A-10 Stats

[gruundehn]

Originally Posted by RyanW

I understand it can briefly turn inside just about any jet fighter of the same generation, but loses so much energy doing it that it's basically just a trick A-10 pilots liked to pull to annoy fighter pilots during war games. Slow, lazy turns to lure a fighter jock down into a valley to kill the "bomber", then yank the stick back and fill the sky with simulated 30mm.

Basically taught a generation of F-16 pilots which parts of the sky belong to Warthogs and Frogfoots (Frogfeet?).

No, it isn't a trick, it is a necessity for close air support. The A-10, and any aircraft intelligently designed for work close to the ground and in a high-threat environment will be able to maneuver like that and not lose much energy. An A-10 must be able to maneuver quickly in order to avoid not only weapons but ground obstacles as well.

In my post about the maneuverability of the A-10 I referenced the first A-10 to be assigned to DMAFB and the air show the pilot put on. I repeat that the aircraft was probably never over 200 feet in altitude and if the aircraft had lost energy as you suggest, he would have crashed into a whole bunch of A-7 aircraft parked on the flight line.