"KnifeKnut" (KnifeKnut)
01/25/2014 at 11:30 • Filed to: plane-opnik
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"KnifeKnut" (KnifeKnut)
01/25/2014 at 11:30 • Filed to: plane-opnik | 2
| 11 |
What I cannot wrap my skull around is why anyone could have thought that the F-35 could replace the A-10. Even if you do not count the far superior strafing abilities allowed by the
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! rotary cannon vs. the 25mm GAU-22 (in the external belly pod of this B model) it is superior in the Close Air Support role.
Brian Silvestro
> KnifeKnut
01/25/2014 at 11:45 |
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I don't know much about planes, but wouldn't the F35 replaces the aging F16? Also, The A10 should NEVER be put out of production, it's awesome.
Bad Idea Hat
> Brian Silvestro
01/25/2014 at 11:59 |
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They've been trying to replace the A-10 forever. It's one of those few examples nowadays where they built an aircraft that does one thing, and that one thing amazingly. Additionally, these are built to live forever. The latter is a problem for defense contractors and their congressmen, and the former is the excuse they use (only does one thing! Waste of resources!).
The A-10 would outlive the B-52 in a just world.
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Brian Silvestro
> Bad Idea Hat
01/25/2014 at 12:02 |
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A beautiful world it would be. Politics! Awful.
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KnifeKnut
> Brian Silvestro
01/25/2014 at 12:02 |
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That is what the intention was, but it is becoming too expensive an aircraft to purchase in the requisite numbers to be a true replacement. The idea here was originally to be the same as the F-15/F-16 pairing: an expensive, specialist air superiority platform (F-22), and a larger number of less expensive, smaller, multirole fighters (F-35).
The F-18 E/F are F-18 in name and similar looks. It is a larger, more expensive, more capable (than the previous F-18), multirole aircraft that the F-35 B/C was supposed to slot under and supplement.
STAGGERED-6
> KnifeKnut
01/25/2014 at 12:22 |
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Fact of the matter is that the F35 replaces nothing that we don't already have. As far as close air support for troops in contact there is not a single aircraft better than the A10 in the inventory right now. There's been discussion every couple years since retiring the last A1 Skyraider, that the Air Force could use turboprop cas aircraft again. It's sad that they're moving even further in the opposite direction by sacking the A10. I can't imagine the 35 being any better for cas than the 16 and that's not saying much.
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Brian Silvestro
> KnifeKnut
01/25/2014 at 12:25 |
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Ok now I understand. More military funding!
f86sabre
> STAGGERED-6
01/25/2014 at 12:29 |
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It has gone so far that the Army and Marines have stated they would take the A-10 if the Air Force wants to park it. That is saying something.
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STAGGERED-6
> f86sabre
01/25/2014 at 12:36 |
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Sure is, the combat dragon 2 program began last year I believe and they're considering updating the ov10G for counter insurgency ops to support socom.
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STAGGERED-6
> STAGGERED-6
01/25/2014 at 12:38 |
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Also considered using Air Tractors as we'll. I'm very familiar with the air tractor and ag cat as we use them out here in az for towing gliders.
You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
> KnifeKnut
01/25/2014 at 13:06 |
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Whatever idiot thinks the F-35 can do CAS any where near as good as the A-10 needs to be beat with a sock full of GAU8 ammo. F-35 will have worse low altitude survivability, less loiter time, less firepower, higher stall speed. It just doesn't work.
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KnifeKnut
> You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
01/26/2014 at 11:46 |
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For those unaware of the scale of this ammunition. You are also now aware that there do exist Kevlar socks that might actually stand up to such punishment.