C.S.A.R. argument for the A-10

[williepete]

Combat Search and Rescue.

Slow speed and loiter time down in the dirt. Something with the bad attitude, claws and fangs of a mama bear needs to be close to our downed airmen until the choppers arrive. On their way out with their precious cargo, those gallant chopper rescue pilots need the same firepower to escort them out.

F-35? F-22? They're 8 miles up or more. I'm a fan of both platforms but when it comes to C.S.A.R., we could do better.

The surety of a vicious search and rescue team trained and available to get your happy azz out of bad guy land and back to the O-Club where you belong should be permanently tattooed to the back of every aviator's brain housing unit as he suits up for urban renewal.

When the Warthog is scrapped and we can't get a downed airman out of an area that is deemed too hot for choppers by the desk warmers, what do we tell the parents, wives and kids? How's that ISIS torture/execution video going to play on prime time when it becomes obvious a C.S.A.R. team with teeth could have gotten him out? The counter argument will be the new stealthy jets won't get shot down.

In my most humble opinion, the C.S.A.R. mission needs to lead the argument in keeping at least a token A-10 fleet alive. The A-10 replaced the Skyraider which performed a superb C.S.A.R. role in Vietnam. There's an old Wings episode in this link that describes the role of the Skyraider, a.k.a. Spad in Vietnam. Worth considering. I'd like to see our gallant C.S.A.R. helo jocks KEEP some serious back up.

.02

These A-10s Get Down And Dirty During A Combat Search And Rescue Drill

 

[Roadrunner]

Combat Search and Rescue.

Slow speed and loiter time down in the dirt. Something with the bad attitude, claws and fangs of a mama bear needs to be close to our downed airmen until the choppers arrive. On their way out with their precious cargo, those gallant chopper rescue pilots need the same firepower to escort them out.

F-35? F-22? They're 8 miles up or more. I'm a fan of both platforms but when it comes to C.S.A.R., we could do better.

The surety of a vicious search and rescue team trained and available to get your happy azz out of bad guy land and back to the O-Club where you belong should be permanently tattooed to the back of every aviator's brain housing unit as he suits up for urban renewal.

When the Warthog is scrapped and we can't get a downed airman out of an area that is deemed too hot for choppers by the desk warmers, what do we tell the parents, wives and kids? How's that ISIS torture/execution video going to play on prime time when it becomes obvious a C.S.A.R. team with teeth could have gotten him out? The counter argument will be the new stealthy jets won't get shot down.

In my most humble opinion, the C.S.A.R. mission needs to lead the argument in keeping at least a token A-10 fleet alive. The A-10 replaced the Skyraider which performed a superb C.S.A.R. role in Vietnam. There's an old Wings episode in this link that describes the role of the Skyraider, a.k.a. Spad in Vietnam. Worth considering. I'd like to see our gallant C.S.A.R. helo jocks KEEP some serious back up.

.02

These A-10s Get Down And Dirty During A Combat Search And Rescue Drill

Back in the day, when I grew a lot of weed in the cutovers, there was a base full of those things nearby.

I used to have to duck and cover, and freeze, as they came over.

I am sure they had other things on their minds, but, I always thought movement might cause them to come take a second look.

They use to fly so low you could see the whites of their eyes.

 

[RandomVariable]

There seems to some illogical dislike of the A-10. From everything I have seen of them they rock. It is almost like they are too good to be true, so let's use something else.