Talyn
SAINT
Known as the A-10 ‘Thunderbolt II’ or, more affectionately, the ‘Warthog’, the Fairchild Republic Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft can carry a variety of ground attack munitions, but the primary weapon at its disposal is a Gatling-style rotary barrel General Electric cannon that rapidly fires rounds of depleted Uranium. The rapid firing, large quantities of propellant being burned, multiple moving parts, jarring recoil, and huge empty shell cases provide a challenge to both engineers and maintenance personnel.
A Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II fires its GAU-8/A Avenger 30 mm rotary cannon at targets on the Grayling Air Gunnery Range in
Michigan. Note a projectile captured by the photographer in mid-air after leaving the muzzle, and the large amount of smoke and soot
created by firing the gun. The smoke and soot would cause headaches for engineers and maintenance personnel in the early days of the A-10.
theaviationist.com
theaviationist.com
USAF maintenance personnel remove the soot-covered GAU-8/A cannon from an A-10C at Davis-Monthan
Air Force Base, Arizona. The 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron will inspect and clean the gun along with
replacing any worn or damaged parts. (Image credit: United States Air Force/Airman 1st Class Frankie D. Moore)
A Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II fires its GAU-8/A Avenger 30 mm rotary cannon at targets on the Grayling Air Gunnery Range in
Michigan. Note a projectile captured by the photographer in mid-air after leaving the muzzle, and the large amount of smoke and soot
created by firing the gun. The smoke and soot would cause headaches for engineers and maintenance personnel in the early days of the A-10.
A Look at the Engineering and Maintenance of the A-10’s GAU-8/A Cannon
The United States Air Force A-10 was designed as a Close Air Support aircraft, built around a potent armor-destroying 30 mm rotating barrel cannon known
theaviationist.com
A Look at the Engineering and Maintenance of the A-10’s GAU-8/A Cannon
The United States Air Force A-10 was designed as a Close Air Support aircraft, built around a potent armor-destroying 30 mm rotating barrel cannon known
theaviationist.com
USAF maintenance personnel remove the soot-covered GAU-8/A cannon from an A-10C at Davis-Monthan
Air Force Base, Arizona. The 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron will inspect and clean the gun along with
replacing any worn or damaged parts. (Image credit: United States Air Force/Airman 1st Class Frankie D. Moore)