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My name is Robert Coram and I am author of "Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War." Am gathering research for article on the A-10. My premise is that the AF wants to kill the A-10 but is going to have a hard time explaining away its success in Iraq, i.e. higher sortie rate than all other acft combined, weapon most feared by Iraqis, weapon most loved by American ground forces, etc. Any anecdotes from Iraq, evidence that A-10 is not getting parts/supplies/mods it needs, whatever. I'd be most appreciative. E-mail address is: rcoram@bellsouth.net
Thanks.
Robert Coram

Robert, a lot of us who visit this forum are Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve memebers who can't talk to the press about current operation or higher level decissions on weapons systems funding without going through the USAF PA office. Your best bet would be to contact a base PA office in your local area, who fly the A-10, and ask them for infomation. If you need help finding a PA office near you (phone numbers/email addys) I can help with that.

I'm pretty sure the civies (sorry), or former military members are free to give you their opinions or comment on their past experinces with the Hog.

Ugly but well hung!



Edited by - Dice on Apr 11 2003 6:43 PM

Hey, I have your book on my Amazon.com wish list!

---
Pete Nelson
Your Warthog Territory Webmaster

_________________
Pete Nelson
Your Warthog Territory Webmaster

I don't think the Hog is going anywhere. It is currently slated to remian in service until 2028, and is undergoing several modernization and renewal programs.



"US Army Snipers- One shot, one kill"

M-21, my gut agrees with Mr. Coram.
F-16 was limited to altitudes above 10k in gulf war one due to vulnerability to ground fire. bombs became inaccurate. Enter GPS bombs.

The Air Force hates the A-10 and has been trying to get rid of it ever since they got it. JDAMS and the F-35 make it a lot more likely that they can argue that it's not necessary to have the A-10.

Mr Coram, if you come back to check this thread; thank you for the book on Boyd. It was one of the best I've read in a while and it's got nothing but praise anywhere I've seen it discussed. Lotta special ops guys recommending it!

I only recall one type of aircraft buzzing around the skies of Baghdad providing CAS for our troops, and it was big, grey, ugly, and had a 30mm gun.

Care to guess what plane i'm referring to?


"US Army Snipers- One shot, one kill"

Wow your pretty missinformerd m21.

I guess when your camera level you get all the attention......

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
it was big, grey, ugly, and had a 30mm gun.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

That sounds like my colon after eating chili for dinner. Literally sounds the same too, high-pitched whine followed by a "vrrrrrp" as it lets loose.

---
Pete Nelson
Your Warthog Territory Webmaster

_________________
Pete Nelson
Your Warthog Territory Webmaster

CAS AND STRIKE MISSION IN SUPPORT OF TROOPS ARE 2 DIFFERENT JOBS PATRIOT.

THE HELO'S AND HOG'S WERE UP IN THEIR FACE CLOSE!!!!!!!!!

SORRY BUT POINTY NOSE JETS JUST DONT LOTIER LIKE THE HOG DOES.

PRESS TO TEST

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

The A-10 has flown about 1/3 of all the sorties flown by the USAF in Operation Iraqi Freedom firing over 170,000 rounds of 30mm ammo in direct support of ground units. <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

The images of the "iron cross" has dominated the news and rightly so, the red-headed step-child of the AF has proven (yet again) that a low, slow, and heavily armed aircraft still has a place in today's high tech air force.




Ugly but well hung!

Edited by - Dice on Apr 12 2003 06:16 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Robert, a lot of us who visit this forum are Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve memebers who can't talk to the press about current operation or higher level decissions on weapons systems funding without going through the USAF PA office. Your best bet would be to contact a base PA office in your local area, who fly the A-10, and ask them for infomation. If you need help finding a PA office near you (phone numbers/email addys) I can help with that.

I'm pretty sure the civies (sorry), or former military members are free to give you their opinions or comment on their past experinces with the Hog.

Ugly but well hung!



Edited by - Dice on Apr 11 2003 6:43 PM
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Dice:
I understand and appreciate your position. Two things. How much info do you think the AF PA types are going to give to me? Second, I'm trying to launch a pre-emptive strike to do what little bit I can to slow the AF from killing the A-10. I'm getting help from people who love the aircraft. All off-the-record. Would appreciate anything and everything else.
Thanks.
Robert
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Robert, a lot of us who visit this forum are Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve memebers who can't talk to the press about current operation or higher level decissions on weapons systems funding without going through the USAF PA office. Your best bet would be to contact a base PA office in your local area, who fly the A-10, and ask them for infomation. If you need help finding a PA office near you (phone numbers/email addys) I can help with that.

I'm pretty sure the civies (sorry), or former military members are free to give you their opinions or comment on their past experinces with the Hog.

Ugly but well hung!



Edited by - Dice on Apr 11 2003 6:43 PM
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>


[/quote]

Tracy White:
Thanks for your kind comments. The book has gotten a lot of attaboys from some of the finest people in the world. To have the approbation, for example, of the River Rats and the Special Ops crowd is about as good as it gets.
I'm getting help on this A-10 piece from people who are risking a lot to talk to me. But they know how the AF wants to get rid of the A-10 and they do not want such an ignoble end for such a great aircraft.
All best.
Robert Coram

M-21, my gut agrees with Mr. Coram.
F-16 was limited to altitudes above 10k in gulf war one due to vulnerability to ground fire. bombs became inaccurate. Enter GPS bombs.

The Air Force hates the A-10 and has been trying to get rid of it ever since they got it. JDAMS and the F-35 make it a lot more likely that they can argue that it's not necessary to have the A-10.

Mr Coram, if you come back to check this thread; thank you for the book on Boyd. It was one of the best I've read in a while and it's got nothing but praise anywhere I've seen it discussed. Lotta special ops guys recommending it!


[/quote]

"Wow your pretty missinformerd m21.

I guess when your camera level you get all the attention......"

I guess so.



"US Army Snipers- One shot, one kill"

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Dice:
I understand and appreciate your position. Two things. How much info do you think the AF PA types are going to give to me? Second, I'm trying to launch a pre-emptive strike to do what little bit I can to slow the AF from killing the A-10. I'm getting help from people who love the aircraft. All off-the-record. Would appreciate anything and everything else.
Thanks.
Robert

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Robert, it will depend on what type of info you are looking for...just what do you need?

my email...

phatom2@aol.com

Ugly but well hung!

"iron cross" wtf? Have I missed yet another nickname for the DU delivery boat!! The Titanium Testafya is getting a lot of "face time" this time around, but I never heard "iron cross" LOL

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
"iron cross" wtf? Have I missed yet another nickname for the DU delivery boat!! The Titanium Testafya is getting a lot of "face time" this time around, but I never heard "iron cross" LOL

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Boomer, look at a pic of an A-10 pulling-up into the vertical (after a run) and the shape of the aircraft looks like a cross, that's where the name comes from.

Ugly but well hung!
http://www.warthogpen.com

I FIRST HEARD WHILE READING WHAT THE IRAQI'S SAID DURING "DESERT STORM"
THEN SNIPER SAID WHEN I FIRST FOUND THE BOARD.

I'VE HEARD IT CALLED ALOT OF THINGS,BUT NOT REPEATABLE HERE.

MR. CORAM,THEY HAVE THAT IN AUDIO OR LARGE PRINT?.

IF YOU WANT THE HOG'S BIGGEST FAN,DICE IS YOUR MAN!!!



PRESS TO TEST

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

Iron cross is the fictional nickname given to the A-10 in the Clancy book "Red Storm Rising" by the Soviets.

"US Army Snipers- One shot, one kill"

yeah, I picked up the referance right away, I just hadent heard it. Thanks guys.

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Iron cross is the fictional nickname given to the A-10 in the Clancy book "Red Storm Rising" by the Soviets.

"US Army Snipers- One shot, one kill"
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Ummmm Sniper you know I really really really hate to argue with you but..... They called it the Devils Cross in Red Storm Rising.

1. Don't look conspicuous; it draws fire.
2. Never draw fire; it irritates everyone around you.

_________________
\"One of you is gonna fall and die, and I'm not cleaning it up\"

Robert,
I was an A10 crew chief from 1978 to 1982. During my four years I heard many rumors and opinions regarding the fate of the A10. Knowning that the A10 was originally designed to fight in the more forrested and hillish terrain of the European theater gives one good cause for concern considering the current environment in Iraq. I have seen first hand how pilots use the mountainous or hilly terrain to conceal their approach to the target. This advantage does not exist in the desserts of Iraq making the aircraft more vunerable to ground fire.
I have heard many pilots say how they love to fly the A10 but most say it needs more power.
As a former crew chief I can attest to the fact that this was a very easy aircraft to maintain. The design abounds with redundant systems such as multiple hydraulic systems, dual vertical stabilizers, twin engines (I have seen them return on one engine), multiple component systems for operating all of the flight control surfaces including, hydraulic, mechanical/cable as well as servo control trim tabs.
This aircraft can carry up to 16,000 lbs of external ordnance and has a longer loiter time on station when compared to other aircraft. This is a welcomed asset to ground troops. No other aircraft in our current inventory can dispatch armoured vehicals such as tanks as can the A-10A Thunder Bolt II. The 30mm gun is a very low cost alternative to very expensive and sometimes unpredictable precision guided weapons such as the Maverick Air to Surface missle.
Sorry for the lengthy dialog but I thought this might help your cause.
Sincerly,
Robert Spear

Stinger, YER RIGHT!

LOL

"US Army Snipers- One shot, one kill"

Of course I'm right. I knew I was right the whole time. Had all the confidence in the world in myself... no need for me to even check the book.

**<i>quickly hides the copy of red Storm rising he was looking through to verify</i>**



<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

1. Don't look conspicuous; it draws fire.
2. Never draw fire; it irritates everyone around you.

_________________
\"One of you is gonna fall and die, and I'm not cleaning it up\"

LOL!

"US Army Snipers- One shot, one kill"