No, No, my Hokie friend...the A-10 was designed from the get-go............

to be a tank killer, hence the 30MM gun, using depleted uranium bullets. Hence, the CAS (Close Air Support) role. It has evolved from dropping "dumb" (free fall) bombs, to carrying AGM-45 Maverick missles, again another anti-tank weapon, as well as LGBs (laser guided bombs).

As you probably know, the pilot is surrounded by a titanium "bath tub" type cockpit.

Also, the A-10 is no small aircraft by any means. I was parked next to one on the ramp at Shaw AFB, me in the F4-E, and I was looking level eye to eye with the pilot in the A-10.

It is not a true multi-mission aircraft, which is a drawback, but it is truly the best at what it does do.

In response to this post by HokieDan95

Posted: 10/24/2017 at 5:46PM

70th years of United States Air Force aircraft -- HokieDevil 10/23/2017 6:40PM

Well more AF pilots have been in an F4 than any other plane... ** -- UTPr0sim 10/24/2017 12:35PM

True statement -- F4EHokie 10/24/2017 4:11PM

So what's the most iconic aircraft of the u.s. Air Force? -- HokieDan95 10/23/2017 10:03PM

The B-17 Flying Fort. ** -- hokieman842 10/24/2017 10:39AM

C-130...not everything is about battle. Then the A-10. ** -- Major Kong 10/24/2017 09:24AM

The air force was out to ground the a10 because it's expensive to fly -- HokieDan95 10/24/2017 10:05AM

No, No, my Hokie friend...the A-10 was designed from the get-go............ -- F4EHokie 10/24/2017 5:46PM

I stand corrected but what I really wanted to say is what you said -- HokieDan95 10/24/2017 5:52PM

You must have missed the part about Sadam having all those tanks -- EDGEMAN 10/24/2017 8:13PM

I thought that, I was in Europe when the first A-10's arrived....... -- F4EHokie 10/24/2017 5:58PM

I thought it was -- YardBird 10/24/2017 11:32AM

I'm a youtube military doc addict....link -- HokieDan95 10/24/2017 12:17PM

Cool. ** -- YardBird 10/24/2017 12:27PM

I would imagine the A10's mission is more patrol oriented -- HokieDan95 10/24/2017 4:19PM

If you compare them to The Avengers, the A-10 would be the Hulk -- EDGEMAN 10/24/2017 8:15PM

The F-22/F-35 take the term "Air Superiority" to a new level............... -- F4EHokie 10/24/2017 6:06PM

C-130 and B-52 - both have been around for 60 of the 70 years - -- agray123 10/24/2017 09:07AM

Technicality-B-17 and Mustang originated in Army Air Corps (I think?)...but -- TD-Tech 10/24/2017 08:37AM

Yes, the AF was once the Army Air Corps ** -- HokieDan95 10/24/2017 09:02AM

My Dad flew in the USAF for almost 20 years ... -- vt90 10/24/2017 07:20AM

XB-70 ** -- typed by ben 10/24/2017 06:56AM

F86 Sabre jet for me. ** -- Femoyer Hokie 10/24/2017 01:58AM

I always liked the B-58 "Hustler". Had a couple of models of it as a kid. -- MikeVT85 10/24/2017 01:08AM

Rock Lobster ** -- MEHOKIE 10/24/2017 12:48AM

B29 deserves an honorable mention ** -- HokieDan95 10/23/2017 10:52PM

F16 ** -- reestuart 10/23/2017 10:41PM

I would vote either B-52 or SR-71. ** -- Tafkam Hokie 10/23/2017 10:24PM

One of my boss's jobs in the AF was putting out the fires left on the -- HokieDan95 10/24/2017 08:08AM

I might have to go with this, since it's been in service almost as long -- Hokie360 10/23/2017 10:21PM

I think they are scheduled to retire all of them after 80 years -- HokieDan95 10/23/2017 10:51PM

Maybe, but there is a move afoot to re-engine them.............. -- F4EHokie 10/24/2017 8:30PM

No, No, my Hokie friend...the A-10 was designed from the get-go............

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