Here's a friendly reminder of how big the A-10 Warthog's gun is

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-friendly-reminder-big-10-190432524.html


Here's a friendly reminder of how big the A-10 Warthog's gun is
[Alex Lockie]
July 28, 2016
GAU 8 vw a-10 gun
GAU 8 vw a-10 gun

(The GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun next to a VW Type 1. Removing an installed GAU-8 from an A-10 requires first installing a jack under the aircraft's tail to prevent it from tipping, as the cannon makes up most of the aircraft's forward weight.US Air Force photo)

On Thursday, we saw for the first time the brand new F-35B/C variant's GAU-22 25 mm gun pod firing, and as impressive as it was, it's not even close to the best gun on the force.

What you're looking at above is the biggest asset for, and the biggest argument against, the A-10 Warthog. You can plainly see how the massive, 4,000 pound (including ammo), almost 20-foot long GAU-8 Avenger dwarfs the classic VW bug next to it. The firepower of that gun has become the stuff of legend over the last decades.

But that's the problem; this picture was taken in the late 1970s. As big and awesome as this gun is, much has changed in aviation, in the battle space, and in the world since it was first fielded. Case in point — you just don't see VW bugs on the road anymore.

So while the A-10 still holds the title of best and biggest gun, the close air support of the future makes different demands on a weapons system. Even though it may still have useful days ahead, the A-10's days at the top are numbered.

The idiots that are attempting to mothball this gun system should be drummed out of the military IMHO..
AS ENEMY TROOPS, ARTILLERY AND ARMOR (TANKS,ETC.) ALL FEAR THE AWESOME LETHAL POWER OF THIS DEADLY MACHINE.-TYR

[Elessar]

The F-35 is too fast to support a ground support mission as well
as an A-10 can. Low and slow is far better.

The old P-47 was as fast as a P-51 or P-38. But that was before jets, and it was tough! Now the
A-10 has P-47 speed.

Shit, Pentagon...if it ain't broken, don't fix it! Buy more!

[Gunny]

The F-35 is too fast to support a ground support mission as well
as an A-10 can. Low and slow is far better.

The old P-47 was as fast as a P-51 or P-38. But that was before jets, and it was tough! Now the
A-10 has P-47 speed.

Shit, Pentagon...if it ain't broken, don't fix it! Buy more!

If that ain't no sh*t. The P-47 Thunderbolt was a monster that could take a LOT of punishment. The great uncle flew them in WWII.

I don't get why people that don't know what they're talking about get to make these decisions. They all think Air Force fighters. Look at Nam. They busted out the prop-driven Skyraider.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess since I don't know te A-10's spec, but I'm betting a LHA/D isn't long enough for them to take off and land. Then there's storage space. I'm sure if it was worth it we'd have used them on float.

Instead we got that POS Harrier which at any given time 6 of the 12 might actually work. I'd be afraid to fly one. Another political decision. If I could have chosen to shove anything off the ship to lighten the load, those flying Yugo's would have been at the top of the list.

We had a squadron Supercobra's. Those things are badass.

[Elessar]

If that ain't no sh*t. The P-47 Thunderbolt was a monster that could take a LOT of punishment. The great uncle flew them in WWII.

I

P-47's were under-rated in favor of the P-51.

That plane could take a beating that a Mustang could not. P-38's
were even better for that, than the P-51.

[Gunny]

P-47's were under-rated in favor of the P-51.

That plane could take a beating that a Mustang could not. P-38's
were even better for that, than the P-51.

I don't think it was under-rated so much as it was eclipsed. The Luftwaffe would engave the P-47's as soon as possible, forcing them to drop their external fuel tanks. They had no range at that point.

The P-51 was the perfect example of lessons learned. It sucked until they replaced that Allison engine with a Merlin, produced by Rolls Royce. Until then, the P-47 was the better plane. The "Jug's" liabilities were altitude and range.

But look at the big picture. The Spitfire, commonly accepted as one of the best fighters in the world was so range limited it was pathetic. The Hawker Hurricane was a relic. The Hawker Typhoon worked great at low altitude and was desert qualified.

Application has a LOT to do with those planes. We did a LOT with a bunch of junk. Claire Chenault figured out how to beat the Zero with a handful of crappy P-40s using tactics and strategy.

I'm a Marine. So I'm going to lean on the side of the F4U Corsair being the best. :)

Oh yeah. I'm also an Air Force brat. I know my planes.