A-10 The Warplane Nobody Wanted

[racedo]

So, would the A10 be any use in an air to air with something fast and pointy - thinking post merge if they've not been picked off by LR weapons?

Prob not but then would grunts be grinning seeing a fast and pointy drop a bomb and disappear or an A-10 coming by to say hello to some .

[tdracer]

So, would the A10 be any use in an air to air with something fast and pointy - thinking post merge if they've not been picked off by LR weapons?

I seem to recall A-10s having a few 'air-to-air' victories in Iraq over helicopters - as I recall an interview with one of the A-10 pilots said something to the effect of 'I gave him a couple second burst, and not much was left' . When it comes to fast and pointy, getting 'gun lock' would surely be really hard, but if the A-10 managed you'd be able to fit most of what was left of the fast jet in a shoebox

[busdriver02]

So, would the A10 be any use in an air to air with something fast and pointy - thinking post merge if they've not been picked off by LR weapons?

Short answer: no

Longer answer: only if the pointy nosed pilot is incompetent, however the Hawg makes a good helo killer as alluded to but it's really a moot point, the AIM-9X is just as good a helo killer.

[typerated]

Once saw a 4 ship of A-10 fending off 4 F-15C's. The A-10s set up in the bottom of a valley in a defensive circle.


The 15s were circling about 10,000ft above. Occasionally pitching in but breaking off soon as a A-10 further round the circle would pitch up against it. Funny enough the 15s didn't seem to like seeing the front aspect of an A-10.


They didn't seem to get much joy and pushed off.


Might usually be seal clubbing but if the fighters are seen in time it might be a different story.

[Flypro]

Surely, in the areas of the world where the A-10 would presently be of most use, the 'baddies' don't have any fast pointy jets, so what's the problem?

[rh200]

Surely, in the areas of the world where the A-10 would presently be of most use, the 'baddies' don't have any fast pointy jets, so what's the problem?

1) They could show how useful they are in that sort of situation. Thats bad for all sorts of reasons

2) I think ISIL have access to the sorts of weapons that may have a chance of bringing them down in the way they operate. Thats bad for all sorts of reasons. We would be extremely adverse to an captured pilot having their head hacked off on youtube.

[racedo]

We would be extremely adverse to an captured pilot having their head hacked off on youtube.

Don't see that happening or if did then area involved would resemble the moon in terms of craters or be a nice glass area.