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Hi, I'm a newbie to the A-10 community and was hoping some of you could help with with a fictional story I'm writing which features an A-10 Warthog prominently. I want this to be as realistic as possible.

I'm wondering primarily about the take-off/landing capabilities of the aircraft.

How long of a runway does this aircraft need for take-off and landing?

I'm getting into a heavy hypothetical situation here, but would it be possible for an A-10 modified with giant pontoons to land in water?
And, though I highly doubt this, but would there be any conceivable way for this modified aircraft to take-off from the water?

Jeff, your post kinda' contradicts itself. In the begining you say you want it to be realistice but then what it to land on water?? Why not have a dirt or old road near the water for it to land on?
As far as take-off and landing distances that will all depend on the amount of fuel and weapons it's carrying

<img src="http://www.warthogpen.com/bs/sig1.jpg" border=0>

What if you don't own a dirt road in range of the target? I think that's what he's getting at. The weight of the pontoons will change the max load you can put on it. And it will slow it down due ot drag. You might not be able to load missiles.

"Some pup"
Nickname by Fenderstrat72

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This sounds like some Dale Brown territory to me. I think the drag deal would be the worst hell thats why the Hawg almost never flys with all three fuel tanks let alone some gaingitic pontoon setup. But hell thats what fiction is for right?

..let me just reach over to my "world aricraft information files"...

ok.. take off... fully laden 4,000ft... more lightly loaded... 1,000ft. maybe 800ft with just fuel... and no weapons...
landing... well... umm.. going purely from a flight simulator i have... a good pilot could land in a little less than the equivilant take off length...

as for the whole float thing... use your imadgination... basically take off would take heaps longer and landing would take a whole heap less.... maybe a fully laden aircraft could take off in... 6,000ft.. maybe a bit more... and landing... 2,000ft.... im not sure...

but i dont think anyone will really mind considering your writting about something thats never been tried...

BUT WHATEVER YOU DO>>> DO NOT... i reapeat DO NOT forget that the a-10 has no radar!!!!!! tom clancy screwed that up big time...

cheers

You might as well put a big "laser beam" on the nose. Drag and balance would never allow a pontoon set up and the shock would probably destroy the beefiest of wings. Dirt road definately works....no problems with sucking up rocks.

Smitty

RADAR....Sure the Howg has RADAR its in 6 little antennas on the empanauge (forgive my spelling). Good ol' RADAR altimeter. LOL