For you guys doing OIF A-10s

Thanks Dice and Cuda. That is good news.

Mike

Hey Mike;
what the AF has instore for the Hawgs is that they are to be in the inventory until 2028 and then the F-35's are slated to replace them but who knows the F-16's where slated in the early 90's to replace the Hawg but that never came to be so she might be around longer then the ole BUFF

Mike, as of today the A-10 is scheduled to say in servive, with the USAF, until 2028 in some yet undetermined number. The future of the aircraft itself is here...

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/a-10/

Slightly off-topic but still related to the A-10, I was wondering what the future holds for the Warthog? I remember several years back hearing talk that the Air Force was going to drop the A-10 and that someone like the Army was going to pick it up. Has that been changed and the Air Force is going to keep using them?

Thanks

Mike

PS I am one who loves this bird and despite what some may say, I think it is a beautiful aircraft.

Kik36, the addy 72cuda is talking about is a lady in my building who is doing the ordering and shipping. She just got the first shippment of 1,500 in yesterday and has another 2,000 on order but, both orders are sold already. If you want more than 1 I can place an order for you with her but it's going to be at least 3 months before you get them. If you just want one then keep reading....

The coin didn't come-out as nice as I had hoped because the "Hog" is not in full color like I thought it would be but all in all a very nice coin. Below is pics of the coin and if you still what one you can email me at Hogpen13@aol.com and I can "hook you up" as they say!

BTW it will be $5 + $1 shipping....

Thanks 72Cuda, I'd really appreciate it!!!

Hey KIK36;
I've seen flyers floating around the section where I work yesterday if I could find it I'll get you the info, I know they cost $5.00 Each and there is a address to send in for them, so I'll be on the look out for you

Hey Dice, do you know where us general enthusiasts can get a hold of that Hawg Anniversary coin?? It looks pretty sweet!!

Well said and I agree with every word!!

I know they are deployed more then any other unit even more then DM and DM has about twice the planes then FT, but DM doesn't have to deploy as much and run their planes in the dirt as FT, and being Deployed with them twice in the last 2 years they are running on empty with moral and attitude, most of the maintainers are really burnt out from being away from home for long periods, in 02 they where gone for over the 90 day requirement in the AEF for OEFand with their runways being repaired they spent another few months at Nellis, and then another 8.5 months in 03 for OIF ( barely 6 months from coming back from that AEF & maybe a month or 2 from Nellis ) in a S@#$ Hole of a base at Tallil, (not much a step up from Jaber but we at Kirkuk had it made compaired to Tallil), and those folks looked run through compaired to the other units that came for OIF at Jaber before going foward, I've seen the folks from DM and they seem to have a more Bubbly estem about them not like some one killed their Family dog with FT, and I know that most of the Deployments are driven from OPS and ACC/AFRC's assigned criteria for the units but some one has to step up and say ask some one else for a few months until we get the moral back up to standards and let us catch our breathe from the last couple of years of back & forth to the AEF, I'm not trying to knock them but I see their problems with low moral, retainability & retension, and units estem, and being a Reversist ( Reservist ) I think that both the Guard & Reserves should over take the missions that the Active duty has, we have a larger # of people & experiances then our Active brothern and we where once Active Duty too but live on the other side of the fence and able to do the same fun jobs as Active Duty (we've got the best of both worlds) but wear civilian clothes instead of the BDU's, But to get back to basics I'm just saying they FT needs a break from the sun & fun and let other units take the reins for awhile, and give them the time to revive itself to standards higher then before

72cuda, Pope lives under a "stigma" which is %90 rumor and %10 truth, I'm sure you've heard the term "No Hope Pope"! They work under condistions that would kill a lot of other A-10 units if they had to do the same thing. I will not try to convence you here that your views of them are wrong but, belive me when I say YOU would not want to work with the constrans they work under every day.

Case in point, your comments about the state of their jets. Did you know Pope is an ACC unit on an AFMC base and there is only one paint barn controled by AFMC? They come second to the C-130 in everything from back shop support (sheet metal) to slots in the paint barn. They have had more jets fail wing station 23 inspections than ANY other A-10 unit including the Guard and Reserves. They are tasked with more (no they do not raise their hands) deployments and exresizes than any other A-10 units because they are the largest combat coded A-10 wing the the USAF.

I know you guys in the Guard and Reserves have been asked to do a lot in the past few years but so has Pope. I just hate to see fellow A-10 pilots and maintainers get a bumb rap from everyone, including their own active duty brothers, when a lot of what happens is not their fault.

I will get off my soap-box now but, just so you will know I will, and have, defended Guard and Reserve units when an active duty person calls you guys "weekend warriors" or other such names without knowing what you guys/gals have put up with in the pass few years. I belive the A-10 would is too small and there are two many people who would love to send the old girl to the bone yard for us to be divided from within.

Dice ;
No I'm not saying the all of Popes A/C's are lacking, the ones with the green L/E's really need help and with the unit deployed for 9 months of the year, when can they catch up with the required paint schedules, and I feel that there are other Hawg Units out there that can & will except the call in times of need and the 23rd is not the only A-10 unit in the world ( As some of their managers think { you what I mean) so why side step scheduled maintenance for GLORY, it get you in the end anyways with loss of equipment and/or lives and the hassle of investigations, If you can't support a mission for reasons of modifactions & updates then let the next unit take the reins it's just common sence

QUOTE: Originally posted by kik36 Dice, you have to keep the period in your sentence away from the link for it to work (learned the hard way) Here's the link www.airliner.net

Thanks kik36, I sould know better than that and yes that is a great aviation and aviation photo site!

BTW, great link!!!!

Dice, you have to keep the period in your sentence away from the link for it to work (learned the hard way) Here's the link www.airliner.net

kik36/AJACKETSFAN, yea that is a nice pic! A friend of mine posted it on another forum and I belive he got it from www.airliner.net. It was a very nice shot and was the perfect example of the top of an A-10 that I've seen in a long time.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 72cuda Hey Dice; You forgot one thing, if they are doing the FT's (23 FW) then you need to put Euro DK Green on the leading edges instead of the LT Grey, because they seem to forget to repaint their plane when the time is due for that type of maintenance, and this is speaking from seeing & working around their planes

Are you saying all Pope jet had complete leading edges in the dark Euro green? I belive I know what you are trying to say that a few may have had one or two of the leading edge panel in the base cost of Dk green but, I belive it may be a little unfair to say if you do a 23rd OIF jet you should paint the leading edge green.

"Seems to forget to paint them when the time is due" what's up with this statment? Are you saying Popes maintraince is somehow lacking other (your) A-10 unit(s)? I don't want to get into a "who's A-10 unit is better than the others" but if I'm reading your comments right tha's what you may be implying...is it?

Or are you just saying that Pope's aircraft's leading edges (not the conplete leading edge panels) are worn and flaked to the DK green base coat? I'm a little confused on just what you are saying or implying about Pope's jet?????

Hey Dice;
You forgot one thing, if they are doing the FT's (23 FW) then you need to put Euro DK Green on the leading edges instead of the LT Grey, because they seem to forget to repaint their plane when the time is due for that type of maintenance, and this is speaking from seeing & working around their planes

That is a spectacular photo!!!!

Great pic. Dice! Wow that makes me want to do an A-10 dio. really bad. That's surely one of the most unique angles that I've ever seen anyone take a picture in. Thanks for the reference.