

			      Special Variant of the
		         Fairchild Republic A-10A Warthog
			    by Glenn "Gekkoman" Price


			Despite the more overt attractions of Mach 2 
	aircraft, the US Air Force was forced to consider the CAS (close
	air support) mission because of the total unsuitability of its 
	existing equipment. In both the wars it had had to fight since
	World War II - Korea and Vietnam - its aircraft had been 
	worldbeaters, but planned for a totally different kind of war. What
	was needed, it appeared, was something like an up-to-date A-1 
	Skyraider that could carry a heavy load of ordnance, have good 
	endurance, and survive severe damage from ground fire. Between 
	1963-69 extensive studies gradually refined the AX specification,
	which had begun by presupposing a twin-turboprop and ended with a 
	larger aircraft powered by two turbofans. After an industry-wide 
	competition, the Northrop A-9A and the Fairchild A-10A were chosen
	for prototype fly-off evaluation, which took place with two of each
	type at Edwards in October-December 1972. The A-10A was announced 
	winner and GE the winner of the contest to produce the 30mm 
	tank-busting gun, the most powerful ever fitted to any aircraft, 
	with very high muzzle velocity and rate of fire, and muzzle 
	horsepower 20 times that of the 75mm gun fitted to some B-25s in 
	World War II. The landing gears (which protrude when retracted for
	damage-free emergency landings) and all tail surfaces are 
	interchangeable, the cockpit is encased in a "bath" of thick 
	titanium armor, and the engines are hung above the rear fuselage 
	where their infra-red signature is a minimum.



			This A-10 is my "souped-up" version, having the 
	option of carrying 20mm cannons (which are almost as powerful as
	the primary cannon) on the inner AND outer racks. Also, for the 
 	ground attack role, the center rack can be fitted with 6 1000 lb
	cast iron bombs, and the inner rack can be fitted with 3 1000 lb 
	bombs. This aircraft is best for the attack role, being	able to 
 	destroy an enemy hangar in less than 10 seconds (using all guns
	availible)! It also is VERY effective against enemy aircraft. <Grin>
	Since I had to use the P-80 instrument panel, the only way to
	view the current setting of your 2nd engine is to look at the 
	upper-left hand corner. You will see a number every time the + or -
 	buttons are pushed. This is the current	output of the 2nd engine. 
	The guns are set for "unlimited ammo". Pressing the 2nd joystick
	button (or the second mouse button) will fire the 30mm GAU-8/A 
	General Electric cannon, and pressing the 1st joystick button (or 
	the first mouse button) will fire whatever optional cannons you 
	have set. Here are the specifications for my "souped-up" A-10:

	
	Designation: A-10B
	Type:        Single-seat close support ground attack aircraft
	Engines:     Two 9,275 lb (4207 kg) thrust General Electric TF34-100
		     two-shaft turbofans
	Dimensions:  Wingspan 55 ft (16.76m); length 53 ft 4 in (16.26m);
		     height 14 ft 8 in (4.47m)
	Weights:     Empty 21,300 lb (9660 kg); maximum loaded 45,825 lb 
		     (20,786 kg)
	Performance: Maximum speed, 558 mph at height; initial climb 4,500
		     feet per minute fully loaded
	Armament:    30mm high-velocity General Electric GAU-8/A in forward
		     fuselage; center and inner racks for 6 1000 lb bombs;
		     inner and outer racks can be fitted for pair of 20mm
		     Hughes Chain Gun; all guns have 500 rounds
	History:     First flight (A-10B) 21 August 1991; first production
		     model (A-10B) 1 February 1993



	Thanks for trying my A-10B! If you have any comments or questions,
	I can be reached through the following services:


	America On-Line: The Gekko
	Prodigy ID# VCSB84A

 	Glenn Price
