My USAF service took up a very short period of my life. I earned a B.S. and Masters degrees, married and had a son, lost that son to cancer at age 15, held a career as a Juvenile Probation Officer, worked in retail logistics, acted in two independent films, sang baritone in choirs and performed many solo pieces as well, fished a lot, hunted some, and traveled some. Even those events are just highlights of my 60+ years of life. Retired early when physical limitations made it a necessity, and have built a small house in our piece of the northern Minnesota forest.
1974-1975, A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog)
From Year 1974
To Year 1975
Personal Memories
When assigned to the 84th TCF at George AFB, a small team of us went TDY to Edwards AFB, and during a tour of the base we were introduced to the "new" A-10. It was still in testing, so didn't have any designators painted on yet. Lt.Col.Shaw, a pilot himself, couldn't get over the off center nose gear.
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A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog) Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications
Model Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II (Warthog) Length 53.31 ft | 16.25 m Width 57.51 ft | 17.53 m Height 14.67 ft | 4.47 m Engine(s) 2 x General Electric TF34-GE-100 non-afterburning turbofan engines generating 9,065lbs of thrust each. Empty Weight 27,999 lbs | 12,700 kg MTOW 51,998 lbs | 23,586 kg Max Speed 439 mph | 707 km/h | 382 kts Max Range 474 miles | 763 km Ceiling 34,695 ft | 10,575 m | 6.6 miles Climb Rate 6,000 ft/min (1,828 m/min) Hardpoints 11 Armament 1 x 30mm GAU-8/A Seven-Barrel Gatling Gun
Up to 16,000 pounds (7,200 kilograms) of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations, including:
