Airshow Pics...

[ccga3359]

I love the A10s

That seven barreled cyclic claymore made me soil my britches... kilt I mean kilt .

[Mr. MacDougall]

That seven barreled cyclic claymore made me soil my britches... kilt I mean kilt .

Every couple of years, DMAFB has an air show, and not only can you get up close and personal with the Warthog (what they're more commonly called, even though their official designation is, as Bradley indicated, the Thunderbolt II) and its weapons systems, the local guys will fly aerobatics in them. That's always a hoot, because they have a very slow stall speed -- they were designed to be tank busters, after all!

[acstoon]

Gives me a "warm fuzzy"... I have a soft spot for 'Hogs:
When the A-10's were being built, I was fortunate enough to be around the assembly line (my dad was on engineering staff). Also watched the aircraft take off on their test flights and handover flights.
Unfortunately, those factory floors have been silent, since the last A-10 rolled off then line in '82. Fairchild-Republic is no more. I, coincidently, work across the airport, from the factory site. There are some businesses leasing space there, but the "heydays" are long gone...

Watching live fire from these beasts is something else, too!
You hear the "Braaappp" of the gunfiring, followed by the solid, rapid "Whoompp, Whoompp, Whoompp" of the rounds striking target. Scary, just to listen to.

[demobud]

Gives me a "warm fuzzy"... I have a soft spot for 'Hogs:
When the A-10's were being built, I was fortunate enough to be around the assembly line (my dad was on engineering staff). Also watched the aircraft take off on their test flights and handover flights.
Unfortunately, those factory floors have been silent, since the last A-10 rolled off then line in '82. Fairchild-Republic is no more. I, coincidently, work across the airport, from the factory site. There are some businesses leasing space there, but the "heydays" are long gone...

Watching live fire from these beasts is something else, too!
You hear the "Braaappp" of the gunfiring, followed by the solid, rapid "Whoompp, Whoompp, Whoompp" of the rounds striking target. Scary, just to listen to.

Early in my demo career I was contracting for the CoE at the Airforce Bombing range at Stumpy Point NC. They practiced both bombing and gunning there and the approach for the A10 gunnery targets was right over the admin building (the shack). I was in there "taking care of business" one morning when the mornings first flight came over to do their thing. When those guns went off, it shook the whole building, needless to say I bailed out of the head, pants flapping around my knees to the ultimate amusement of the four civilian contractors who had asked the tower to request the pilot let off rounds over the shack. It was a gag they tried to pull on most contractors who came to do work there. It is an impressive sight and sound though. I really enjoyed working there.

[James MacMillan]

Early in my demo career I was contracting for the CoE at the Airforce Bombing range at Stumpy Point NC. They practiced both bombing and gunning there and the approach for the A10 gunnery targets was right over the admin building (the shack). I was in there "taking care of business" one morning when the mornings first flight came over to do their thing. When those guns went off, it shook the whole building, needless to say I bailed out of the head, pants flapping around my knees to the ultimate amusement of the four civilian contractors who had asked the tower to request the pilot let off rounds over the shack. It was a gag they tried to pull on most contractors who came to do work there. It is an impressive sight and sound though. I really enjoyed working there.

At least they didn't send you in search of 12 feet of flight line - - or batteries for the CG-U-11....

[Mr. MacDougall]

At least they didn't send you in search of 12 feet of flight line - - or batteries for the CG-U-11....

Or the bulkhead stretcher. Or set you on mail bouy watch....