so… what leaves dents like that on the nose of a fighter jet?
Birds? Inattentive ground crew? Somebody stood up in a foxhole during a low-level run?
Churches, small rocks, bread…
a DUCK.
I suppose a Duck would at least put a dent in an A-10 if they hit.
Let’s hope not. The strikes against ISIS underline just how useful these warplanes can be.
Why a duck? Why a no chicken?
I’ve always loved the A10. Did a lot of work on the beast back in the 70’s and 80’s. It’s an old plane but there’s no other plane like it. I guess we only need drones for troop support?
I’ve certainly heard it argued that drones are inadequate for this task, due to an A-10 pilot flying low and slow being better at identifying targets and non-targets than an operator watching a video screen half a world away.
Since we’re comparing A-10’s and drones, I figured this was worth a link…
DOD “deploying 12 Hogs from the 122nd Fighter Wing, Indiana Air National Guard to the Middle East to support combat operations in Syria and Iraq”–from fightersweep. Seems like a good site.
Cool.
I believe the Arkansas Air Nation Guard got A-10s.
When I was at Hill AFB a few years ago, I stood next to an A-10 that was undergoing depaint/paint.
What an awesome machine. A flying machine gun. 
Would be a shame to see it go.
Definitely seems right. Plus McCain’s home state? That’s the kicker.
That photo with the city building behind the plane certainly is unusual. Where/what is that?
The 2015 Defense Authorization Bill will forbid the Air Force from retiring its A-10s for at least one year.
When stalling for time, demand a readiness study. Works every time.
I think it comes down to this:
- The AF says they don’t want the A-10 because the CAS mission isn’t sexy like Air to Air.
- The Army says Okay, we’ll take them. And your funding for them.
- The AF says On second thought, we think the A-10 is great and want to keep them.
No, nothing at all like that has occurred.