How Air Force Pilots Fly The Controversial $19 Million A-10 Warthog | Boot Camp | Insider Business

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, nicknamed the Warthog, is the United States Air Force’s primary low-altitude close-air-support aircraft. It is the only Air Force aircraft produced specifically to support ground forces. It does this using the 30-millimeter Avenger Gatling gun mounted in its nose to clear the battlefield and create a safe path for US ground forces. Soldiers named it the Warthog because of its "ugly" appearance and the guttural sound created by the Avenger.

The A-10 has been at the center of a debate within the US Armed Forces about whether or not the nearly 50-year-old aircraft should be retired in favor of the more modern F-35 Fighter Jet.

Insider visited Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, to see how pilots are trained to fly the Warthog.

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How Air Force Pilots Fly The Controversial $19 Million A-10 Warthog | Boot Camp | Insider Business

[PASTRAMIKick]

wtf it's not ugly at all, it has an iconic shape.

[VeryPteri]

Remember folks, it's not a plane with a minigun inside it, it's a minigun with a plane around it.

[bravo]

When I was a light infantryman in Iraq, this beast of a plane was our guardian angel. I know all other grunts will agree.

[Bevo_Baker]

A10 pilots are badasses. I was a combat medic in the Army, and have had them provide us CAS before. They’ll always have my respect and appreciation.

[zachariahgore]

As someone that has seen and been aided by this beautiful work of death, it pains me to see that so many people that have never actually seen the A-10 in action or have been saved from being over run or know of others from being over run, push to have it retired! I was infantry, the last 100 yards, the boots on the ground. The A-10 is the infantry of the skies!! That plane and the men and women that pilot them are absolute badasses and heroes to those of us pinned down on the ground! All you have to do is give them a well deserved upgrade and they will continue to save our asses time and time again. We all have so much respect for the A-10 and her pilots that have saved our asses in the shittiest and darkest situations!

[PS_____]

The A-10 was the single most impressive close air support aircraft I had the pleasure of having support from in Afghanistan. The A-10 can fly low and slow enough to fight in mountainous environments, which cannot be said for just about any other fixed wing airframe in the inventory. The Gatling gun sounds like the hand of god coming down on the ground. There is no way to explain the sound of that gun in close proximity when seconds count. It is awe inspiring.

For those of us who owe our lives to that old bird, find it hard to believe that the air force would choose to no longer support it. Both the F22 and the F35 are fantastic airframes, but cannot touch the A-10 in terms of close air support

[xyzaero]

From 3 hours endurance to being oil and fatigue limited … tankers are the best force multipliers in military aviation

[ericsevern]

The A-10 is an excellent example of form following function. It is a masterpiece.

[DIDYOUSEETHAT]

I served in the Special Forces, I've seen a few aircraft up close in action, the site and sound of this critter lighting up a target is an euphoric experience. I think its forking gorgeous. I fly fixed wing in civilian life, and take helicopter lessons. There are a few aircraft That stimulate the imagination, that I dream of flying, P51 Mustang, Apache helicopter, and the A10,

[roguesample]

Hearing the A-10 pilots talk about how they’re only ever concerned with the CAS they provide to the boots on the ground is great. Cool to know that when the troops are cheering at the on the ground the pilot is smiling and waving to the boys 😎🤘🏻

[IamtheRealChicken]

the suvivability of the A10 is what makes it to me amazing.

[YoungBlood]

That gps guided bomb is deadly and dangerously accurate. This is why the A10 is crucial, when having air support you need them to be accurate otherwise it would be a danger to themselves.

[marnick]

remember: if you hear you are not the target

[MinneapolisRaven]

I remember the stories around the Gulf War, when an A-10 appeared, the Iraqis would abandon their vehicles and run.
They called it Shabba, the Desert Ghost, because you can't hear it coming with the engines up high in back.

[TR-Mead]

The only thing controversial about this aircraft is how Airforce brass have been trying to kill it so they can divert money to pet projects, meanwhile leaving the Army and Marines exposed on the ground without proper air cover. THAT is the controversy, not the aircraft.

[brianshotton]

Retiring the A-10 would be a HUGE blow for the ground troops like myself. The Warthog was called in for CAS countless times in my Afghanistan battles, where without them I and many others would not be here today. As far as the looks and sounds, from the ground force view there is NOTHING more beautiful dropping out of the sky for low gun runs to save our asses!!!!

[sempergumby]

Fallujah 2003, this beast rained death from above for us a few times. Much respect to the Hog

[OfficiallySnek]

Controversial? But it does and burns though $400, 000 worth of ammunition in 12 seconds

[savageone]

This, the B2 bomber and the F-22 raptor are the most beautiful jets in the world

[freelancepearkakkoka]

A-10 is definitely one of the most beautiful planes i have ever seen and boy is that sound scary as hell, sad that not everyone in the airforce thinks so, still it was really cool to get a closer look on how the plane works (and you can never get enough of that

EDIT: I also remember hearing that the A-10 is getting retired because anti-aircraft technology is riding way past it, because the plane has to get so close to the enemy they can target it with their anti-air missiles which is something you really don't want in an aircraft.