A-10s to F-16s?

[spanky2]

A-10ynugin,
It's called being in the "drool bucket" and it is a major eye-magnet. Don't know if I could fly without a RADAR though...and Link-16 is way cool. I know a couple of guys who crashed doing night TFR / TGP ops. Be careful, the ground is hard.

 

[Slye]

Guys, I appreciate all of the feedback. After taking a look at the A-10's mission and capabilities, I would feel privileged to fly one and I definitely wouldn't use it as a stepping stone. I plan on applying to the A-10 units this year as well. I guess you can't easily narrow down a particular location or airframe that is more likely to close so I'll just have to ask during any interviews what they feel their mission will be like in 5 or 10+ years.


Mud Eagle: I searched af.mil for those speeches with no success. If you know where I can find them I wouldn't mind taking a look at them. Thanks.

 

[av8instyle]

CAS is your reason for life as an A-10 pilot

Kind of a racing analogy here: The tracks do change on the IRL circuit, but in the end all they ever do is turn left.

The A-10 is truly the CAS king, no doubt, but we get to do everything in the Viper, and it's a rocket! My squadron came back from a DCA role in Iraq last year, only to turn around this year for a hack at ...CAS. Although I admit I'll probably never get a guns track on a MiG 29 in wartime, I still get to train to it, and that's friggen fun!

 

[AlbieF15]

I work with an Eagle driver who had to notch when shot at by a Mig-25 in the early 90s. Luck, timing, and that guy turned and got away.

Later (I think the same day) a LTC Viper Driver (later an OG) shot and killed another offending Foxbat with an Amraam.

Never say never, AV8INSTYLE...and fight like you train. You cannot control your destiny, but you can be ready when destiny shows up at the door.

 

[A-10yungin]

CAS

That's my point av8. The only dudes who think CAS is CAS is CAS are the guys that suck at it. CAS from 25-35k and 15 nm away is not CAS. Real CAS is always different and always challenging. It's also getting down to 5000 ft over Baghdad in the middle of the night because there are dudes dying down there and the Mud Hens and Vipers won't come below the wx. Unlike guys with an air-to-air commitment, we train every day for a job that we do every day! I don't know a guy who knows a guy who had to react to a missile shot once, 10 years ago. I'VE had to react to a SAM shot, a AAA shot. I'VE had to help dudes out in the mud. The same applies to most of the dudes in my squadron and in 'Hog squadrons all over the world. Hogs train for CAS and then go out and do it...all of the time. It's real easy to say, "I talked to a ground guy on the radio and heaved a JDAM through the wx at him, so I am now a CAS platform"....WRONG. I know you guys have a lot on your plate and that's cool, but you can keep "always turning left" and let us help the dudes in the mud.

 

[pony251]

CAS

In defense of other platforms (b-52's, 16's, 15's, etc.), as long as a bomb goes where it is needed, then all is well. A grunt doesn't care if it is a JDAM or a GP. THe definition of CAS has expanded greatly in the last few years. I have no doubt that any mudhen or vipers driver worth his salt would break ROE and go below a hard deck if he had to in order to save the day. Also, the hog community does not have the through the wx capability (GPS weapons) that these platforms possess. That being said, there is a definite advantage in not having to play the high altitude GPS and FLIR game. A pilot gains much more SA (and risk) flying lower and slower over the target area. The loiter time is another huge plus. A hog can spend an hour picking out correct targets to destroy with all the weapons at its disposal. However, these skills must be practiced all the time and that is why the Hog is king in the CAS arena. You need to be more than a part time player to be good at it. This is especially true when the FAC can't give you a GPS quality location or have the time to talk your FLIR onto the bad guys. Sometimes you need to get down and dirty and slug it out face to face. Another factor is that the loss of an A-10 is seen as more preferable than the loss of a viper or mudhen. We are definitely the red headed stepchild of the AF. I have no problem with the viper guys making their one pass and haul a** to destroy targets and then keeping the DCA CAP going. The Hog will stick around and clean up what's left. If were still flyin and bad guys are dyin life is good for all.

 

[av8instyle]

I know you guys have a lot on your plate and that's cool, but you can keep "always turning left" and let us help the dudes in the mud.

No offense intended here...but...I don't think you quite got the analogy. Better re-read.

 

[A-10yungin]

Av8, no offense taken. I may not have understood the anaolgy (never claimed to be smart/witty/ etc.). It sure wouldn't be the first time I had my head up my a**. I took it to mean air to ground is essentially always the same. That seems to be the multi-role and air-to-air opinion of CAS. If you meant something different, sorry for the misunderstanding.
I guess it just comes down to personal preference on which jet is the one for you. I like doing CAS all of the time. On the flip side, I've never pointed the nose straight up and climbed to 35k (it takes us about 20 minutes to get up there!) and that would be cool sometimes too. Just my opinion.