This week we’re doing the A-10 Thunderbolt II. This heavily armed, but not very elegant, aircraft proved itself to be an excellent tactical ground support aircraft in the Gulf War in 1991, having destroyed over a thousand Iraqi tanks and over 2,000 other vehicles.
It was involved in Kosovo, the Afghanistan campaign as well as Gulf War II (the Liberation of Iraq).
Designed to fly with one engine, one tail, and half a wing, it can go into battle, take heavy damage, and still return home safely. It is one tough bird, and can sustain hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectiles up to 23mm.
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Photos courtesy of the USAF.
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