1/72 A-10C Thunderbolt II 78-0597 75th FS - Tiger Sharks - 23rd Wing Moody AFB 2017

General Background

October 1975 saw delivery of the first USAF A-10A and deployment in March 1976. Built specifically for close ground support the pilot is protected by titanium armor while being covered by a bubble canopy giving a commanding view. The Warthog has everything needed to survive, dual engines; self-sealing fuel cells; redundant flight control systems protected by titanium armor; a 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun; a wide array of bombs and missiles. This plane packs a heavy punch and can stay on scene a long time to deliver its payload.

The Aircraft

Moody AFB, Georgia is home to the 23rd Wing “Flying Tigers” comprised of the 74th FS “Flying Tigers” and 75th FS “Tiger Sharks”, both equipped with the A-10C. On October 28 and 29, 2017 Moody AFB, Georgia held an Open House called “Thunder Over South Georgia”. One of the flying displays was A-10C 78-0597 C/N A10-0217 that was produced in 1978 as an A-10A, completed its maiden flight on May 16, 1979 and delivered on May 23, 1979. The aircraft received a special paint scheme for the occasion.

Specifications

• Crew: One
• Main role : A-10 - close air support, OA-10 - airborne forward air control
• Manufacturer: Fairchild Republic Co.
• Power Plants: Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans
• Thrust: 9,065 pounds per engine
• Length: 16.16 meters
• Height: 4.42 meters
• Wingspan : 17.42 meters Speed: 420 miles per hour (Mach 0.56)
• Ceiling: 13,636 meters
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 22,950 kg.
• Range: 800 miles (695 nautical miles)
• Armament
• One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun
• Maximum 7,200 kg of mixed ordnance including :
• 225 kg “ Mk-82 ” and 900 kg “ Mk-84 ” series low/high drag bombs,
• incendiary cluster bombs,
• combined effects munitions,
• mine dispensing munitions,
• AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs ,
• infrared countermeasure flares,
• electronic countermeasure chaff,
• jamming pods,
• 6.99 cm (2.75in.) rockets,
• illumination flares,
• AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles