Speaking of perspective:

**rickusn** · 20 Oct 06,, 00:52

"Here Come the Hogs: The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith, Ark., is actually happy to be trading their F-16 fighters for A-10 attack aircraft, reports the Times Record. The reason is that the A-10 has a longer projected shelf life—perhaps 2025 to the F-16’s 2012."

Remember the USAF was going to retire these aircraft en masse in 1992.

Operation Desert Storm changed all that by over 30 years.

Imagine.

**Bill** · 20 Oct 06,, 01:11

Originally Posted by rickusn

"Here Come the Hogs: The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith, Ark., is actually happy to be trading their F-16 fighters for A-10 attack aircraft, reports the Times Record. The reason is that the A-10 has a longer projected shelf life—perhaps 2025 to the F-16’s 2012."

Remember the USAF was going to retire these aircraft en masse in 1992.

Operation Desert Storm changed all that by over 30 years.

Imagine.

It's a whacky wild blue world we live in bro.

GO UGLY EARLY!!!

Obviously, this story tickles me nearly beyond words...

**YellowFever** · 22 Oct 06,, 06:56

Man...how can an A/C be so ugly and so beautiful at the same time...!

**RustyBattleship** · 22 Oct 06,, 17:12

Originally Posted by YellowFever

Man...how can an A/C be so ugly and so beautiful at the same time...!

The A-10 has that "No Nonsense" look to it, like the Ju-87 Stuka. It is built for a specific purpose and no fal-de-ra doo-dads added for esthetics.

**Bill** · 23 Oct 06,, 21:37

The A-10, as Rusty says, just has that "If you give me attitude i will eff you up bad" look about it. All business, not a drop of frivolous excess anywhere to be seen.

As they say, "It's all about the gun."

**Parihaka** · 23 Oct 06,, 22:01

Originally Posted by M21Sniper

The A-10, as Rusty says, just has that "If you give me attitude i will eff you up bad" look about it. All business, not a drop of frivolous excess anywhere to be seen.

As they say, "It's all about the gun."

Yee gods, is that the weapon that they actually wrap that dinky little aircraft around?

**Bill** · 23 Oct 06,, 22:11

Yup.

**RustyBattleship** · 24 Oct 06,, 02:18

Originally Posted by M21Sniper

Yup.

Funny you should post a picture of the gun next to a Volkswagon bug. A neighbor of ours who was in the 82nd Airborne said that while they were waiting out Desert Storm and waiting for Desert Saber to commence, a VW was set up on a sand dune for A-10 target practice. But with missiles instead of the gun.

When the dust settled, they were very disappointed to see the VW still sitting there, until they put the binoculars on it. It was now facing the opposite direction.