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WATCH The Incredible A-10 Video That The Air Force May Be ‘Suppressing’
Some politicians and their supporting “political” generals in the Pentagon are trying to eliminate the Air Force’s A-10 Warthog aircraft; but if the common grunt on the ground had his say, this important plane would not be retired at all. Now, a video has surfaced showing how much the men on the ground trust this aircraft; but some feel that the powers that be are trying to suppress the video.
Commonly called the “Warthog” for its aggressive look, the A-10 Thunderbolt II is the U.S. Air Force’s primary low-altitude close air support aircraft. First introduced in 1977, the A-10 is best known for its fearsome GAU-8 Avenger 30mm gatling gun mounted on the nose, which is designed to fire armor-piercing depleted uranium and high explosive incendiary rounds. This plane is also one of the only weapon systems the Air Force has that offers effective close-air-support capabilities, and it is the latter that the grunts on the ground love.
In fact, the ground pounders are so respectful of the Warthog that they’ve dubbed the plane the “grunt of the air”; and when this craft comes careening through the air toward them, they know that real help has arrived.
Sadly, many politicians want to retire the Warthog to save budget money. But if the grunts have their way, this plane will continue on its mission, one that often amounts to saving their lives when they get into a tight spot.
To prove how much the grunts love and respect the Warthog, a video has surfaced that reveals just how useful the plane is. First publicized by the John Q. Public blog, the video depicts the trust soldiers have for the A-10.
“They love this airplane,” one Air Force A-10 pilot says of the infantry on the ground. “They trust us. For them to trust to do that is very gratifying.”
Despite the fact that this plane is an indispensable part of our ground operations, some want the A-10 retired so that its budget can be folded into the failing and way over-budget F-35.
Unfortunately, the F-35 has had multitudes of troubles, failures, and breakdowns and has gone billions over budget. Not only that, but the capabilities of the new aircraft don’t seem to fit the emerging threats we face.
Many feel that this video should be distributed widely, but it seems to some that the Pentagon has gone to pains to keep it under wraps, likely so as not to rock the political boat that favors the expensive F-35.
But the Warthog is doing just fine despite those voices in government that want it retired. And the grunts want the A-10 to stay.
“When you’re talking to a 19-year-old man with a rifle, who’s scared on the other end of a radio,” another Air Force A-10 pilot says. “You know he doesn’t care about fiscal constraints, ‘big picture’ Air Force policy, the next fancy weapons system coming down the pipeline. He cares about being saved right then and there.”
This post originally appeared on Western Journalism – Equipping You With The Truth
Source: http://www.westernjournalism.com/watch-the-incredible-a-10-video-that-the-air-force-may-be-suppressing/
