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The A-10 Thunderbolt IIby Andy Ko
February 11, 2000
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/5777/A-10.html
History
• Lessons learned from Korea and Vietnam War– Need for close air support– Model the A-1 Skyraider
• AX Program– June 1966 -
• USAF send RFP to 21 companies
• Parallel Paid Study Contract
– 1970 - Requirements finalized, bidding starts• Northtrop & Fairchild Republic selected for fly-off
– 1972 - Fly-off begins– Jan 1973 - Fairchild’s A-10 announced to be the winner
http://skyraider.org/skyassn/otherpics/mignard/602sos/602sos.htm
Requirements
• Speed: 350-400 kts.
• 250 nm. operational radius with:– 9500 lbs external stores and internal ammunition
• Field Length = 4000 ft. at Max TOGW
• Simplicity– Only proven/off-the-shelf technology
– Exception: High BPR turbofans
• Survivability– Redundancy
• Cheap– $3.02 Million (F-16 ,F-18, Harrier)
• F-16, $9.5 - $12.8 Million• F-18, $24 Million• AV-8B, $23.7 Million
http://www.af.mil/news/factsheets/A_10_OA_10_Thunderbolt_II.html
Graphics from Dana Bell, “A-10 Warthog in detail & Scale”,
DimensionsWing span 57ft 6inLength overall 53ft 4inHeight overall 14ft 8in
WeightsOperating empty 24959lbsBasic design weight 30384lbsInternal fuel 10700lbsMax external load 16000lbs
Take-off weightsMaximum 50000lbsCAS mission 47094lbsAnti-armour mission 42071lbsFerry 49774lbs
Never-exceed speed 450ktsMax level speed at sea level, clean 381ktsCombat speed at 5000ft with six 380ktsMk82 bombsCruising speed at sea level 300ktsSea-level rate of climb at design weight 6000ft/minService ceiling 45000ft
Anti-armour configuration, 30min combat, 252nm40nm penetration and exitCAS configuration, 1.88hr single-engine 250nmloiter at 5000ft, 10min combatFerry range, 50kt headwinds, 2240nm 20 min reserve
Performance
Combat radii
Configuration
• Cantilever Low wing• Airfoils
– NACA 6716 on centerline, NACA 6713 at tip– Provides low wing loading (92.14 lb/sq ft)
• Wide Chords– Mean wing chord = 8ft 11.32in
• 2 segment, 3 position Fowler flaps– No leading edge devices
• Wide span ailerons– Dual upper and lower surfaces for airbrakes– SAS (Stability Augmentation System)
• H-Tail– No deep stall– Spin resistance
Graphics from Dana Bell, “A-10 Warthog in detail & Scale”,
Configuration (Cont’d)
• Little Sweep– Mach number no greater than 0.68
• Aspect Ratio = 6.54• Taper ratio = 0.65• Engines
– TF34-GE-100 (6.2 BPR)
– 9065 lbs. Static thrust– Turbofan vs. Turboprop vs. Turbojet?
– Placement• Nozzles are canted 9º upward
• Landing Gear– Forward retracting
– Exposed wheels when retracted
http://www.a-10.org/photos/photos6.html
http://www.a-10.org/photos/photos5.html
Improvements / Fixes
• Stall problem– Initially a fixed slat was installed, later changed to a movable
slat
– Stall strip added to the leading edge
– Wing root modified with a fillet
– Forward projecting strakes
• Drag improvements– Increased wing-span by 30 in.
– Hoerner wingtips• Induced drag
• Aileron effectiveness
– Canopy and windscreen shapes refined
– Pylons shortened and streamlined
– Reduced landing gear pod cross section
http://www.a-10.org/photos/photos7.html
http://www.a-10.org/photos/photos.html
Comparison with other Attack Aircraft
* With combat load** With external fuel tanks (tanks retained)
Survivability and Lethality
• Redundant control system– 2 hydraulic controls (separated) and 1 cable manual
reversion– H-tail provides 2 separated control surfaces
• Redundant structure• Titanium bathtub for pilot
– 1.5 in thick bulletproof canopy
• Weapon loads– GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm seven barrel gun
• 1350 rounds at 2100 or 4200 rounds/min
– 11 store pylons with max external load of 16000 lbs
Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine, March 1999, pg 27
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