anthony@batserver.cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee) (01/24/91)
From: anthony@batserver.cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee) Last night I saw CNN report two pilots who flew the pair of A10s that went to rescue a down pilot. Didn't they used to use A1 Skyraiders for this back in Nam ? I think the A10s are ideal for the job, I can imagine you need something that's real slow to pickup enemy trucks and armour that might be heading for the down pilot. The A10s have to make several pass and I don't see many planes surviving any possible AA fire unless you have the kind of armour protection that the A10 has B-). -- Anthony Lee (Michaelangelo teenage mutant ninja turtle) (Time Lord Doctor) ACSnet: anthony@batserver.cs.uq.oz TEL:+(61)-7-365-2447 (w) Internet: anthony@batserver.cs.uq.oz.au SNAIL: Dept Comp. Science, University of Qld, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) (01/25/91)
From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) > From: anthony@batserver.cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee) > Last night I saw CNN report two pilots who flew the pair of A10s that > went to rescue a down pilot. Didn't they used to use A1 Skyraiders for > this back in Nam ? I think the A10s are ideal for the job, I can imagine > you need something that's real slow to pickup enemy trucks and armour that > might be heading for the down pilot. The A10s have to make several > pass and I don't see many planes surviving any possible AA fire unless > you have the kind of armour protection that the A10 has B-). The key to air support of a search & rescure mission is 'loiter time'. That's the capability to stay around for a long time and carry enough mix of ordnance to suppress unwanted interference. The A1E Skyraiders (Sandy) were ideal for this mission - lots of loiter time, lots of ordnance, and lots of old pilots flying them (at least the ones out of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand that supported our operations). (I've not seen the movie - Flight of the Intruder - but the promotional film clips show A1E Skyraiders over a downed Intruder) At night, the A1E's were replaced by Marine A-4s (better night flying capability - I think). A-10s would seem to be ideally suited for supporting SAR missions - slow, lots of loiter time - good mix of ordnance. mike schmitt
henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) (01/27/91)
From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) >From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) > ... The A1E Skyraiders > (Sandy) were ideal for this mission - lots of loiter time, lots of > ordnance, and lots of old pilots flying them ... > A-10s would seem to be ideally suited for supporting SAR missions - slow, > lots of loiter time - good mix of ordnance. Indeed, the A-10 evolved out of a requirement that was originally conceived of as sort of a twin-turboprop Skyraider. Two engines for resistance to battle damage, and turboprops for the same reason (turbine engines are much more durable than piston engines) plus compatibility with jet fuel. Turned out that high-bypass turbofans looked better than turboprops in the end. -- If the Space Shuttle was the answer, | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology what was the question? | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry
demon@desire.wright.edu (02/04/91)
From: demon@desire.wright.edu In article <1991Jan24.043443.25667@cbnews.att.com>, anthony@batserver.cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee) writes: > Last night I saw CNN report two pilots who flew the pair of A10s that > went to rescue a down pilot. Didn't they used to use A1 Skyraiders for > this back in Nam ? I think the A10s are ideal for the job, I can imagine > you need something that's real slow to pickup enemy trucks and armour that > might be heading for the down pilot. The A10s have to make several > pass and I don't see many planes surviving any possible AA fire unless > you have the kind of armour protection that the A10 has B-). The actual rescuing was done by an army helicopter. The A-10's flew interdiction in the area until the helicopter arrived, shooting up a 1 1/2 ton truck that was heading towards the downed pilot. Brett bkottmann@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil