the A-10 page
Many days, just while driving aboot town, I will see a couple A-10's stop in for fuel here at Petersen AFB, guess maybe they come by to train with ground forces here at Ft. Carson?
Check out the info on wikipedia, pretty amazing practical designs for its mission...
"The aircraft is designed to fly with one engine, one tail, one elevator and half a wing torn off.
[39] Its
self-sealing fuel tanks are protected by fire-retardant foam."
"Many A-10s also featured a "false"
canopy painted in dark gray on the underside of the aircraft, just behind the gun. This form of
automimicry is an attempt to confuse the enemy as to aircraft attitude and maneuver direction."
"The cockpit and parts of the flight-control system are protected by 1,200 lb (540 kg)
titanium armor, referred to as a "bathtub"
"Additionally, the landing gear are all hinged toward the rear of the aircraft, so if hydraulic power is lost the pilot can drop the gear and a combination of gravity and wind resistance will open and lock the gear in place."
"The A-10 is exceptionally tough. Its strong airframe can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles up to 23 mm. The aircraft has triple redundancy in its flight systems, with mechanical systems to back up double-redundant
hydraulic systems."
"Engine exhaust passes over the aircraft's
horizontal stabilizer and between the twin tails, decreasing the A-10's infrared signature and lowering the likelihood that the aircraft can be targeted by
heat-seeking missiles. The placement of the engines behind the wings partially shields them from anti-aircraft fire."
There is still a lot more to read, and pics, on wikipedia:
A-10 Thunderbolt II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia