Pilot, not pilots. That was one F-35 testing control software with an F-16. He complained about the helmet. That was also the same pilot who made complaints about the F-35 on that flight that every former F-15 pilot made about the F-22 when they transitioned to that when he lost energy and it was slow to recover. An…

The Marines never operated the Chinook.

Nice try though.

CAS is a time intensive endeavor. In order to put in the ToT, loiter time is IMPORTANT. F-35 has loiter minimal ability to loiter, as it can not carry the necessary fuel.

There is no aircraft in the world more suited for CAS (as well as a number of other air/ground missions) than the A-10.

a plane where the pilot can’t turn his head because of the bulky helmet will never be as good or better than the A10 in a CAS role.

The F-35 will, in no way be as capable of a CAS platform as the A-10, F-16, or F-15E.

But you cannot discount the A-10s psychological impact on the enemy or the morale for the...not enemy

By going to a coin plane you eliminate the ability to carry heavier bombs (they only have 2 to 5k lbs of payload) and you accept lower speeds, lower ceilings, and less protection. There aren’t many actual wars where you’d only drop up to a five hundred pound bomb and also not expect a missile shot back at you.

The A-10 has been doing missions in high threat situations. It’s currently deployed in Europe, the Middle East, and it’s doing patrols in the pacific theater. Its taken on enemies with manpads or greater and It’s been used in the sead/dead roles because of its capabilities in dealing with ground defenses

I hear what you’re saying; I get it. I used to think that too. But then I saw how things have changed. This isn’t 1972. CAS is a MISSION, not a plane. It’s communications, it’s training, it’s technology, it’s tactics.

BTW, Tyler’s background is that of an Aviation Photographer (and running a hot dog restaurant). He has no education or training in these matters and certainly no experience in anything military-related (except arranging photo rides in tankers with PA) and his claims have been refuted both here and elsewhere by combat…

- The YA-7F was an examination into doing just that, 25+ years ago because the Army’s doctrine changed, requiring faster strike aircraft. The YA-7F lost out to the F-16 because the Viper could accurately hit targets and it was already in production (economics of scale). The US Army was fine with this.

- The Corsair is…

one service controlling what is essentially one mission.

Trying? It was already done 25 years ago. The F-16 effectively replaced the A-10 after Desert Storm. F-16s flew more sorties, and against better defended targets and had a lower loss rate than the A-10. The A-10 had to be upgraded to use the same sensor and targeting pods (LITENING and Sniper) and PGMs (LGBs and…

Um, we’re NOT. It was withheld from Libya due to the MANPAD threat and it’s been restricted from operations over Syria for the same reason. The A-10 is NOT survivable. Desert Storm proved that.

Only for training and photo ops.

Operationally - with a combat load and full gas - they’re using the same airfields as F-15Es and F-16s because they need the runway length. The TF34s are woefully underpowered and an A-10 weighed down for a fight is going to need that extra runway, especially if it’s hot, as warmer air…

That still doesn’t make him an expert on air power in the 21st century. His last tactical sortie was 49 years ago. It was closer to WW2 than the here and now. Tactics, threats and sensor technology has changed since he was in the cockpit.

OMG this is a horrible fucking idea and here’s why.

This isn’t WW2 any more. Once a plane takes off, it makes no difference what’s painted on the side - Air Force, Marines, Navy - they ALL answer to the air commander, and they ALL respond to the guys on the ground. If a JTAC calls in a strike, whoever is closer will…

The desperation to kill the A-10 seems to be crossing well into the insanity realm

Also, good luck taking off from the runways the A-10 uses.