A-10A N/AW Warthog "Ugly but well hung"

[mschschp]

Ich musst bissl in alten Fotoalben herumkramen, aber ich wurde fündig: Edwards AFB open house 2002 im static war eine zweisitzer-A10 ausgestellt, ob sie je flog, weiss ich nicht.
Die Qualität ist nicht die Allerbeste, hab das Bild mit meiner Digitalkamera abfotografiert...

 

[Mike1975]

Mschschp, That's a cool photograph of the 2 seater. It flew for sure. My friend (the same guys from the Ferrari sticker story) told me that when he was at Myrtle Beach AFB flying A-10s Northrop test pilots flew in with the family model (2 seater). So, everone came out of the office to see it, but something went wrong with the canopy locks and they would not unlock. It turned out that those poor pilots ended up sitting in a jet for 2 hours in hot sun before they were able to step out.

Also, I was told that part of the reason that the USAF never took this jet into their inventory is because of the simplicity of A-10s flying characteristics. Since my friend was one of the first 4 pilots to fly the A-10, so he became an instructor. He said that a first time student pilot flies an A-10 he is flying solo and the instructor follows him in an other jet. So, the AF thought they don't need a trainer. There are plenty of other reason but as a pilot myself I understand completely that if a pilot can fly a new aircraft solo on its first flight then why bother with inverting in a family model. Well, the new pilots don't completely step into a new jet without training in a flight sim. Anyway, I can go for on and on regarding flying. Thanks again for your kind comments.

Mike