A-10A Thunderbolt II 81st Fighter Squadron, Operation Allied Force, Kosovo War, 1999 (1:72)

October 1975 saw delivery of the first USAF A-10a and deployment in March 1976. Built specifically for close ground support the pilot is protected by titanium armor while being covered by a bubble canopy giving a commanding view. The Warthog has everything needed to survive, dual engines; self-sealing fuel cells; redundant flight control systems protected by titanium armor; a 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun; a wide array of bombs and missiles. This plane packs a heavy punch and can stay on scene a long time to deliver.

In the Gulf War, A-10s had a mission capable rate of 95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles and were vital assets during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Noble Anvil.

In 1999 NATO was involved in an effort to drive the invading Serbian forces out of Kosovo. Using bases in Italy the unit flew over 1,400 missions in support of bombing sorties to destroy the Serbian military infrastructure. The 81st Fighter Squadron led two successful search and rescue task force missions that saw the safe recovery of a pilot from a downed F-117 and another from an F-16. During the ten week conflict NATO aircraft carried out over 38,000 combat missions.

Specifications A-10A

Crew: One

Main role: A-10 - close air support, OA-10 - airborne forward air control

Manufacturer: Fairchild Republic Co.

Power Plants: Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans
Thrust: 9,065 pounds per engine

Length: 16.16 meters (53 ft 4 ins)
Height: 4.42 meters (14 ft 8 ins)
Wingspan: 17.42 meters(57 ft 6 ins)

Speed: 420 miles per hour (Mach 0.56)

Ceiling: 13,636 meters(45,000 ft)

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 22,950 kg.(51,000 lbs.)

Range: 800 miles (695 nautical miles)

Armament: One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun; maximum 7,200 kg (16,000lbs.) of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations, including 225 kg (500 lbs.)
Mk-82 and 900 kg (2,000 lbs.)
Mk-84 series low/high drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, mine dispensing munitions,
AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs; infrared countermeasure flares;
electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 6.99 cm (2.75 in.) rockets; illumination flares and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.