How Do You Identify An A-10 Thunderbolt II?
The A-10 – designated Thunderbolt II by the U.S. Air Force – is the first U.S. aircraft designed for close air support. Simple, rugged and deadly, the A-10 proved its value during Operation Desert Storm, the Allied operation to liberate Kuwait. Look for a relatively small airplane. The A-10 is slightly more than 50 feet long with a wingspan reaching nearly 60 feet. Check the wings. The A-10’s wings are straight rather than swept back. Look closely at the wings. Notice multiple pylons for mounting munitions. Check an A-10 while on the ground. It sits up quite high on its landing gear to allow clearance for its weapons load. Notice the cockpit is mounted far forward. Its position increases pilot visibility. Look at the bottom of the nose. The chin-like extension is a 30-millimeter Gatling cannon. Note the engines. Two General Electric turbofan jets are mounted in parallel high on the fuselage between the wing and the rear stabilizers. Note the front view. The fuselage is narrow and the w
