81st Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Bentwaters, 1985 A-10 Thunderbolt II (1:72) by Hobby Master Diecast Airplanes
Item Number: HA1313
October 1975 saw delivery of the first USAF A-10a and deployment in March 1976. Built specifically for close ground support the pilot is protected by titanium armor while being covered by a bubble canopy giving a commanding view. The Warthog has everything needed to survive, dual engines; self-sealing fuel cells; redundant flight control systems protected by titanium armor; a 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun; a wide array of bombs and missiles. This plane packs a heavy punch and can stay on scene a long time to deliver.
In the Gulf War, A-10s had a mission capable rate of 95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles and were vital assets during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Noble Anvil.
In 1972 the standard tail code for the 81st TFW became WR. On August 24th the first 3 aircraft arrived for maintenance training and on December 8, 1978 the first A-10 arrived for active service. Operations continued at Bentwaters until March 23, 1993 when the last 2 A-10s departed for their new home at Spangdahlem AB, Germany. The 81st TFW was deactivated and on July 1, 1993 Bentwaters was formally closed. Up until that date there had been an American presence for 42 years.
Specifications A-10A
Crew: One
Main role: A-10 - close air support, OA-10 - airborne forward air control
Manufacturer: Fairchild Republic Co.
Power Plants: Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans
Thrust: 9,065 pounds per engine
Length: 16.16 meters (53 ft 4 ins)
Height: 4.42 meters (14 ft 8 ins)
Wingspan: 17.42 meters(57 ft 6 ins)
Speed: 420 miles per hour (Mach 0.56)
Ceiling: 13,636 meters(45,000 ft)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 22,950 kg.(51,000 lbs.)
Range: 800 miles (695 nautical miles)
Armament: One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun; maximum 7,200 kg (16,000lbs.) of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations, including 225 kg (500 lbs.)
Mk-82 and 900 kg (2,000 lbs.)
Mk-84 series low/high drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, mine dispensing munitions,
AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs; infrared countermeasure flares;
electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 6.99 cm (2.75 in.) rockets; illumination flares and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.