11012

A-10 Thunderbolt II
Tom Żmuda

A-10 Thunderbolt II
First Edition
Lublin 2005

Photos:
Tom Żmuda, Jarosław Manek, Dari-
usz Jeżewski, Krzysztof Barcz

Photos at the cover:

Dariusz Jeżewski

Serie Editor:
Albert Osiński

Translation: Tomasz Szlagor
Proof reading: Agnieszka Skrzypek
Design: KAGERO STUDIO
Tomasz Gąska
OW KAGERO
ul. Mełgiewska 7-9
20-952 Lublin
tel./fax (+48-81) 749 11 81
tel./fax (+48-81) 759 65 03
e-mail: kagero@kagero.pl
marketing@kagero.pl
www.kagero.pl
ISBN 83-89088-82-7
© All rights reserved
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Cena detaliczna: 22,00 PLN
A-10 USAF close-support attack aircraft
The Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II, is the first USAF aircraft
developed specially to provide aerial fire in support of ground
troops. The aircraft is designed to be re-fuelled, re-armed,
and serviced with minimal equipment. Its short take off and
landing capability permit operation from airstrips close to
the front lines. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is also known as the
Warthog, the Flying Gun and the Tankbuster.
USAF AX (Attack-Experimental) program was initiated in
1967 to obtain aircraft optimised for close air support and
antitank operations. Fairchild-Republic YA-10A won fly-off
competition against Northop YA-9A. Deliveries to USAF
started in march 1976- 5 months behind original schedule.
The A‑10 is designed around the GAU-8/A 30 mm seven- bar-
relled cannon, which is the world’s most powerful airborne
gun. The GAU-8/A fires armour-piercing rounds with deplet-
ed uranium cores. The gun has a maximum effective range
of about 1800 m. However, the principal weapon of the A-10
is the AGM-65 Maverick missile. Survivability is the key to
the shape of the A-10. Engines are mounted high on the
rear fuselage where they are shrouded from ground fire
from most angels by either the wings or tailplane. Turbofan
engines were chosen to power aircraft because they give off
less heat than conventional engines. Titanium armour bath-
tubs protect pilot and the central controls against enemy
fire. The aircraft can survive direct hits from armour-pierc-
ing and high explosive projectiles up to 23mm. Self-sealing
fuel cells are filled with a  foam to prevent tank explosion.
All A-10’s controls are duplicated and designed to work even
when hydraulic pressure is lost due to enemy fire. The A-10/
OA-10 have excellent manoeuvrability at low air speeds and
altitude. A-10 was designed for rapid and easy maintenance.
The Thunderbolt II can be serviced and operated from bases
with limited facilities near battle areas. A built-in ladder
allows the pilot to enter or exit the aircraft without assis-
tance. Many of the aircraft’s parts are interchangeable left
and right, including the engines, main landing gear and
vertical stabilizers.
Delivery of aircraft to USAF units began in 1976 and ended
in 1984.Over 350 A-10 aircraft are in service with the US
Air Force, Air Combat Command, the US Air Force Reserve
and the Air National Guard. In 2005, the US Air Force of-
ficially launched the Precision Engagement Program for
upgrade A/OA-10 fleet to A-10C version.
War service
The A-10 was first time in combat during Persian Gulf War
in 1991. In the Gulf War, A-10s had a mission capable rate of
95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90 percent of
the AGM-65 Maverick missiles. Thunderbolts were credited
with destruction of about 1000 Iraqi tanks and over 1000
artillery pieces. Two Thunderbolt II air-to-air kills during
Gulf War were gained using the 30 mm cannon. Only six
aircrafts were lost in the war, all to ground-launched enemy
missiles.
A-10s again saw combat service in the 1999 in Kosovo, in
later stages of the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, and in the
invasion of Iraq.
Tom Żmuda
 Fot. Dariusz Jeżewski
A-10A Thunderbolt II 80-0223 FT from 75th Fighter Squadron (FS) 23rd Fighter Group (FG), Pope Air Force Base (AFB) • A-10A Thunderbolt II 80-0223 FT z 75 Dywizjonu
Myśliwskiego 23 Grupy Myśliwskiej, stacjonującej w Pope AFB

4 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
Fot. Dariusz Jeżewski

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 5

 A-10A Thunderbolt II 79-210 DM from 355 FW 358 FS „Lobos” from Davis-Monthan AFB, A-10A Thunderbolt II 80-0152 from 103 FS 111 FW NAS, JRB Willow Grove, PA • A-10A
AZ • A-10A Thunderbolt II 79-210 DM z 355 FW 358 FS „Lobos”, Davis-Monthan AFB Thunderbolt II 80-0152 z 103 FS 111 FW NAS, JRB Willow Grove

Fot. Dariusz Jeżewski

A-10A Thunderbolt II 78-0626 MA from 104 FW 131 FS, Barnes MAP, MA • A-10A A-10A Thunderbolt II 81-0998 BC from 110 FW 172nd FS Battle Creek, ANGB, MI •
Thunderbolt II 78-0626 MA z 104 FW 131 FS, Barnes MAP A‑10A Thunderbolt II 81-0998 BC z 110 FW 172 FS Battle Creek, ANGB

6 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
Fot. Dariusz Jeżewski

A-10A Thunderbolt II 78-0639 CT from 118 FS 103 FW, Bradley ANGB • A-10A Thunderbolt II 78-0639 CT z 118 FS 103 FW, Bradley ANGB

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 7

 Fot. Dariusz Jeżewski
8 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
OA-10A
Thunderbolt
II 80-0194
FT 74th FS
23rd FG,
Pope AFB
• OA-10A
Thunderbolt
II 80-0194
FT 74 FS
23 FG, Pope
AFB
Fot. Dariusz Jeżewski

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 9

 A-10A of the
111th FW,
103rd FS
Blacks Hogs
NAS JRB
Willow Grove
• A-10A
ze 111 FW,
103 FS
Blacks Hogs
NAS JRB
Willow Grove

The Canopy
of the A-10
and open
ladder •

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Osłona
­kabiny pilota
i rozłożona
drabinka

Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Fot. Tom Żmuda

10 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
 Boarding ladder • Drabinka
Fot. Tom Żmuda

A-10A from Cradle of Aviation Museum • A-10A z Cradle of Aviation Museum

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 11

 Fot. Tom Żmuda
A-10A from Cradle of Aviation Museum • A-10A z Cradle of Aviation Museum

12 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
Fot. Tom Żmuda

Fot. Jarosław Manek

Front view of the A-10A nose section.Note the forward fuselage was designed around
the GAU-8A cannon and its ammunition • Przód kadłuba A-10A z działkiem GAU-8A

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 13

 Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

GAU-8A cannon • Działko GAU-8A

Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Open access panel to gun compartment • Otwarty panel działka

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 Ammunition
feed duct
mechanism
Fot. Tom Żmuda

details •
Detale po­
dajnika
amunicji

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 15

 Details of
the ammuni-

Fot. Tom Żmuda

tion drum •
Detale bębna
z amunicją

16 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
 30 mm
7‑barrel
General Elec-
tric GAU 8
Gatling
Canon •
Siedmiolu-
fowe działko
GAU-8
Fot. Tom Żmuda

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 17

18

The canopy • Osłona kabiny pilota

www.kagero.pl
Fot. Jarosław Manek Fot. Tom Żmuda

TOPSHOTS

Fot. Tom Żmuda Fot. Tom Żmuda

 Pilot’s canopy in open position • Osłona kabiny pilota w pozycji otwartej
Fot. Tom Żmuda

Canopy controls •
Urządzenia otwierania
Canopy hinge mechanism • Mechanizm podnoszenia osłony kabiny kabiny

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 19

 Throttle quadrant including engine con-
trol panel • Dźwignia przepustnicy
i panel kontrolny silnika

Fot. Jarosław Manek

Control stick
• Drążek
Details of canopy • Szczegóły osłony kabiny pilota sterowniczy

20 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
Fot. Tom Żmuda

Pilot’s cockpit • Kabina pilota

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 21

 AAS-35 Pave
Penny laser
seeker pod
• Laser-
owy system
oznacza-
nia celów
AAS‑35 Pave
Penny

Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Fot. Jarosław Manek
Fot. Jarosław Manek

Front landing gear well cover • Klapa wnęki podwozia przedniego

22 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Details of nosewheel bay • Detale wnęki podwozia przedniego

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 23

 Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Forward retracting steering nose undercarriage • Podwozie przednie

24 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
 Fot. Jarosław Manek
Fot. Tom Żmuda

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Centre of fuselage • Środkowa część kadłuba UHF Tacan aerial and 111 FW insignia • Antena UHF Tacan i oznaczenia 111 FW

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 25

 Open cover
single-point
refueling
panel • Ot-
warta pokry-
wa instalacji
tankowania

Fot. US Airforce by Staff Sgt. Corey A. Clements

Fot. Tom Żmuda
Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Jarosław Manek

Undercarriage pod fairing with pressure refuelling point. 303rd FS insignia of the
fusealage and ventral fin • Komora podwozia głównego. Widoczne oznaczenie 303 FS
i stateczniki podkadłubowe

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 Pressure
refueling
connection
removable
panel •
Pokrywa
tankowania
paliwa

Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

The naviga-
tion light on
the wing tip
• Światło
nawigacyjne
na końcu
skrzydła
Fot. Jarosław Manek
Fot. Jarosław Manek
Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Pitot’s tube • Rurka Pitota

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 27

 Inboard and
outboard
slotted flaps
• Klapy
szczelinowe

Aileron hydraulic jack • Siłownik lotki

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Elevator
hinge •
Zawias steru
wysokości

28 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
Fot. Jarosław Manek

Details of main gear • Detale podwozia głównego

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 29

 Mainwheel

Fot. Tom Żmuda

bay details
• Wnęka
podwozia
głównego

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 Main land-
ing gear
leg • Goleń
podwozia
głównego
Fot. Tom Żmuda

AN/ALE-40 Counter Measure Dispenser System (CMDS) of Chaff/Flare dispensers •

System CMDS wyrzutnika dipoli i flar AN/ALE-40

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 31

 Auxiliary Power Unit [APU] exhaust • Wydech jednostki zasilania pomocniczego Chaff/Flare dispensers • Wyrzutnik dipoli i flar

Fot. Tom Żmuda

View of A-10A of the 103rd FW,118 FS Flying Yankes • A-10A 118 Dywizjonu
Myśliwskiego „Flying Yankees” ze 103 Skrzydła Myśliwskiego, Powietrznej Gwardii Nar-
UHF/Tacan antenna • Antena UHF/Tacan odowej Connecticut z Windsor Locks

32 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
Fot. Tom Żmuda

Fot. Tom Żmuda

The General Electric TF-34 engine mounted high on the rear fuselage • Silnik General
Electric TF-34
Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 33

 Engine ex-
haust duct
• Część
wylotowa
silnika

Details of
the Gen-
eral Electric
TF34-GE-100
engine •
Detale sil-

Fot. Tom Żmuda

nika Gen-
eral Electric
TF34-GE-100

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Fot. Tom Żmuda

TF-34 Engine
• Silnik TF-34

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 35

 Tailcone with navigation light and rear radar warning receiver (RWR) • Część ogonowa
ze światłem nawigacyjnym i detektorem promieniowania radarowego

Fot. Tom Żmuda

36 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
Fot. Tom Żmuda

The right vertical tail outside view • Prawy statecznik pionowy

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 37

 Fot. Tom Żmuda
Rocket missile AIM-9 Sidewinder • Pocisk rakietowy AIM-9 Sidewinder Multiple ejector rack • Uniwersalna belka uzbrojenia MER

38 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
Fot. Tom Żmuda

AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface guided missile • Pocisk rakietowy AGM-65 Maverick

Fot. Tom Żmuda

Technical data on A-10 Thunderbolt II

Length 16.26 m
Greatest height 4.47 m
Wingspan 17.53 m
Wing area 47.00 qm
Fot. Krzysztof Barcz
Initial climb rate 27.10 m/s
Service ceiling 10600 m
Range 4000 km
Range (max. weight) 2200 km

Max take off weight 22680.00 kg Powerplant GE TF-34-GE-100

Weight empty 9006.00 kg
Max. speed 721 km/h

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 39

 Fot. Tom Żmuda
Fot. Tom Żmuda
Port wing stores pylons with weapons. We can see AGM-65 Maverick, LAU-68 rocket
MXU-648 baggage pod with marking of the 103rd FW, CT ANG • Pojemnik transpor- pod, cluster bombs, and the AIM 9 Sidewinder • Uzbrojenie podwieszone pod lewym
towy MXU-648 skrzydłem

Fot. Jarosław Manek

Fot. Tom Żmuda

40 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
 Three fuselage stores pylons • Podkadłubowe belki uzbrojenia MER with Mk. 82 General Purpose Bomb • Wyrzutnik MER z bombą Mk. 82
Fot. Tom Żmuda

Rockeye Mk-20 anti armour cluster bomb and GBU-12 smart bomb mounted on under-
wing stores pylons • Bomby Mk-20 i GBU-12

A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 41

 Unguided rockets launcher pod and Mk-20 Rockeye bomb • Wyrzutnia niekierowanych
pocisków rakietowych oraz bomba Mk-20

Fot. Tom Żmuda

2.75 inch unguided rocket • Niekierowany pocisk rakietowy 2,75 cala

42 www.kagero.pl TOPSHOTS
A-10 Thunderbolt II www.kagero.pl 43
 ISBN 83-89088-82-7

OA-10A Thunderbolt II 80-0258 BC from 172 FS 110 FW MI ANGB.

This is the aircraft that was hit an Iraqi SAM missile over Baghdad on April 8, 2003
OA-10A Thunderbolt II 80-0258 BC ze 172 FS 110 FW MI ANGB.

FS 36270 FS 36559

Samolot ten został trafiony iracką rakietą nad Bagdadem 8 kwietnia 2003 r.
Rys. Arkadiusz
Wróbel