Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

25 May 2026 · © JA

The legendary A-10 Thunderbolt II 'Warthog' on display with signature shark mouth nose art. This iconic CAS jet is loved by enthusiasts for its firepower and survivability.

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$Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (also known as \'Warthog\')$

Aircraft

A-10 Thunderbolt II A10

Shark mouth nose art (U.S. Air Force heritage A-10 paint)

Manufacturer

Fairchild Republic

Gear

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max back triple camera 6.86mm f/1.78

Achievements

Rare Bird, Vintage Voyager, Livery Legend, Airbus Aficionado, Military Maverick

5 badges earned

Photo grade

Silver

Score: 81.0

Great light and iconic shark nose! Ladder and foreground figure slightly distract from the A-10’s menacing presence.

Location

Columbus Air Force Base

CBM/KCBM

33.6438, -88.4438

Open map

Columbus Air Force Base CBM

Airport

Insights

Aviation History

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, also called the \'Warthog,\' is an iconic US Air Force close air support craft, legendary for its durability and 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger cannon. First introduced in the 1970s, it remains irreplaceable for ground attack roles.

Fleet Rarity

Not rare within the USAF inventory but unique globally (USAF is the sole operator at scale, <300 currently active)

Record Flights

N/A (primarily used for ground-attack and close air support, not long-range flights)

Safety & Events

A-10s have survived significant battle damage in combat, having flown extensively in the Gulf War, Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq with several well-documented stories of their ability to safely return to base even when heavily damaged.

Future Outlook

Scheduled for gradual retirement over next several years as the USAF transitions to newer platforms; currently still in frontline service.

Specifications

2 × General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans

Engine

17.53 m

Wingspan

16.26 m

Length

1,288 km

Range

555 km/h

Speed

One pilot (designed as single-seat close air support attack aircraft)

Capacity

22,700 kg

MTOW

4.42 m

Height

2 × 40 kN (9,065 lbf)

Thrust

ICAO Chapter 3 (military aircraft, not strictly rated for civil standards)

Noise