Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1335A-10A Thunderbolt II "Mi-8 Killer" 81-0964, 21 FS, 507th ACW, Shawn AFB, Dec 1991
General Background
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 its payload.
The Aircraft
During Operation Desert Storm two A-10s downed Iraqi helicopters. The first was on February 6, 1991 77-0205 piloted by Captain Bob Swain of the 706th TFS who downed an Iraqi Bo-105 C helicopter. The second was A-10A No.81-0964 c/n A10-659 piloted by Captain Todd 'Shanghai' Sheehy assigned to the 511th TFS. Sheehy spotted an Iraqi Mi-8 Hip helicopter and started shooting 300 rounds of his 30 mm cannon. The helicopter tail section caught fire so Sheehy fired another 200 rounds to finish it off. 81-0964 was modernized to OA-10A in 1987and A-10C in 2006.
Hobby Master HA1335, A-10A Thunderbolt II "Mi-8 Killer" 81-0964, 21 FS, 50, 1:72
- Crew : OneMain role : A-10 - close air support, OA-10 - airborne forward air controlManufacturer : Fairchild Republic Co.Power Plants : Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofansThrust : 9,065 pounds per engineLength : 16.16 metersHeight : 4.42 metersWingspan : 17.42 meters Speed: 420 miles per hour (Mach 0.56)Ceiling : 13,636 metersMaximum Takeoff Weight : 22,950 kg.Range : 800 miles (695 nautical miles)Armament : One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gunMaximum 7,200 kg of mixed ordnance including :225 kg “ Mk-82 ” and 900 kg “ 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 ,jamming pods ,6.99 cm (2.75in.) rockets ,illumination flares ,AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles
