General Information

A-10 was the first USAF aircraft designed specifically for 'Close Air Support' (CAS) . It can be described as the outcome of the experience gained in the Vietnam War and the threats of the Soviet Union armor forces during the Cold War era. The first A-10A 'Thunderbolt II' was delivered October 1975 and deployment in March 1976.

A-10's pilot is protected by titanium armor around his seat and the canopy is a large bubble canopy which provides all-round vision. The aircraft is designed with dual engines and the self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam . Extra titanium is used to protect some flight control system parts of the aircraft. All these insure the plane and pilot's safety from enemy fires.

Though A-10 may be slow comparing to other aircrafts, it is extremely maneuverable and have proven itself as a deadly machine. Its main weapon, the GAU-8A gun, can fire 30mm shells made of uranium at a rate of 4,000 rounds a minute which is sufficient to destroy most armored targets.

About this Aricraft

The A-10a No.81-0964 was flown by Captain Todd 'Shanghai' Sheehy of the 511th TFS in Jan 1991. On Feb.15, 1991, during his 27th combat sortie, Captain Sheehy identified an Iraqi's Mi-8 Hip helicopter and he started shooting at about 8,000 feet using the 30 mm cannon for around 300 rounds . The Hip caught fire at the tail section and Captain Sheehy fired another 200 rounds to put an end to the Hip. The "81-0964" was one of the two A-10s which had ever achieved air-to-air kills in combat (the first was the "77-0205" flown by Captain Bob Swain who downed an Iraqi Bo 105 C helicopter during the "Operation Desert Storm" in 1991) . In 2002, it was stationed with the 23rd Fighter Group with shark mouth nose art linking her to the proud history of the 23rd Flying Tigers of WWII.

Other Details: