Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Be Afraid

From today's AFA Daily Report:
A-10 Attacks Libyan Ships: The A-10, known for its prowess as an attack platform against enemy land forces, took on a different role this week in supporting coalition operations against Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi's forces. An A-10 engaged two small Libyan watercraft in the Libyan port of Misurata, US Africa Command officials announced Tuesday. The Libyan craft, operating with a Libyan coast guard vessel, were indiscriminately firing upon merchant vessels in the port on Monday, prompting coalition response. A Navy P-3C maritime patrol aircraft engaged the coast guard vessel with AGM-65F Maverick missiles, rendering it ineffective and forcing the Libyans to beach it. Meanwhile, the A-10 fired upon the two small craft with its 30mm Gatling gun, destroying one and forcing the Libyans to abandon the other, according to AFRICOM. The A-10 is one of the most recent aircraft additions to the coalition's quiver in Operation Odyssey Dawn. (AFRICOM release)
Well, if you happened to be a Libyan coastie the LAST thing you'd wanna see would be this...


Coz it really would be the last thing you ever saw.  Better vid:


The Warthog can kill bad guys in many different ways, but it's that gun that truly terrifies 'em.


Hell, that scares ME, and it's on my side!

11 comments:

  1. The Raptor and Eagle pilots get all the attention, but I think flying an A-10 would be the coolest thing ever.

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  2. I'll bet that made their A#$^$#%$ pucker!

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  3. Use to hear the mighty A-10 guns just about every night at Camp Pendleton as there was a range nearby. Once you hear that, you’re glad you’d never have to be on the receiving end. It’s gott’a be shear effing terror.

    Some TV show accurately described the A-10 as “a flying 30mm gatling gun”

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  4. Inno: I tried to find a pic I remember seein' of the Woman Of My Dreams... a blonde A-10 pilot who, when last I saw (pictures of) her, was flyin' in The Af. There's just sumthin' about women with guns that turns me on. And that girl had the biggest of Big Guns!

    Dale: And prolly splattered 'em, too.

    tim: If you clicked on the "next videos" in that first vid you'll see some close calls with an A-10 and friendlies. It happens, unfortunately. But I hear ya about bein' on the same side.

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  5. Like your elusive blonde, Buck, there's a quote (I haven't looked very hard for it-- I'm married to a blonde) about the 'Hog. From one engineer to anonther probably, something like, "Here's a gun I like-- build a plane around it."

    I've told you before, my office is near the east end of the E/W runway at ABQ/KAFB.

    Occasionally, Warthogs stop by for gas or whatnot. We in the building are accustomed to the usual planes so when a strange sound comes, all us spectators step out the west door to, well, spectate. Love those 'Hogs. Big lumbering bad-asses.

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  6. The Thunderbolt II is impressive to say the least. Did you ever see them at Bentwaters, Buck? They're in Spangdahlem now. I can't remember where the A-10s from Sembach went to. Probably Davis-Monthan or an ANG Wing.

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  7. For a second there I thought Reese said, "Occasionally, Warthogs stop by for gas or whartnot."

    Those planes are definitley equalizers and then some.

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  8. How do you not stand in awe of such a machine?

    Excuse me, but I need to go out to the airport and look upon my rental Cessna with undisguised disdain now.

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  9. It's very ugly! Sticking it next to a VW won't change that. LOL

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  10. Bob: I envy your plane-spotting perk. And the A-10 does have a unique sound!

    Anon: I never got up to Bentwaters/Woodbridge during my time in the UK. I used to make a lot o' trips to Heyford (our support base) and to Mildenhall but had no reason to travel up Bentwaters way... unless if was to do touristy stuff.

    Lou: Heh. Whartnot. Heh!

    ML: Yeah, the two birds ain't in the same class, are they?

    Alison: A-10s ARE ugly... which is why we lovingly call 'em Warthogs. ;-)

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  11. Bag,

    If only I had thought of that.... Would have been an accomplishment of a lifetime. Har!!!eleventy!

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