re: #107 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

The A-10 performed well in Iraq when the opposition was poorly equipped and motivated. The airframes are old. They aren’t flying straight and level all day long, they will have to take evasive action to reach and escape the target zone. I don’t think the A-10 has the same survivability as an F-18 with standoff weapons. I think the A-10 is a remarkable airplane as well, but I would be happy to see these swords turned into plowshares.

I think you have that backwards, an A-10 is designed for the sort of punishment required by the close air support mission profile. Birds have come home with missing engines, missing rudders, and even holes blown in their wings. But they’re also brought guys home who didn’t have time for a fighter jockey to figure out who was friendly, who wasn’t, and aim a bomb at the latter.