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Hi all,

Shameless self-promotion here from a longtime lurker, but thought some of you might be interested in an article I wrote for the November issue of Atlantic Flyer, a monthly aviation newspaper sent to airports and subscribers on the east coast. "East Coast 'Hog' Drivers Are Here For The Long Haul," is the cover story this month, and deals with the recent combat history of the east coast A-10 units, the LITENING pod, and the Precision Engagement program.

You can find the article on both the Atlantic Flyer website at http://www.aflyer.com/ATLANTIC.html (through November), or <b>my own web site</b>, at <b>http://www.sponauer.com/eastcoasthogs/index.html</b>. Same article in both locations, but the version at my web site has the images in color, and includes links to a couple of other A-10 related articles I've done.

Any feedback, comments, criticism, etc. are welcome! Hope I did the Hog and its community justice!

- John Sponauer

Don't you write articles for SimHq.com?

How is Alpha Kilo these days? havnt heard from him in a long time.

"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

I do, although I haven't done much in a while....in fact, my last article was that one linked off my site from the spring about the 103rd/104th in OIF, which Dice-Man helped me get off the ground.

But I do know that Andy's doing just fine!

- John

Good article, I especially liked the
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> By fall, two aircraft and key personnel were in Nellis AFB, Nevada. Under cover of night, jets were modified to accept LITENING. There was no manual for doing so, but after a day of running wires and integrating the pod, they were ready to try the new “eyes.”
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
The "under cover of night" was a great touch <img src=newicons/anim_bs.gif border=0 align=middle>, over the top but great.

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

I guess you got this from Mumbeles...

"The move to enhance the A-10 fleet further is spearheaded by a “Precision Engagement” (PE) program at Langley AFB, Virginia."

The PE program is based at, and lead by, a dedicated team out of the A-10 System Program Office (and a few contractors) located at HILL AFB UT! Tell Mumbels the only reason we need the "team" at Langley is when we need funding!! <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ugly But Well Hung

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
The PE program is based at, and lead by, a dedicated team out of the A-10 System Program Office (and a few contractors) located at HILL AFB UT! Tell Mumbels the only reason we need the "team" at Langley is when we need funding!! <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Hey Dice-Man,

Hope you're well.

Yeah, the same point you raised was brought up on the SimHQ boards. Obviously, no offense was intended to the Hill AFB folks....given the scope of the article (east coast) and the fact that my research into PE turned up numerous other articles from Lt. Col. Silva, Langley and the ACC was where I went for information on PE, and Lt. Col. Silva was generous with his time and information to share with me. It wasn't a slight on Hill...in fact, he mentioned the work being done there.

However, fitting the story of PE and the recent histories of five Hog units into 1,500 words unfortunately meant that pieces got cut....and I take full responsibility for doing so, along with the errors and omissions that go with it.

JMF....that "under cover of night" section was based on my notes of interviews describing the process of getting the pod up and working on the A-10. Someone at SimHQ, apparently also in the know, took issue with the phrase "integrating" in the same section. That perhaps is not the technically correct phrasing of what was done....I guess I was using the word in more general terms than perhaps I should have.

But to address the point you raised, it was clear from my notes that the process of getting the pod working on the first couple of jets was not something that was heavily advertised at the time, and - again, from my notes of the conversation - was at least started at night specifically to keep a low profile. Perhaps that's mistaken / I heard it wrong / I misunderstood, but the point in saying 'under cover of night' wasn't purposely done to give it an overly unnecessary James Bond feel, but instead to convey what was told me about the process.

Best,
- John



Edited by - Spoons on Nov 07 2004 7:31 PM

I understand John, love the article BTW! I'm doing OK, in fact I found a job with the A-10 SPO under a program called PE... ROFL!! <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ugly But Well Hung

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I understand John, love the article BTW! I'm doing OK, in fact I found a job with the A-10 SPO under a program called PE... ROFL!! <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Great....sounds like it's going to be interesting work. Exciting stuff! Good to hear all is well.

- John

Cool article. I would like to add that in the fall on 2002 the “two aircraft and key personnel” first went to Davis-Monthan AFB. Where it was found that the “day of running wires” was wrong, because it was modeled after the installation performed on the Frankenstein 79-0120 AATC (test platform). The wiring had to be tweaked due to 120’s uniqueness. We often referred to this bizarre, uncharacteristic T-1 modification as the Leavenworth MOD.
After a week of flying at DM, the jets and personnel moved to Nellis AFB where they were joined by 3 more modified aircraft and personnel on the LOLA ramp. The isolation from the main ramp helped us continue denying the existence of an A-10 targeting pod. This was the first of three actions packed, fun filled deployments to Nellis prior to OIF!
Two years later and a few minor revisions to the Monster Garage T-1 project, we anxiously await for the fielding of Suite 3 (Precision Engagement).

Thats right Dustin. They wouldn't let us near your jets. Thats definately where the "under cover" was going on. But our proof did make yours leagal and all.

BTW I did very much enjoy the article.



Edited by - JMF422nd on Nov 08 2004 5:40 PM

I have a couple of issues with that story but I liked it. I do bow to you KungFoooooooey because we all know that you are like a pointy head God.
Dustin was that first trip out the trip that involved the Scooby Doo wrapping paper going over Hoover Damn ?

By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a pearage or Westminster Abbey........Nelson

_________________
YGBSM !

Cool article, great to see how things turned out with the pod. Also like to put in a plug for us down here at Eglin. After all, we flew the pod first, even though it wasn't operational. Had to clear the aircraft to carry it before Frankenstein got modded.

Dice I take exception to the reference about Langley. Don't forget the idea behind PE came from us, and in particular our PEM "Bumpy"
Cheers
db

Being responsible means sometimes pissing people off.
Gen Colin Powell ret

Hawg166,
The Scooby Doo SEU present was on the explorer ride around the Hoover Dam from DM to Nellis.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Dice I take exception to the reference about Langley. Don't forget the idea behind PE came from us, and in particular our PEM "Bumpy"
Cheers
db

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

Point taken DB but, as you know langley has very little time for PE with day to day operations, SLEP, and the 100 other items that demand their time every minute of the day. Even when I was the ACCLO very little of my time was spent on PE because it qwas still in the building stages but, now that PE is in the test install phase it's amazing how much time and effort it takes to keep the program on schedule, under budget, and prepair for the upcoming kit-proof and field installs.

I don't mean to take anything away from Langley but I also know frist hand the job being done at Hill and the article didn't even mention them. Props to Bumpy, Mumbles, Zepp, Leo, and all the others who have came before (like yourself) and who contuine to do the job today but, PE will get on the aircraft only because of the team at Hill, Eglin, Nellis, Guard and Reserves, and all the others who have been involved.....not just langley.


BTW John I know it's not your fault and this is in no way aimed at you.

Ugly But Well Hung

Edited by - Dice-man on Nov 09 2004 04:15 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>BTW John I know it's not your fault and this is in no way aimed at you.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Hey, no offense taken....I had and have no illusions that this was the end-all, be-all article about the A-10, the pod, or what have you....it's 1,500 words, for pete's sake.

It's unrealistic to expect an article to capture the whole picture of anything, especially with such a wide scope of topics to talk about, and a confined (but generous) amount of space to do it in. Perhaps I tried to reach too far in one piece, or perhaps I reached far enough and didn't give enough detail. In any case, there was no deliberate attempt by me to downplay anyone or anything, and in the end, regardless of who did or didn't tell me something, the buck stops with the guy writing the article. I take no offense at people saying, "Hey, you forgot us" if I did. My apologies...all I ask is that people consider the framework of what I was trying to write.

In the end, I think (admittedly, I'm biased) that the A-10 community gained a decent profile piece about some exciting things done, and still to come. I'm proud of that, just like you guys are justifiably proud of what you're doing with the aircraft.

- John



Edited by - Spoons on Nov 09 2004 9:34 PM

No offense taken here. Your article was for the general public. In here you're working a tougher crowd.
db

Being responsible means sometimes pissing people off.
Gen Colin Powell ret

What DB said! <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle> Maybe I'm just falling into the old trap of "my job is more important than the other guys!"...happens some time. I surely do not want to down-play anyone elses part in PE from the day it was born to the day it flys into combat...I have to much respect for the people I've worked with like DB, Zepp, Mumbles and a 100 others to do other wise. Didn't mean to offend DB....sorry!!

John you have always given the A-10 "Face time" and for that...thank you. BTW, there are going to be a number of "photo ops" and public info releases coming in the next year or two and I will have an inside track (as long as I don't get fired) on some of the info, I will keep you in mind.

Ugly But Well Hung

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>John you have always given the A-10 "Face time" and for that...thank you. BTW, there are going to be a number of "photo ops" and public info releases coming in the next year or two and I will have an inside track (as long as I don't get fired) on some of the info, I will keep you in mind.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Hey, that's great...thanks! I may need it....I literally have pages upon pages of information that didn't make it into this article, so I suspect there will be additional articles about the aircraft coming from me.

- John