the A 10 squadron the right to use the logo, no caveats, and no licensing fee.
And when the Gulf War rolled around, there was footage on the Evening news of an A 10 squadron that was being deployed - and every one of their planes had the Exide “SuperHog” logo on it, and there were a lot of nose guns framed in very sharp teeth, and tusks, too.
Wherever you are, Mike, I will always be proud of you for that call, and proud of the planes and pilots who truly are Super Hogs.
Thanks for sharing this story here!
Yep the A10s out of England AFB Louisiana, that was the Flying Tigers, also a squadron or 2 from the 926 out of Belle Chasse also went over there in 1991. My father was working in the England AFB command post when the orders came to get them overseas to the gulf.