|
A-10
Jul 22, 2015 17:22:10 GMT
Post by deadwoodgultch on Jul 22, 2015 17:22:10 GMT
This post is directed to Alfakilo. If USAF gives up your bird will the Marines and/or Army pick it up? What do you know of next generation A - platforms? We are due.
Regards, Tom
|
|
|
A-10
Jul 22, 2015 17:41:02 GMT
Post by quincannon on Jul 22, 2015 17:41:02 GMT
Not AK of course, but had that been proposed, giving the Army the A-10, thirty years ago, I think the Army would have grabbed it with both hands.
I don't believe the roles and missions agreements currently in effect would allow such an action.
Remember where the 135th got the Caribous from and why.
I don't think you are going to see any more A's in the structure, at least not as manned platforms. More likely a multi-role F or an F/A.
I would love to hear what AK thinks of the F35.
Related issue for RW: Did you happen to see the blub yesterday or the day before about North Dakota's deployment with submersible drones (unmanned submarines). Evidently she just returned from a multi-month deployment testing the concept.
|
|
|
A-10
Jul 22, 2015 17:56:18 GMT
Post by deadwoodgultch on Jul 22, 2015 17:56:18 GMT
Who's your daddy/granddaddy? All at some point used for ground support. Amazing how much more damage the A-10 can inflict. I know there was much in the way of changes between these generations. I know in many ways my connections are weak, but what the heck.
A-10 length 53'4" W.S. 57'7" B-25 length 52'11" W.S. 67'7" B-26 LENGTH 58'3" W.S. 71' A-26 length 58'3" W.S. 70'
|
|
|
A-10
Jul 22, 2015 18:24:47 GMT
Post by quincannon on Jul 22, 2015 18:24:47 GMT
Probably the most widely used for the USAF were two you left off Tom, the A20 Havoc/Boston, and the A-1 Skyraider.
Until the A10 came along though the best of the bunch for close air support had to be the Corsair. The next to last version of this bird was the AU1 optimized for ground support following lessons of Korea. Not many were produced, the lines going over to the F4U7 badly needed by the French in Indo China. By 54 that era had ended, but Corsairs were used into the 60's and perhaps later in one of those little noted South American disputes.
|
|
|
A-10
Jul 22, 2015 19:18:53 GMT
Post by deadwoodgultch on Jul 22, 2015 19:18:53 GMT
Navy A-6&7 were not bad either.
|
|
|
A-10
Jul 23, 2015 0:48:27 GMT
Post by royalwelsh on Jul 23, 2015 0:48:27 GMT
Related issue for RW: Did you happen to see the blub yesterday or the day before about North Dakota's deployment with submersible drones (unmanned submarines). Evidently she just returned from a multi-month deployment testing the concept. QC,
Early days for UUVs...
RW
|
|
|
A-10
Jul 23, 2015 1:03:56 GMT
Post by quincannon on Jul 23, 2015 1:03:56 GMT
Agreed, but I think there is a heck of a lot of potential there.
Getting back on the air side of things. A few weeks ago here at Carson. 4-6 Cavalry was activated, then started packing for change of station to JB Lewis-McCord in Washington to join their parent 16th Aviation Brigade. Interesting organization with three troops (A-B-C) of AH64D's with an upgraded recon package making them recon/attack birds, and a fourth troop (D) equipped with RQ7 UAVs. In many ways this goes back to the Howze Board of 1962, and the 16th AB looks very much like the air cavalry brigade envisioned in the HB report. Will be keeping my eye on this one.
|
|
|
A-10
Jul 23, 2015 1:17:16 GMT
Post by deadwoodgultch on Jul 23, 2015 1:17:16 GMT
There was much talk of Air Cav back before my hair went from blond to gray. Interesting drop concepts in GA late 60's early 70's. We had fun with HU-16's and Caribou's the Army had more with Huey's working on rapid deployment delivery mechanics. I have never seen so many hungry people, so hungry. They worked their a$$es off. The pulp mills stunk.
Regards, Tom
|
|
|
A-10
Jul 23, 2015 1:28:09 GMT
Post by quincannon on Jul 23, 2015 1:28:09 GMT
Tom: I have thought for a long time that ground cavalry is a thing of the past.
People as far back as 1918 started thinking that cavalry's future was in the air, ranging far out in front to see, guard, cover, and strike. Up until recently we did not have the right platforms, the right horse o to speak. Today we do and those horses are getting faster and much more capable. The UAV brings another dimension where we can get in those places to hot for the horse with a little pony that can both see and talk.
If you get a chance google 16th Aviation Brigade and look at their structure. Add a light Infantry battalion, and the 16AB can do anything a cavalry division could do in olden times, over ten times as much battle space. Very unique organization.
|
|
|
A-10
Jul 23, 2015 12:01:55 GMT
Post by deadwoodgultch on Jul 23, 2015 12:01:55 GMT
Chuck,
The base location is well chosen. Parentage is strong. Mission vague enough to be effective.
The top, CSM Coley has his share of awards and decorations over and above the traditional been there done that stuff.
The bird O-6, Ryan, is certainly well rounded,2nd Masters is not easy, Georgetown does not give out or rubber stamp them. The man would be a natural for State Department after retirement. Which means he won't be there.
Regards, Tom
|
|
dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
|
Post by dave on Jul 23, 2015 19:37:30 GMT
Who's your daddy/granddaddy? All at some point used for ground support. Amazing how much more damage the A-10 can inflict. I know there was much in the way of changes between these generations. I know in many ways my connections are weak, but what the heck. A-10 length 53'4" W.S. 57'7" B-25 length 52'11" W.S. 67'7" B-26 LENGTH 58'3" W.S. 71' A-26 length 58'3" W.S. 70' All beautiful birds but would it not have been great if the Douglas A 1 had been introduced prior to the April 1942 Doolittle Raid instead of coming to the fleet in December 1946? They sure would have done a lot more damage than the B-25 s and made it to China with wing tanks. Regards Dave
|
|
|
A-10
Jul 23, 2015 22:31:42 GMT
Post by quincannon on Jul 23, 2015 22:31:42 GMT
I suppose you both know that the AD1 (later the A1) was first conceived by Douglas to be a replacement for their own TBD as a torpedo bomber. A fine aircraft. We did a live fire company attack problem in the basic course at Benning with four of them lending close air support. The four of them worked that target over for what seemed like forever.
|
|
dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
|
A-10
Jul 25, 2015 0:03:05 GMT
Post by dave on Jul 25, 2015 0:03:05 GMT
|
|
|
A-10
Feb 21, 2016 21:41:28 GMT
Post by deadwoodgultch on Feb 21, 2016 21:41:28 GMT
This is old but I came across the reference to my sister unit out of Baltimore.
A-10 OEF Deployment Status
Currently deployed to the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, is the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron with twelve A-10Cs from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing (USAFE), Spangdahlem AB, Germany.
The 81st EFS replaced an Air National Guard "Rainbow Team" which consisted of elements from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing (Maryland ANG), Martin State AP Air Guard Station, Baltimore, Maryland (tailcode MD), and from the 184th Fighter Squadron, 188th Fighter Wing (Arkansas ANG), Fort Smith Regional Airport, Fort Smith, Arkansas (tailcode FS).
|
|
|
A-10
Feb 22, 2016 23:49:34 GMT
Post by quincannon on Feb 22, 2016 23:49:34 GMT
Tom: In Air Force terminology what is the meaning of the word - expeditionary - as it is used in the above post?
My reading is that it is a term meaning put together, temporary, elements from several sources, taking the designation from the hqs. element of the squadron or wing. Is that a correct interpretation.
Lest anyone sell short the Air Guard, the 104th for several years running was the number 1 A-10 unit in the Air Force - Regular-Guard-Reserve. Fantastic bunch of guys, who supported many a training exercise I participated in.
|
|