The Titanium Bathtub Cockpit
A-10 Thunderbolt II: Warthog - Part 2
Ah, the A-10. An amazing aircraft; beautiful to watch, but fatal to its foes. Known as the Thunderbolt in official Air Force materials, it’s called the Warthog by those who love it and those who fear it.
Just like its namesake, the Warthog is known for its lethal demeanor and easily recognizable appearance: teeth or tusks are painted onto the cone. It also has a GAU-8 Avenger 30mm Gatling gun on the nose. (Military.com)
The Warthog has fantastic maneuverability at low altitudes with low airspeeds. The A-10’s gun can fire around 64 rounds per second. Its accuracy makes it even more deadly. (Military. com)
The Warthog started its service in 1976. The A-10 has served in operations: Iraq Freedom, Desert Storm, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, and more. (USAF) It’s in use today and, with any luck, it’ll be around until 2021.
The strangest part of the A-10 is its titanium bathtub cockpit. The design is meant to keep the pilot as safe as possible. It’s so strong that it can withstand a hit from a 23 mm cannon.
The plane is designed for close air support, accurate firing, surviving capability, and the ability to land practically anywhere. This has made the Warthog irreplaceable to the U.S.A. and its allies. (USAF) The air force has tried to replace the Thunderbolt, but they couldn’t find another aircraft that could equal or surpass the A-10.
Thankfully, we have this beautiful machine, and who knows where we’d be without it.
Taylor, Lynn. Military Aviation, 2015.https://www.quora.com/Military-Aviation-Does-an-A-10-really-have-a-titanium-tub-for-the-pilot-to-sit-in-What-kind-of-hit-can-it-actually-take-Can-it-take-a-50-cal-explosive-or-armor-piercing-round
Starr. T, J. (2017). The A-10 Warthog Will Be In Service At Least Until 2021.
https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-a-10-warthog-will-be-in-service-at-least-until-2021-1792103864
USAF (2015). A-10 Thunderbolt II. http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104490/a-10-thunderbolt-ii/
