what happened to a10 warthog that went off course?

by Aisha Hermiston 8 min read

Despite the fact that his transponder was turned off, radar and witness accounts state that Button’s A-10 had headed towards the Rockies. The aircraft had flown around 800 miles off-course before vanishing in the mountains, zig-zagging around terrain and weather patterns as it made a beeline for the peaks.

Full Answer

Will the A10 warthog be retired after all?

The A10 Warthog Will Not Be Retired After All! Known to its many admirers as ‘The Warthog’, the US Air Force’s A10 Thunderbolt is essentially a flying gun. The A10 carries the 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon, the heaviest gun ever to be fitted to an aircraft.

Is this the A-10 Warthog tearing up Iraqi troops?

No way. Filmed and narrated by U.S. Army Sergeant Dale Bartlett on Feb. 27, 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, the impressive video in this post show A-10 Warthog attack aircraft tearing up Iraqi armor providing direct close air support (CAS) for 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

Did you see the A-10 Warthog attack aircraft during Operation Desert Storm?

Filmed and narrated by U.S. Army Sergeant Dale Bartlett on Feb. 27, 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, the impressive video in this post show A-10 Warthog attack aircraft tearing up Iraqi armor providing direct close air support (CAS) for 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

What happened to the A-10 plane?

Despite the fact that his transponder was turned off, radar and witness accounts state that Button’s A-10 had headed towards the Rockies. The aircraft had flown around 800 miles off-course before vanishing in the mountains, zig-zagging around terrain and weather patterns as it made a beeline for the peaks.

How many A-10 Warthogs are still in service?

281 WarthogsThey also became the infantry's friend in close-air support missions.” One obvious problem with the idea of the Air Force transferring its A-10s to Ukraine is that it is required by law to retain all 281 Warthogs currently in its inventory.

Has the A-10 Warthog been decommissioned?

With a variety of upgrades and wing replacements, the A-10's service life can be extended to 2040; the service has no planned retirement date as of June 2017.

What happened to captain Button?

During the incident, Captain Button inexplicably flew hundreds of miles off-course without radio contact, appeared to maneuver purposefully and did not attempt to eject before the crash. His death is regarded as a suicide because no other hypothesis explains the events.

How many A-10 Warthogs have been destroyed?

five A-10sThe A-10 force, flying more than 8,000 combat sorties, suffered only five A-10s destroyed (a loss rate of . 062 percent). Twenty of these aircraft returned with significant battle damage, and forty-five others returned with light damage that was repaired between sorties.

How many a-10s are in the Boneyard?

News of the Senate saving A-10s from the boneyard was first reported by Valerie Insinna at Defense News. The Air Force had proposed retiring 42 Warthogs, bringing the total number down from 281 to 239 aircraft, with an end goal of bringing the number of active A-10s down to 218 within two years.

How many A-10 Warthogs does the U.S. military have?

280 A-10According to Boeing, over 280 A-10 models remain in service with the USAF, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard.

What will replace the a10 Thunderbolt?

United States Air Force brass have long sought to replace the beloved A-10 Thunderbolt II. However, they've faced significant pushback from Congress, as well as from combat veterans who've seen firsthand just how valuable the bird is.

Where did Craig Button play hockey?

Button started his NHL career in 1988 as a scout with the Minnesota North Stars. He stayed with the team during its move to Dallas and served as the Director of Player Personnel during the Stars' Stanley Cup championship season in 1999.

Has an A-10 Warthog been shot down?

The United States Air Force's last serving prisoner of war Lt. Col. Rob Sweet, who endured 19 days as a prisoner of war in Iraq after his aircraft was shot down during Operation Desert Storm, recently retired after a 33-year career with the Air Force.

Has an A-10 ever shot down another aircraft?

April 8, 2003 – An A-10A Thunderbolt II (Serial Number : 78-0691) was shot down over downtown Baghdad by an Iraqi Roland surface-to-air missile.

How many tanks have a10s destroyed?

By the time it ended, the Warthog would be credited with destroying more than 900 tanks, 2,000 military vehicles, and 1,200 artillery pieces. That the A-10 remains in service 29 years later is a testament to the platform's reliability and effectiveness.

Where was the A-10 bomber spotted?

At one point, the aircraft -armed with four 500-pound Mk-82 bombs- was spotted around 100 miles west of Denver. After that, it vanished- disappearing near a place called Craig’s Peak. Upon receiving notification that one of their A-10s was missing, Air Force brass initiated a search for the aircraft.

What was the name of the pilot who liked to buzz dangerously low along the ground before ascending rapidly?

While he was frequently considered to be a consummate professional, he was also a “hotshot” pilot who liked to buzz dangerously low along the ground before ascending rapidly and would also go out of his way to fly over the Rockies.

Was Button's mother supportive of her son's military service?

Button’s mother, however, was less than supportive of her son’s military life. A staunch pacifist and Jehovah’s Witness, Mrs. Button denounced military service and even forbid him from wearing his ROTC uniform in their home when he came back from college.

Who was the pilot in the 706 TFS?

Richard Pauly, who was then a Major with 706 Tactical Fighter Squadron, was one of the A-10 pilots involved in the mission recalls: “I was the #2 aircraft. I was flying wingman for the squadron commander of the 706 TFS that day. The visibility was so bad past the FLOT that we could only use our guns. The MK-20 Rockeye we were carrying was not ...

What is the purpose of the OA-10?

Its secondary mission is to provide forward air controller – airborne (FAC-A) support, by directing other aircraft in attacks on ground targets. Aircraft used primarily in this role are designated OA-10. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

Guest staticlullaby

what pipeline do you take for A-10s. how often do you fly. an will the F-35 replace the A-10. damn i hope not

Guest Apollo

The a-10 doesn't have a replacement, only supplements to the overall force.

Guest Rainman A-10

The A-10 will go away in the not too distant future with no mission capable aircraft to replace it. The beginning of the phase out will start soon. You will continue to see announcements about Engine and Avionics upgrades to keep the A-10 for another 10-20 years. What will be less visible is the cost of upgrading the A-10...IRON.

scoobs

Are they planning on phasing out the A-10 anytime soon?Also whats life like a hog pilot?I heard flying its more hands on is this true?

FalconXtreme

i believe its in line to recieve a bunch of upgrades so i think it'll be around for a while

Guest kmgraham79

Here's another good website on the C models that are due to be fully integrated by 2009.

gimmeaplane

I always laugh at the people who say F-35s will replace the A-10. Riiiiiiiiiight. A plane with a huge freaking gun and the ability to take a lot of flak and get home just doesn't need to be that high tech.

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