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Fairchild-Republic Thunderbolt 2 — - Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt IIbr /br /355th Wing, Air Combat Command, Twelfth Air Force, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, AZ.br /br /30 mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon fires depleted uranium armor-piercing shells, 3,900 rounds per minute, 50 rounds are fired during the first second, 65 or 70 rounds per second thereafter. The gun is accurate enough to place 80 percent of its shots within a 40-foot (12.4 m) diameter circle from 4,000 feet (1,220 m) while in flight. The gun's 5-foot, 11.5-inch (1.816 m) ammunition drum can hold up to 1,350 rounds of 30 mm ammunition.br /br /The A-10 is equipped to carry the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile, GPS and laser-guided bombs, such as the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, Paveway series bombs, JDAM and Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser, WCMD, glide bomb AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon and the Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP). A-10s usually fly with an ALQ-131 ECM pod under one wing and two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles under the other wing for self-defense.br /br /USAF Air Demonstrationbr /Reno National Championship Air Races. 9-16-2007
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Fairchild-Republic Thunderbolt 2 —

Submitted

Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II

355th Wing, Air Combat Command, Twelfth Air Force, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, AZ.

30 mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon fires depleted uranium armor-piercing shells, 3,900 rounds per minute, 50 rounds are fired during the first second, 65 or 70 rounds per second thereafter. The gun is accurate enough to place 80 percent of its shots within a 40-foot (12.4 m) diameter circle from 4,000 feet (1,220 m) while in flight. The gun's 5-foot, 11.5-inch (1.816 m) ammunition drum can hold up to 1,350 rounds of 30 mm ammunition.

The A-10 is equipped to carry the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile, GPS and laser-guided bombs, such as the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, Paveway series bombs, JDAM and Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser, WCMD, glide bomb AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon and the Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP). A-10s usually fly with an ALQ-131 ECM pod under one wing and two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles under the other wing for self-defense.

USAF Air Demonstration
Reno National Championship Air Races. 9-16-2007

Comments

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Don Fitzgerald
Good shot. I wish I could see one of these make a firing run with the GAU-8.
Tom Heaverlo
Great photo! I'm with you Don... I'd like to see a firing run too... from off to the side!
ken kemper
Steve....

Great photo and details............

1st time I saw an A-10 was at Lunken Airport Cincinnati OH in 1978.
doug marshburn
I always loved this brilliant tank attack jet ,from what I heard from a few soldiers that were in the Iraq war they did great work . .One of my fav memories was one day while fishing at outlet up near Wilmington N.C.2 a-10 flew near by and I picked up their intercom on my air band radio and they were admiring some ladies on boats .
wnhanna
There is a training range up the road from the office. I always describe the 30mm sound as a [belch] followed by [flatulence], the firing vs impact. I would NOT want to be on the receiving end of that canon. Love the whine of the fans as they fly over our house at about 5000 feet on their way to the range.
user3956
I always thought these things looked great, no idea why people say they are ugly.
ROBERT MILLS JR
When I saw the A-10 up close and personal at MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida, in 1984, I was amazed how actually large it is.
Kind of like walking around and under most transport aircraft, but, especially the 747 and other jumbos.
Photographs are great, but, walking up to and around such aircraft is awe inspiring.
Excellent photograph and attached performance and capabilities documentation!
skylab72
Their size is easier to relate when you realize those two engines have also powered some fair-sized airliners...

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