Awesome Vid: Watch the U.S. Military’s A-10C Warthog Aircraft in Action
- Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:38pm by
Buck Sexton
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In an age of fancy unmanned aerial vehicles and stealth fighters, some of the meat-and-potato warfighting tools in the American arsenal get overlooked, but not today:
The Blaze brings you, the A-10 Warthog.
Officially called the A-10 Thunderbolt, this beast of the sky has proven itself time and again as a Close Air Support (CAS) all-star. It is the only airplane designed for CAS from top to bottom. U.S. soldiers and allies in every theater of war can call this monster in to back them up and they can be confident that the enemy is in big trouble.
The Warthog has often been described as a “gun with an airplane attached,” and for good reason. Its General Dynamics GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm cannon can basically destroy anything, from tanks to massed enemy formations.
The cannon’s magazine can hold 1,350 rounds of ammunition, with a firing rate of 3900 rounds a minute. Here is a short clip of the 30mm cannon in action on a hillside in Afghanistan:
And here’s a clip that shows just a glimpse of the damage it can do:
See the plane soar through the skies:
Then there’s the view from the cockpit:
The 30mm cannon — which makes the clearly identifiable ‘ripping’ sound that signals a warthog in action– is only part of the payload package. The A-10 has 11 external pylons that can be outfitted with a vast array of munitions, including maverick and sidewinder missiles.
Beyond its cannon and other offensive armaments, the Warthog airframe is perfectly suited to CAS missions. It flies low and slow, which means it can pound targets over a long period of time, and pilots can make out what is going on at ground level.
Unlike pricier and more modern airframes, the Warthog is built to take hits. Its entire cockpit and essential electronics equipment is encased in a titanium box meant to withstand direct, armor-piercing ground fire. It is a highly survivable aircraft, which means during an intense firefight, it is among the best CAS options out there.
This video gives you a solid overview of the “Hog,” a true aerial war machine that will likely see active use in conflict for many years to come (courtesy of The Daily):
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Comments (226)
whathappenedtomycountry
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:21pmYES!!! AWESOME!!!! America CAN be great again, just get the commie pig out of the White House!
Report Post »Divineliberty
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:26pmThere is nothing stealth about that fighter jet…but they do pack a punch
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:43pmDivine – who needs stealth when you have the ability of accurate close air support. Who in thier right mind would stick thier head up and squeeze off some rounds at one of those? Gonna be a real bad day for you if a warthog sees your firing position. lol
Report Post »Buck Sexton
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:55pmEditor’s Note: An earlier version of this piece included “stealth” in the title: that was an editorial glitch. It is obviously one of the least “stealth” planes on the planet, as reflected throughout the piece, including the very first line. In the final editing process, the word stealth was accidentally added to the title (not by the author) and we fixed it ASAP. Sorry about the (brief) error, Blaze readers.
Report Post »Brad Wesselmann
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:58pmAnd can take one! I remember in Desert Storm one made it back with a hole in the wing about a foot across and I think one of the engines were jacked up to boot and it still made it home, all present and accounted for. What a great aircraft!!
Report Post »knockered
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:00pmI’m proud to say I was involved in the construction of about 100 of those aircraft and can say it was the best job I ever had. They displayed that gun on family day once and believe me it was amazing.
Report Post »AMERICA4EVER
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:05pmMy favorite modern day, military aircraft. Bad a$$! They were going to retire this aircraft, but decided not to.
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:09pmCome in Low in the early Morning or Late evening Sun. It is all the stealth you need. Just as the Cobra Gun Ships did in Nam. Drove Charlie Crazy. They could hear em but couldn’t see em until it was too late.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:21pmMegatron lives!
Report Post »t00nces2
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:23pmBAD! ASS! AIRCRAFT!!!
There, not all caps
Report Post »Seabee79
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:31pmWell if I was a turbin head, wife beating, sharia law loving muslim, I would not want to see that in the sky turning around to swoop down on me. I‘d start dressing because I’d be seein my 72 virgins pretty soon.
Report Post »Lamarr01
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:32pmThe A-10 may not be stealthy on radar but to someone on the ground you can’t hear it coming. The ZZZZZZ’s from the cannons announces its presence. It does make some noise when it is flying away. Modern missiles and bombs kill without warning. The A-10 gives the Taliban time to cr*p their pants.
The defense department has been trying to make the A-10 obsolete since before Desert Storm. The F-35 will be much more expensive and technologically sophisticated. There are about 13,000 MANPAD missiles missing from Libya. These Man Portable missiles built by the Russians can knock down A-10′s and helicopters that come within range.
Report Post »Mtroom
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:34pmWell, I have to disagree with you guys on the stealth issue… After years of living at the end of the runways at Nellis A.F.Base I can say for a fact that the A-10 is still a very stealthy aircraft…Now, does it have the radar stealth of our other planes, no…But what it does have is the ability to fly far below most radar and the engines are never heard until the plane is past you…That, to me, still makes this beast (my favorite by far) a very stealthy aircraft. I have many pictures from my backyard of these planes, that are so low, you can see the pilots waving at me as i took the picture…Truly awesome.
Report Post »JustJerry
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:20pmYay, more war propaganda!! Thanks Blaze.
Report Post »Black Manta
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:38pmI’m sorry to bust your bubble but, America can never be great again for the simple fact that we forget about God now a days…Psalm 9:17
Report Post »IntegrityFirst08
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:40pmI worked with these aircraft for 9 Years in the USAF. They are AWESOME. Our unit has so much pride with these planes. They are just incredible. They are hardly stealth, but what people see today in more modern Jet engines is not what you hear in an A-10.
We were often given the Priviledge of Taking a chinook ride to the Bomb range where we can watch the A-10′s in action strafe the range with their gun. Let me tell you that the sound of the gun is WILD. UNMISTAKEABLE if you ever heard it overseas, and thats the TRUE sound of FREEDOM.
Report Post »Coulterr
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:46pmthe aircraft was actually designed around the gun.
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:48pm@ MTROOM, When were you at Nellis ?? I was there from 95 – 98. CE 99th. – I do remember those loud tank killers. What an amazing plain. I do recall when they were going to get rid of that plain. I even believe they did cut back the AF’s inventory. I loved being at Nellis. We got to see just about evry plain there is there. I even got to see an SR-71 and U-2 that had stopped in, sonic boom and all. That was NASA of course. I wonder who has those planes now that NASA is done ??
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:50pmSorry MTROOM, I meant they were loud after they had passed. I know exactly what you mean, they sneak up on you. By the time you hear them, it would be to late. ..
Report Post »65Mustang
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 4:35pmI agree!!!!!!!
Report Post »lorgrom
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 4:41pm@kickinback Awesome reference, got a real chuckle, thanks
Report Post »chazman
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 5:14pm… an American crowd pleaser. This is what we will continue to unleash on Islam! Splat!
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 5:53pmA10:
The ugliest most amazing bird in the air. It is so ugly it is beautiful. Understand it is fun to fly as well.
Report Post »SHOOTnCRASH
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 5:56pmWe never weren’t great! Who needs stealth? I want them to see us coming so they get a chance to kiss each others asses goodbye!
Report Post »LibertyUSA
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 6:17pmI once heard someone say that the plane is so slow it could get rear ended by a duck! Regardless, you do notwant to be on the receiving end of this fine aircraft.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 6:46pmthis plane can stay in the air with 3/4 of its wing missing
YES I SAID THREE QUARTERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is one bad mamma jammma
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 7:19pmAMERICA4EVER
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:05pm
My favorite modern day, military aircraft. Bad a$$! They were going to retire this aircraft, but decided not to————————————————————————————————-
My favorite also………I was in awe watching them controlling the air space over Baghdad and was in shock when I found out later that all that action was being preformed by Slims.
Report Post »ErinLindsey
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 8:01pmThis is my favorite airplane in the world!
I love the A-10! It’s an gun with an airplane built around it.
Report Post »hud
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 8:52pmIf you want to know how this plane made it past the perfumed princes of the pentagon read “Boyd” a book about a great American pilot and true genius.
Report Post »ecurbyy
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 10:09pmThat’s great! We have all these incredible destructive weapons that we can’t use because it would be politically incorrect and it might kill an enemy and destroy some of their stuff. And this type of weapon is pretty much useless in the war against terror. Common sense is our best defense. Ron Paul in 2012. Liberty, prosperity, peace. Bring our troops home and defend America from within America. We’ve got everything we need right here at home and we always have. Screw the N.W.O.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 10:54pmThey’re useless unless we have the will to use them…..and often.
Report Post »TEXIFICATION
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 12:09am“You cannot get the water to clear up until you get the pigs out of the creek.”
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:56amJEFFERSON Cool! The gift that keeps on giving…………
Report Post »lobster
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:47amI’ve wondered for many years now, why are we not making new airframe B-52s’? We’ve been refitting the engines and avionics for years now. I guess the stealth is supposed to be the “wave” of the future. At 60,000 ft. you really don’t need stealth in most bombing runs. Oh, yeah that’s right we gave the airframe equipment to the chinese under George the first from McDonnell-Douglas.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 10:50amWhere are the bodies?
By the time the pilot gets clearance to open fire from a “Political Officer” back in Washington, the enemy slips away. On You Tube a video shows where a pilot had to wait ten minutes to obtain clearance to open fire on enemy troops shooting at US Forces. We are now fight a “Democrat Party” war where we cannot kill the enemy. This is just like Korea and Vietnam.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 10:54amWe have lost the war to a military force that does not even have airplanes. The enemy does not have Democrat Senators either. The best way to have won that war would have been to send evil Senator John Kerry to Getmo.
Report Post »Dave In Arizona
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 11:05amWhat do you mean we CAN be great? We ARE great! Don’t you forget it! It‘s that jackass in the White House that’s the problem.
Report Post »Avi8or
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 4:24amI absolutely LOVE this aircraft. Had my eyes been better, I’d be sitting behind the controls of one for sure.
Some other fun videos you may have seen…
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kgusd1rN6E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBNuG5O3Zsg
Omnivore
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:21pmThe announcer says the main gun is “thirty caliber”. Uh, no. 30 mm is not 30 caliber. If we convert millimeters to inches, the 30 mm is actually, what, 118 caliber, or 1.18 inches bore diameter?
It’s funny though; It’s come to the point where I would be surprised if an announcer actually got something like that right.
Report Post »Brad Wesselmann
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:00pm…and with no spelling errors. ;-)
Report Post »PRMurphyinWA
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:21pmAwesome aircraft. Pure. Bad. Ass. Love ‘em, but they are not “stealthy” in the USAF terminology of low radar-IR signature “stealthy”. CAS mission, low level combat capable, quietER turbofan engines, etc, but not “stealth”.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:36amI like it’s daddy too. Douglas A-1 Skyraider
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:19pmWell the 20 mm cannon has been called the “whisper gun”…..imagine what happens when the gun starts tearing apart all your lovely armored vehicles….no amount of praying to Allah will save your camel’s “behind” during this moment…….stop tearing apart the article people and enjoy one of our oldest attack aircraft doing what no one else can!!! Semper Fi to all the A-10 pilots!!
Report Post »NC1
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:16pmThe A-10 is why I joined the Air Force.
Report Post »Theleftisda
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:27pmMy son joined the Airforce for that reason and is on his way to become an A-10 pilot
Report Post »Wojciech W.
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:14pmThis is the Muscle-Hot-Rod-Power-Wrath(of the Four House Men) type of loving, death dealing plane we can all love.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:19pmAmen Amen!!! :)
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:02pmI think I know what I want for Christmas this year….. ;)
Report Post »AlmostaCowboy
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:13pmAn A-10 is about as “stealthy” as a steam locomotive! And just as subtle.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 10:53pmBut not bad for 70′s tech
Report Post »Doctor Nordo
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:12pmDid they really call this badboy UGLY?!?! I personally think that it is a sexy looking aircraft.
Report Post »Thinking Man
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:11pmStealth? The A-10 is not a stealthy airplane.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:15pmStealth by survivability and total awesomeness :)
Report Post »Jethro212
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:09pmGet the word stealth out of that title before the entire USAF marches on your website. They were the mainstay at the base my parents were at, A-10s are the tank busters, warthog tank killer!
Report Post »Gary Fishaholic
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:05pmAlways did like this workhorse because of the firepower and protection it affords the pilots. Lot’s of redundancy.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:13pmNot too mention all the support to us “ground pounders”!!!
Report Post »bigglesworth
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:05pmHeadline should read: Awesome Vid: Watch the U.S. Military’s Enemy Craps their Pants A-10C Warthog Aircraft in Action.
There’s nothing stealthy about this kick ass bird.
Report Post »John0397
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:04pmStealth?? No. Deadly?? Very much so.
Report Post »Perspective
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:01pmYou can see this and many other planes at the USAF Museum near Dayton Ohio. I think the stealth part is when all the enemy hide after a flyby of one of these monsters.
Report Post »Xpat48
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:59pmI WANT ONE.
God, I’m in love for the first time.
SWEET-BABY-JESUS.
Report Post »Evil_Conservative
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:57pmStill looking for the stealth in this story. To the best of my knowledge “stealthing” this thing with all the weapons bristling would require a massive rework of the airplane. Like enclosed weapons bays and such. Good luck hiding the 30 MM cannon or keeping the armor stealthy.
Report Post »peteasdf
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:02pmYeah, warthog stealth is news to me.
Report Post »MySacredHonor
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:03pmMeanest thing in the lower sky… Terrorists crap there pants when they know this thing is around! and yes it is stealthy… if fly’s low and slow under radar… so no its not covered with some super advanced polymer coating or some such.. but its dam hard to spot! so yea.. its stealth!
Report Post »Its also so mean it doesn’t need to be that sneaky!
bccrane
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:16pmThe stealth is it can come in low and slow. We still have training flights of the A10′s come over us and you have to be quick to catch a view of them before they pass by (good thing they don‘t fire on us we wouldn’t stand a chance). Ugly jet but a beautiful sight. Years ago they would do pretend bombing runs and strikes over us, awesome sight, but there are always people in the area who complained so it is no longer done here.
Report Post »Buck Sexton
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:05pmEditor’s Comment: An early version of this posting included “stealth” in the title. That was an editorial accident, added to the title just before publication (and not by the author).
We clearly knew, as reflected throughout the piece, the Hog is not a “stealth” plane.
Apologies for the glitch, we fixed it ASAP.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:57pmReminds me of
the
TEA PARTY!
YOU GO, AMERICA!!!!
Report Post »spadikam12
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:55pmWe have everything Courage, weapons and power but missing one thing “confidence” because we don’t have a good Commander in chief.
Report Post »Lesterp
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:53pmSweet ride!
Report Post »Tituspullo
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:51pmFreedom Farts are Awesome!!! Love em
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:48pmI always liked this aircraft. Always the ulgy ones because they were the workhorses. This one live up to it‘s daddy’s reputation “The P-47 D Thunderbolt.”
Report Post »Tx Spud Bar
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 5:40pmYes a great aircraft ,but watch out the Raptor has already tasted this regimes distaste for American greatness.This armored eagle could be next.
Report Post »Cabo King
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:46pmawsom plane…watch them here in AZ, doing target practice
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:45pmI love the Warthog, there are times I have heard the plane called the “Flying Tank” and “Titanium Bathtub with Teeth.” This thing would give anyone on the receiving end nightmares just at the thought of it coming down at them and introducing itself.
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:53pmThe one I heard was the pilots called it “The Warthog” because it gets in-close to fight just like a four-legged one.
Report Post »Fleshking
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:44pmThere is absolutely nothing about this aircraft that is stealth.
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:50pmheheh dont have to be…this thing is like chuck norris…it dont win battles…it just allows the enemy to loose!! hahahah
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:54pmMy thoughts exactly! I saw the headline and wondered “what kind of mod had been made to make it ‘stealth’”? Answer — “none.” The A-10 was designed based upon the German success on the Eastern Front with the Ju-87 D (a Stuka equipped with a 37mm anti-tank cannon under each wing). On German pilot (Erich Rudel) took out 500 Soviet tanks. He was shot down at least once, but lived to write a the book “Stuka Pilot.”
Report Post »joe1234
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:29pmI’m surprised anyone else remembers Hans Ulrich Rudel…he came up with the idea to make the stuka a tank killer…
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 12:43pmThe A-10 is stealthy? Check the headline Blaze…
Report Post »CyberPro
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:00pmYes, the A-10 IS Stealhy, at least when compared with other fighter/bombers. I recently attended an airshow where A-10′s were flying low overhead, and they were really quiet. This was even when standing on an airstrip with no trees nearby, when there are trees to help absorb and deflect the sound, it is even better. I have had Harriers fly directly overhead at nearly treetop level and really fast. Those are very loud, but the sound does not get there much before the jet. In this way, those can be surprising too.
Report Post »MySacredHonor
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:01pmMeanest thing in the lower sky… Terrorists crap there pants when they know this thing is around! and yes it is stealthy… if fly’s low and slow under radar… so no its not covered with some super advanced polymer coating or some such.. but its dam hard to spot! so yea.. its stealth!
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:18pmGuys…There is a definite definition to the military use of the word “stealth.” This airplane does not have any stealth technology. It is not a stealth aircraft. Any jet flying low and fast will “sneak up to” someone on the ground.
Report Post »BlazingInSC
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:26pm@Cyberpro – “Stealth” has little to do with it’s audible level. Also, anyone who has ever heard the A-10 knows its distinctive sound (especially when firing it‘s 30’s). “Stealth” refers more to its Radar footprint. The A-10 incorporates no stealth elements of design and is very detectable using Radar… It can shrink it’s Radar footprint with flight maneuvers, but it’s by no means a “stealthy” aircraft. Submarines rely on their stealth to create the deterrence factor – but the A-10′s deterrence factor is its presence.
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 5:19pm@cyberpro
Report Post »small correction, the A-10 is not a fighter/bomber, it is a CSA “close air support” tank killer.
Strictly for support of ground units.