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The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-turbofan, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft developed by Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force (USAF). In service since 1977, it is named after the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, but is commonly referred to as the "Warthog" or simply "Hog". [3]
The General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger is a 30 mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-style autocannon that is primarily mounted in the United States Air Force's Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. Designed to destroy a wide variety of ground targets, the Avenger delivers 30mm rounds at a high rate of fire.
Later, the company built McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II tail sections, Grumman F-14 Tomcat tails, and Space Shuttle orbiter stabilizers. In 1964, the company purchased Hiller Aircraft , changing its name to Fairchild Hiller and producing the FH-1100 , until 1973 when the helicopter division was sold back to Stanley Hiller.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the only jet purpose-built by the US military to provide close-air support to ground troops — its most fearsome feature being its powerful 30mm Gatling gun.
One of the heroes of Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising, the A-10 "Warthog" may soon fly off into the sunset. Sunset for the A-10 Thunderbolt II? Source: Wikimedia Commons. First flown by manufacturer ...
"The coolest thing I've ever done in an airplane to this day is shooting the gun," the A-10 pilot and squadron commander said. Here's what a seasoned A-10 Warthog pilot says it feels like to fire ...
However, the YA-9 was dropped in favor of the A-10. [19] 1972 [19] N/A 2 Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II: Close air support attack aircraft Fairchild Republic: Known for its 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger. [20] [21] First production version was delivered in October 1975. [20] 1972 [21] October 1977 [21] 716 [22] McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II
A-10 Thunderbolt II. In 1956, Fairchild built the Fokker F-27 Friendship passenger airplane, the first American-built airliner in service. [clarification needed] Fokker licensed the design to Fairchild so it could be made in the US; Fairchild also made a stretched version of this aircraft called the FH-227.