Any Military Aviation nerds about?

[Steelrat]

The IL2 was a good plane, and in many ways very similar to the A-10. Both are essentially purpose-built tank-killers.

The AH-64 is not really capable of performing the same roles as the A-10. The AH-64 loadout is really restricted to Hellfires, 2.75" rockets, some ATA missles, and the 30 mm gun. The A-10 can do mavericks, convetional bombs, cluster bombs, and whatever other ordinance the USAF carries, in addition to the big Avenger cannon. The A-10, while slower than most othe USAF jets, is still considered a "fast mover" while the AH-64 is still a helicopter, and therefore quite a bit slower getting to, and exiting from, the battlefield.

The problem with the A-10s is going to be the lack of a worthy successor. The F-35 is the plane envisioned as taking over the role of the A-10, and its not even close to being the same plane. The whole effectiveness of tank "plinking" is still widely debated, yet that is exactly what the F-35 is going to have to do to eliminate enemy armor on the battlefield. While I am a fan of precision munitions, the concept of using nothing but them in an air campaign is unrealistic.

[bleachit]

hey breg, the A-10 has a 30 mm gun.

[Steelrat]

Im holding the casing from a 30mm DU round right now. Those are some mighty big shells.

[Sparq]

Originally posted by Steelrat
Im holding the casing from a 30mm DU round right now. Those are some mighty big shells.

You sure aint kiddin'

[Zumina]

yah, YF-23 p'zones. I used to play Jet Fighter 2 (old school flight sim, circa 1992) just to fly it.

[bleachit]

Jet fighter 2 was awesome

[Gunga]

Originally posted by Steelrat
And they were actually going to replace the A-10 with a lightly modified F-16. Thank god common sense took hold. Sometimes the Air Force tends to forget that strategic bombing and CAS is their primary job. The marines aviators are the only group that, as a whole, seem to relish shifting mud.

Anyone else remember the Scaled Composites ARES? It was designed as an A-10 replacement. It used a 30mm GAU-12 gun. At least during ground testing anyway. Firing the gun was never fired while in flight as far as I know.

[bleachit]

Burt Rutan designs some of the sweetest aircraft around. I hope to someday have a company like his . Haven't heard much about his stuff lately though.

[Blennidae]

I remember reading about the ARES. If you read the link it says the gun was to be a 25mm gatling (GAU-12/U). I dont think you could fit the GAU-8A into the ARES. Besides, the recoil would probably tear it apart.

I think Rutan's latest project is working on a design for the X prize. I have seen the pics of it, and like most of his designs, its very unusual.

[e mag]

Originally posted by bleachit
Jet fighter 2 was awesome

You can still play it to, go here and follow the instructions. http://www.gamersrage.com/john/jf2/jf2.htm