# Optimal speed for ground attack aircraft?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimal-speed-for-ground-attack-aircraft/1032576>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 26, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimal-speed-for-ground-attack-aircraft/1032576 "2026-08-26T15:50:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimal-speed-for-ground-attack-aircraft/1032576/21 "2026-09-13T21:01:58Z")

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Well, low-speed by military aircraft standards.

And also keep in mind that those turbofans have to offset considerable negative thrust from the cannon. They really should have designed that plane as a bonnacon, with the cannon facing backwards.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimal-speed-for-ground-attack-aircraft/1032576/22 "2026-09-13T23:20:37Z")

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There won’t be a successor. It’s a Cold War relic of a bygone era.

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**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optimal-speed-for-ground-attack-aircraft/1032576/23 "2026-09-14T17:57:31Z")

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Rethinking the role in light of modern tech would be sensible.

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