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Wing Replacement Program Extends The Life Of The Aircraft Through 2040

Boeing and the U.S. Air Force celebrated the rollout of the first re-winged A-10 Thunderbolt II in a ceremony held on Wednesday at Hill Air Force Base. Boeing is under contract with the Air Force to deliver 233 wing sets through 2018.

[http://www.aero-news.net/#]

“This enhanced wing assembly will give the A-10 new strength and a new foundation for its continued service into 2040,” said Mark Bass, Maintenance, Modifications & Upgrades vice president and general manager for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “Boeing remains a committed partner in ensuring the A-10 continues to be a ready, reliable and viable weapon system for the U.S. Air Force.”

The A-10 wing replacement program is an example of Boeing’s continued expansion into non-Boeing platform work. The wing sets are produced at the company’s production facility in Macon, Ga., with partner Korean Aerospace Industries. They are delivered to the Air Force customer at the Ogden Air Logistics Center.

Boeing delivered the first A-10 wing set to the Air Force in March 2011. After mating to the aircraft and validation and verification of the wing, Air Force pilots flew the aircraft on its first flight in November.

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\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

This reminds me of when the British MoD spent a fortune modifying the Harrier to the very capable GR9 standard only to retire them prematurely.
Hopefully the recent Hog cull will stop at 100 airframes.

To piggy-back on 30mm's post here's an article on the last of the reworked wings (SLEP) being produced here at hill...

http://www.hilltoptimes.com/content/ser ... w-complete

...and as always the media, even if it's only our local base paper, never misses a chance to fuck-up a story with statements like this...

The aircraft had been mothballed some years prior to Desert Storm and then were brought back out because of their superior use in close air support, and ergonomic guns that can go 360 degrees around.

I mean my God the A-10 SPO is right down the road and I'm sure someone could have read the article before it was published and made corrections...hell I would have done it! makes us look a little stupid IMHO.

No, make them look stupid.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

True that...true that!

I think they're supposed to stop SLEP and only do new wings from now on. We have an A-10 at Hill for SLEP right now...hope they get it done...lol.

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SoWW #2485
Cave Putorium!

Its true the guns are capable of 360, it only requires an ergonomic application of loop or a bank to implement it. The airframe is only clothing and armor.

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\"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. \"

George S. Patton

Are these wings the same as the hog up wings, shaped like the originals, or in some way improved?

Are they ever going to re-engine the A-10?

As far as I know there is no change to the shape only internal structures....it's basically just a new (no flight hours) beefed-up wing. As far as new engines, there were plans...before the large budget cuts!

At this point I don't see new engines for the old girl. With just 200 airframes left and a boat load of spares I think the Air Force will make do with what they have. The re-engine program was going to be expensive with a majority of the development dollars coming from the GREA account. Now that there's only 2 wings left in the AFRES/ANG I think that money will be pulled back.

The Air Force wants to focus on the multi-role platforms because they feel it's greater bang for the buck. Unless there's a dramatic shift in thinking what you're hearing now is, unfortunately, Taps for the A-10.

The full restructure changes can be read here:
http://www.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120203-027.pdf

OC

In 20 or 30 years there'll be nothing left but drones in the USAF.

It'll probably be a force that is 99.99% non combatants supporting a bunch of technologically advanced robotic killing machines.

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I am Infantry. Follow me!