Full and comprehensive account of the origins, design, and of the
A-10A Warthog.
The Fairchild-Republic A-10A Close Support aircraft has become a legend
over its long front line life. Known as the Warthog due to her unusual
appearance, this little aircraft has built up an awesome reputation in
the specialized ground-attack role, where her accuracy and deadliness
are widely recognized as the best of their kind.
Hard lessons from the Second World War, that were reinforced by the
bitter experience of the Vietnam War two decades later, showed that it
was both impracticable and highly non-cost efficient to use supersonic
fighter jets in the close air support mission. A requirement was
therefore drawn up for an aeroplane capable of carrying a heavy and
varied load of ordnance, which had good endurance and unprecedented
maneuverability, and which could survive heavy ground fire - thus the
A-10 was born. But, by the time it came into service her role had
changed to that of a tank-buster in the defense of Western Europe in the
face of the overwhelming numbers of Soviet battle armor.
With her straight wing, twin tails and turbine engines mounted high on
her rear fuselage, this single-seat aircraft certainly presented a
unique appearance. But all these features served a vital role, as Peter
C. Smith explains in this highly detailed study.
Although the Warthog's expected missions on the plains of Germany did
not materialize, she did destroy hundreds of Soviet-built tanks during
the Gulf wars. The A-10 has also flown almost continuous missions over
the Balkans, against the Taliban in Afghanistan, and ISIS in Iraq and
Syria.
In this beautifully illustrated and comprehensive volume, Peter C Smith
brings the A-10's incredible story right up to date.
