Before the A-10, there was the A-1E. It was big, ugly, slow and could and did haul damn near everything in the inventory…
Better known as the Spad, it was a round nosed beast loved by it’s pilots, and those who’d been shot down in Nam…
It’s ability to loiter, and the carrying capacity that rivaled the B-17 on one engine was something to behold.
Very good Jim;
Brings back memories of DaNang when I serviced them with munitions. Recalling stories of US pilots flying air cover so the zip pilots wouldn’t drop their loads in the bay and report a successful strike.
I love the Sandy. One of the best ground attack prop jobs – EVER. For Multi-Prop Engine you can’t beat the A-26 Invader. And naturally, it was the experience with those venerable war birds that led to the development of the Hawg.
And now they want to replace the Hawg with the F-35…which would make me want to sit back with popcorn if there weren’t American lives in the balance (#Americanlivesmatter)
I heard a Spad jockey give a talk at a VVA dinner who he gave the audience a chuckle when he said he came in so low and slow that he though he would be knocked out of the sky by a gook throwing a rock. Of course he retired a jet jockey.
The idea is not dead.
Good article here: http://motherboard.vice.com/read/low-and-slow
The “best” point is that this kind of platform extends the service life of the more expensive toys by picking up the sorties they expensive toys are not suited for. And incidentally, saves the lives of the guys on the ground.
Ask any grunt what they would rather see over head – a Spad/Warthog, or a F-35.
I think we all know the answer to that one…
Loved that video.
On your sidebar is an analysis of the A-10 that has changed some of my ideas.
http://www.michaelzwilliamson.com/blog/
Great pieces of equipment do have an expiration date.
All- Thanks, and yes Mike Z’s post is good on the A-10.
Posted on my iPhone.
Flew in the right seat of an AD-5N for two years towing targets for guys to shoot at. I absolutely loved that plane! Took better care of that ride than I did my ’50 Merc.
Those damned jet jockeys who were previously AD qualified and who now flew A4’s took great delight in putting the lights out on we non G-suit wearing guys! They would put us out, roll over and see if they could get us to puke trying to orient yourself when the eyes came open.
I would give up a testicle for an hour in that plane again!!!
Thanks(?) for the memories.
+1, CenTex Tim
Great Video
Nice!! Love the war-machines by all means line. 🙂