I was an A-10 mechanic back in the day, and I remember sticking my thumb in one of the GAU-8’s barrels occasionally and just feeling the deep grooving of the rifling and thinking about how incredibly powerful both the plane itself and its infamous gun were. Good times.

@shonseibert48

Жыл бұрын

I was as well stationed at Bentwaters n Woodbridge UK from 91-93 as a fuel systems technician. We had 6 squadrons of A-10s, used to get to sit in cockpit n start up engines on test pad to check systems.....good times

@thelordofcringe

Жыл бұрын

Its funny, because the sheer size of the rounds means that the ridiculously huge gun could honestly have been longer for better accuracy. Then again idek how you'd fit that in a plane.

@phantom0456

Жыл бұрын

@@thelordofcringe For sure. I’ve got pretty big hands, and my thumb had plenty of room to move around in one of those barrels, and the rifling is surprisingly deep. What was really cool was seeing the gun when it was out of the aircraft, it’s amazing just how thoroughly that plane is built around that gun.

@mance985

Жыл бұрын

"Thumb"

@thelordofcringe

Жыл бұрын

@@phantom0456 I wonder how much better a modern rework of the gun would be. The A-10's worst quality is that its cannon is both inaccurate, and not powerful enough to piece 70s and onward tanks. I'd imagine it'd be doable with modern technology, although we'd have to design a warthog 3 around it because, as you said, its totally built around that gun.

The P38 and P47 were originally designed as high altitude escort fighters. They just happened to work well for CAS.

@jstogdill

Жыл бұрын

Came here to say that. 👍

@DeeEight

Жыл бұрын

And the P-51 started out as a ground attack aircraft who's high-altitude performance only got revealed when the engine was changed to the Packard built version of the Merlin with the two speed supercharging.

@janhgh3400

Жыл бұрын

@Craig Ross Close Air Support

@asherdie

Жыл бұрын

@Craig Ross cold air filtering

@asherdie

Жыл бұрын

@Craig Ross cold air supercharged

I like the fact that this particular video was not narrated at the speed of light. This was normally paced. I like it.

@doodooswirl

Жыл бұрын

Yes! I find myself playing these videos at .75 just to make it sound normal.

@Skinflaps_Meatslapper

Жыл бұрын

YESSSS I was wondering what made it feel different and more pleasant than older vids. I guess they finally started reading the comments...or they didn't have a lot of info and needed to stretch it out a bit.

@philiproseel3506

Жыл бұрын

@@doodooswirl LOL I did that once, but it still didn't sound right.

@dukedub

Жыл бұрын

Yeah lol speed run narration

@wdwerker

Жыл бұрын

With brrrt in the title I was left feeling underwhelmed.

The Skyraider was never flown by the USAF in Korea, it was only operated by the USMC & USN. The USAF only got Skyraiders in Vietnam after finding that airplanes like the F100, F105 & F4 were not suited to the CAS Role with a decent loiter time. The USAF in Korea used the P-51 in a close air support role along side the F-84.

@martinboland810

Жыл бұрын

Came here to say this I've seen this channel make these kinds of simple errors so many times that I don't really believe anything the producers put out on an analytical level I get that this was supposed to be a slightly 'alt-world', but it isn't clear when the separation from our timeline is supposed to have happened, which means the producers can use that as an excuse for shoddy research

@tdgdbs1

Жыл бұрын

Many of them were transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force with the tail hooks; very handy on short runways of the Central Highland.

@gort8203

Жыл бұрын

@@martinboland810 This channel is a misinformation factory, and this video is typical. The air force was racing to build a new aircraft to save the grounds troops from the "crisis" in Vietnam? What a crock. I can't believe all the viewers that rave over this BS and believe everything they see here. It's pathetic.

@DasMoose9001

Жыл бұрын

Correct, during Korea only the USMC and USN were using them. The Air Force was young in those days, didn't really do much CAS during Korea IIRC.

@gort8203

Жыл бұрын

@@DasMoose9001 You must be joking to say USAF didn't do much CAS in Korea. You don't know they transferred P-51s from the Air National Guard to supplement the F-84s and F-80s that were dropping bomb and firing rockets? How about the A-26? You don't know USAF flew the T-6 in the Forward Air Control role?

I love the consistency of this channel....It never tries to reinvent itself with a sense of humor or something of that nature It's very factual and enjoyable to listen to

@thomashenshallhydraxis

Жыл бұрын

It is nice to see the same style of documentary about different subjects. Way better then the history channel can do.

@LordLauderdale

Жыл бұрын

He’s basically reading the Wikipedia content for each subject and adds some video footage, often not representing the exact occurrences he’s talking about. Genius.

@maartenmulders5653

Жыл бұрын

The only thing he changed was the ridiculously sped-up voice over.

@Skim_beeble7125

Жыл бұрын

@@LordLauderdale this is true the fulcrum video made me die of laughter the amount of stuff slightly off and then just the stock footage of almost nothing but flankers

@aaronbugaiski2487

Жыл бұрын

Yup just give me a fix of some of that aviation porn😂

You can just say "CAS" we're all airplane nerds.

@jakexou812

Жыл бұрын

that's what the airplane professional calls it too.

@patrickmcmahon1110

Жыл бұрын

@@jakexou812the only difference between airplane nerds and pros is a degree in aerospace lol.

@100joshtowner

Жыл бұрын

They do

@Kiiba88

Жыл бұрын

@cas343 he's just explaining it to the one new guy.

@cas343

Жыл бұрын

@@patrickmcmahon1110Facts. Source: Have a degree in aerospace.

Ya9 is a plane with a gun.. YA10 is a gun with wings

@Inspadave

Жыл бұрын

and neither is any good

@johnharris6655

Жыл бұрын

@@Inspadave A lot of Dead Iraqi tank drivers would disagree with you about the A-10. Col. Kim Campbell would also Disagree with you.

@brentonherbert7775

Жыл бұрын

@@johnharris6655 Lamo. The GAU8 could hardly even pen outdated armour at the time let alone a lot of the newer soviet tanks (which is what it was originally conceived of fighting) Tell me were these tanks killed by the "accurate" gun fire that hit anything within 12m or were they killed by bombs and missiles?

@hawkinskenneth

Жыл бұрын

@@johnharris6655The Aardvark killed more tanks than the A-10 and it was extremely more effective

@gwarne2304

Жыл бұрын

Remember the f111 killed more iraqi tanks than the A10 by a wide margin

This is my favorite KZread channel. I'm a retired electrical and software development engineer on the Apache helicopter program and a couple of other defense projects before that. Before getting my engineering degree I was an avionics technician in the US Marines followed by a couple of years with a commercial airline. Military aircraft have been my life for 40 years so when I watch your videos I feel a real connection to the projects you cover. Thank you for what you do. Also I am subscribed to your other "dark" channels too. They are all very interesting.

I remember being called to run a projector for a DOD briefing about the 30mm gatling gun and it's radar integration for Naval use. All I can say is WOW able to take on multiple targets at one time, access the danger potential and pick off planes, missiles, and even artillery shells. That was early 80's. The latest iterations are even more impressive.

@Keifsanderson

Жыл бұрын

Sounds a lot like the 20mm Phalanx CIWS in present use. It can be set to "auto" and will identify, prioritize, target, and engage incoming threats, while ignoring anything that isn't.

@qtrfoil

Жыл бұрын

@@Keifsanderson We also put them on trucks ashore, service in Iraq and Afghanistan as the "Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM), Land-based Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS)"

@Keifsanderson

Жыл бұрын

@@qtrfoil I've seen those. And here's another fun one that shows how only the DOD can come up with the best acronyms: the Navy now has SEARAM. Yup, identical pronunciation but an unrelated system. This system couples the CIWS radar/fire control with the Rolling Airframe Missile.

@qtrfoil

Жыл бұрын

@@Keifsanderson Don't be surprised if, as with LPWS, you find SeaRAM has also been configured to operate from ground platforms.

@Spectre-wd9dl

Жыл бұрын

@@Keifsanderson phalanx is great but still has its limitations.

My friend Lionel was a Rep for Lycoming on the YA-9 program and the QSRA and the engine went on to power the BAe 146 and Avro RJ which is where I worked with Lionel at BAe Hatfield in the 80’s. So cool to see the plane he used to tell me about when we were working in the Lycoming workshop.

@btbd2785

Жыл бұрын

BAe 146 and it's successor RJ were some awesome aircraft!!! So many innovative ideas that were put into place on these aircraft! Of course you cant forget those awsome 4 Avo Lycoming ALF turbofan engines, especially the more powerfull 507! Really would have loved to see the RJX succeed but it did not.

@taylorc2542

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad the A-10 won; it's just a more pure CAS design.

Never thought i would see dark skies say brrt

wow the engineers actually took input from pilots with combat experience? no wonder the a10 turned out so well.

@Velocitydrive

Жыл бұрын

The a10 is really cool but its a flying piece of shit from various experiences ive read online.

@yeetyateyote5570

Жыл бұрын

@@Velocitydrive correct on all accounts. LazerPig very well (and funnily) illustrates with sources how they DIDN’T consult actual real pilots and combat experience of the era when designing the A-10

@coneman8855

Жыл бұрын

@@Velocitydrive that's like saying the ac 130 is shit

@steakenjoyer9012

Жыл бұрын

yeah the A-10 is really good, good at blowing up British armor

@Velocitydrive

Жыл бұрын

@@coneman8855 I meannnnnnn. TBH an airplane that gives your entire crew horrible cancers is pretty shit

The A-9 is a clean, stout, impressive aircraft. I examined the one they have at the March ARB museum in Riverside CA many times. I surmise that the real reason that Fairchild Republic got the contract was more political than strategic - The Pentagon and USAF felt that Northrup was too busy with the T-38/F-5 and the YF-17 (soon to become the F/A-18) programs, while Fairchild had no outstanding government commitments.

@acarrillo8277

Жыл бұрын

The high mounted podded engines were so much better for the roll though. Above and behind the wing to reduce FOD so it could land on rough fields, boxed in from behind by the tail to reduce the aspect heat seeking missiles of the day could track it from and if one were hit damage would be limited to the pod. If the A-9 took a missile up the tailpipe it would be a core fuselage hit with vast quantities of ancillary damage to systems throughout the plane. That is reason enough for the A-10 to win the A-X competition. A-X planes needed to be able to take a beating and the A-10 could just take more punishment and keep going.

@westrim

Жыл бұрын

@@acarrillo8277 I daresay we'd have less problem with constant efforts to shut down the CAS plane today if they'd selected the A-9, since it looks more 'fightery'.

@miket2120

Жыл бұрын

A couple of things that the A-10 had over the A-9: the landing gear system and hot refueling'arming. If in case of landing gear deployment, the wheels still protruded enough to allow the plane to land without damage. Those same gear nacelles held the refueling points, away from the high mounted engines. This high position of the engines allowed the safe refueling and rearming of the plane, giving it a very quick turnaround. The A-9, with it's low slung engines and inlets, would need to shut down for rearming.

@phantom0456

Жыл бұрын

@@miket2120 I absolutely agree with your assessment, it’s spot on. I was a Warthog structural maintenance mechanic back in the day, and a quick glance at both it and the A-9 by anyone who has a decent understanding of aircraft makes it obvious that the A-10 is the superior design for the intended role for a plethora of reasons, hands down.

@herbwheeler4470

Жыл бұрын

Well if Fairchild didn't have any commitments and could get the A-10 out quickly then it was more strategic than political.

Great work. As I remember, Desert Storm with its fun "winning thing" and non-stop CNN coverage made the Warthog a superstar. Even non-geeks couldn't help but fall in love with a plane that maneuvered like a golf cart, and had that cannon, which shot so many high-caliber bullets at such.a high rate, that the thing slowed down.

YES, FINALLY SOMEONE TALKS ABOUT THE A-9

In 1972, when I was at DaNang, there was a fast Fac aircraft called Chico, the Gunfighter. It was a F4E with 2 additional 20mm guns an a Navy cluster bomb pac that they were using for a few months. I thought that may have been the predecessor to the CAS program.

I recall seeing "an artist's rendition" of what we know now as the Frogfoot in an Air Force magazine and recognized the A-9 lineage. Espionage being what it was in the 70's I was not surprised. Alongside the Frogfoot was a MiG 29 and another aircraft and all were Test aircraft/ Experimental, and a "Released" satellite photo.

@imrekalman9044

Жыл бұрын

On a side note the Soviets had the IL-2 Shturmovik CAS aircraft in WWII, they also saw the trend of jets getting too fast for CAS role, and Pavel Sukhoi begun to work on what became the Su-25 in 1968.

@naloxone04

Жыл бұрын

@@imrekalman9044 one year after Lockheed's AX proposal...hmmm!

@volvo245

Жыл бұрын

@@naloxone04 Even cursory glance at soviet CAS prototypes and programs makes it clear they arrived to similar looking aircraft separately. Their form follows their function and the common adaptations to their mission environment. But you just keep thinking that everything is invented in America.

@imrekalman9044

Жыл бұрын

@@naloxone04 And two years before the USAF finalised the requirements.

@buttyboy100

11 ай бұрын

You suffer from US exceptionalism, as if the USA was the only country to come up with original aircraft designs. The US aircraft industry may be big, but it does not have a monopoly in innovation.

The A- 10 Is a Infantry man's Guardian Angel..God Bless this Aircraft!!

@TheSpinkels

Жыл бұрын

Unless you're British.

@francisebbecke2727

Жыл бұрын

I am an Army veteran. I heard the Air Force wants to give us the A-10. We should take it!!!

@johnjingleheimersmith9259

Жыл бұрын

Angel... of death? Those blue on blue incidents be sky high bruv.

It’s sooooo much better to watch these now!!!! Your new, confident, slower speech is fantastic!!!! Keep up the great work. It’s a pleasure to listen to you!

Noticed the footage of the YA-10B (or A-10N A/W, as initially named), of the night attack / bad weather biplace version of the A-10, with the FLIR + laser ranger, underwing radar and the LLLTV on the location of the "Pave Penny" sensor. That was a very, very interesting version of the A-10.

I'd love for you to do a video on the OV-10 Bronco. A little known military aircraft, but a very interesting one. 👍

@byrongrayson990

Жыл бұрын

He has one homie

@Skinflaps_Meatslapper

Жыл бұрын

I wouldn't say it's little known, that was one of the most successful aircraft fielded of its type and certainly the coolest.

@royal9848

Жыл бұрын

@@Skinflaps_Meatslapper Agreed! Prior to the gulf war it was unknown but wow did it change. Twice generals and pols have tried to retire it, the army ground pounders and the public say, "HELL NO!"

@coolcoolercoolest212

Жыл бұрын

He should do a video about the YA-9. A very interesting plane that’s almost never talked about.

@michaelrunnels7660

Жыл бұрын

@@royal9848 I believe you are talking about the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The OV-10 Bronco was a twin engine propellor airplane used in Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) for CAS missions. I was in the infantry and saw them many times directing F-4 and F-100 CAS aircraft. After they directed the fighters on target they would often stick around and put on an aerobatic air show for us ground pounders. It was greatly appreciated. The OV-10 was eventually replaced in the U.S Air Force in the late 1980s by the OA-37B and OA-10A. The Marine Corp, however, used the OV-10 Bronco during Desert Storm as a laser designator for CAS aircraft. They lost 2 to manpads because the OV-10 had no heat seeker countermeasures (flares). I believe that Cal Fire still uses them to guide fire fighting aircraft during a forest fire. That mission is very similar the the original mission of Forward Air Controller in the military. They have a total of 18 OV-10s.

My father used to direct CAS in Cambodia and Vietnam with an OV-10. They even sent him to the infantry for a bit as they began to develop the combat controller role. A lot of what you see with ground controllers directing A-10s and other CAS platforms had their genesis in Vietnam.

@andyb.1026

Жыл бұрын

What was he doing in Cambodia ? It was neutral 😐, like Laos

@Foxtrap731

Жыл бұрын

@@andyb.1026 He wasn’t in Cambodia. He was over it with strict orders not to get shot down or have an emergency requiring landing in Cambodia. They directed air strikes against the NVA for the Cambodian Army. It was some hairy stuff. I have videos and audio of some of the battles.

Was a engine hydraulic mechanic on the A10A from 87 - 91, Was in the sand box during DESERT SHEILD, DESERT STORM. 23RD T.F.W. FLYING TIGERS, 76 AGS, Red section. Loved working on & around the A10A and the A10A became the ground pounders best friend. Proud to have served.

Being able to "Time Travel" and see the R&D of these phenomenal aircraft make me feel like a giddy child! THANK YOU

Not to forget about the A7-D. Initially a Navy replacement for the A4, the USAF was 'forced' to adopt it and came out with the D model. It was a success with only a small deficiency in that it lacked the low speed that the A1-E used to excel at CSAR. Even so, it still served in the CSAR role and a broader mission in Vietnam. This aircraft was the transition from the A1-E and A-10.

@paulholmes1303

Жыл бұрын

Worked the A-7D in SEA, beautiful airplane to work on and service and it was employed alongside the F-111's and Gunships in the last battles of the war (1975).

I loved how watching this, I could see the A-10 developing. Few sounds are sweeter than the shriek of a pair of A-10s coming in to make the bad guys go away. A forward observational base could feel like the Alamo until you hear a Warthog coming in ! Any bad guys that don't run away, die. Thanks for letting us see how she was born !

@carlosandleon

Жыл бұрын

Also taking out a few friendly's on the way lol

@buttyboy100

11 ай бұрын

@@carlosandleon Yup, they caused more casualties to Coalition forces than the Iraqis did in the first Gulf war. Probably in the second too.

Tyvm for giving the YA-9 it's due. I actually got to see the one of the prototypes at the air museum just outside of Riverside, Cal. It's relatively the same size as the A-10. Which I mean to say they're huge. The fact they could carry 16k of ordnance is amazing. (I wonder why the Navy couldn't have used them? Hmmmm.)

This never was a factor in Vietnam. The 30mm rotary cannon was developed specifically for the A10. The A1 Spad and Bronco were the prop driven options, a few A26s, and Spooky. The Cheyenne was never fielded, Cobra and Huey gunships were used. This is a bit of a miscommunication because the Army, by law, could not field a fixed wing CAS platform. The A10 was not employed until Desert Storm.

@davidmicalizio824

Жыл бұрын

Don't forget Spectre and the Boxcar.

@michaelbooher339

Жыл бұрын

Army is lucky they got the OV1 Mohawk.

@tegunn

Жыл бұрын

Thankfully "employed" perhaps, fielded in the late 70's namely Germany..Doctrine, not law, limited fixed wing CAS for the army. Anytime the USAF talked about getting rid of them(A-10's), the Army was willing to take them.

@tarmaque

Жыл бұрын

@@tegunn The Marine Corps were practically begging for them.

@paulking7019

Жыл бұрын

us1fedvet said; "The 30mm rotary cannon was developed specifically for the A10" That would be False. It was developed as part of the A-X competition. There was no specific aircraft in mind for the 30mm Gau8s A/A49E6 gun system during its development.

Mate have to say you must be the hardest working person on KZread! To run 5/6 channel like dark sea,dark sky etc etc and to release contestant amazing content for all the time is amazing! Been hooked on your videos for years love them! So thanks for you efforts

@krisdrinkwine6045

Жыл бұрын

That deserves a love for sure.

@loren021

Жыл бұрын

That's why there are little mistakes in there videos they are probably overwhelmed from all there channels

The picture of the 30mm cannon next to the Volkswagon beetle blew my mind. Incredible!!!!

You forgot the A37 Dragonfly .. that was used effectively as a CAS aircraft. That had a GAU 2 minigun in the nose ...slightly smaller BRRRT (7.62) ..but still a BRRRT aircraft nevertheless.

The F4U Corsair was also used in CAS in WWII. Even though it was a fighter it was a very deadly weapon in Close Air Support.

And he avoided mentioning as soon as we decided on the A-10 and gave up the YA-9, the Soviets brought out the SU-25 Frogfoot a couple of years later... Well known at the time they "acquired" the design.

@unlimitedgaming7872

Жыл бұрын

It looks similar to the su-25 footfrog

@DeeEight

Жыл бұрын

The Soviets were very familiar with the A-37B so they didn't need to base the Su-25 on the YA-9. They had hundreds of A-37s in Vietnam to examine and improve upon the design of.

@tegunn

Жыл бұрын

@@DeeEight they had enough examples of the A37 to know that platform didn't fit their design needs..or ours.

@halogod0298

Жыл бұрын

Typical Russians, 20 years behind

Thank you! For slowing down your delivery. Much better, Sir.

Would like to see you do an article on the Bushranger attack helicopter. Yes I know it’s a modified Huey but I’d be interested to know why Australia developed their own gunship platform separate to the US.

@USMC--me3ig

Жыл бұрын

I 2nd

@pvtjohntowle4081

Жыл бұрын

@@USMC--me3ig Aussies do better attack choppers that's all

@ducatipaso1386

Жыл бұрын

@@pvtjohntowle4081 more like union labor demanding ‘local’ component. 😂

@carlosandleon

Жыл бұрын

???? look into the A10 - it's terrible

@nabilbudiman271

Жыл бұрын

to hunt Emu

Saw my first A10 working the impact areas at Fort Irwin back in 1976 or 77. We had never seen the like and could only stand a stare……..😳 I’ve been hooked on it ever since.

@johnfairchild3421

Жыл бұрын

I saw my first A10 run I think in 1977 at the range outside Fort Polk La called Camp Claiborne. Kitsch or national forest

Clickbait, the 30mm GAU 8 was not completed in time for the testing so the aircraft was never fitted with a 30mm

Great video as usual!! The YA9 looks like the inspiration for the SU25 Frogfoot IMHO. Personally I think the USAF made the right choice with the A10 and I miss seeing A10's at low level here in the UK.

@kylewright7882

Жыл бұрын

I was thinking this exact thing. The YA-9 looks very similar to the SU-25.

@mEmEzMaN...

Жыл бұрын

I thought it was a frogfoot at first Until I looked at some pictures

@user-il4hq5zr5o

Жыл бұрын

The Russians had to have been inspired by the A9. Too much coincidence in design, even a glancing look.

@Snake-ms7sj

Жыл бұрын

@@user-il4hq5zr5o From what I've heard it was indeed the inspiration for the Frogfoot.

@chrissschwehr5911

Жыл бұрын

"Inspiration"? It looks more like a 1 for 1 copy. The Russians are almost as good at stealing designs as the Chinese are. Note that at about the same time, they were working on stealing the design for the Space Shuttle also.

I was stationed at March AFB (SAC) from 1982-1990 and was all over the planes on the flight line side of the museum including the A-9A. At lunch and breaks, I was in an out of many of the aircraft there. Now, they are all over in a single area for the museum with very little access to look closer at them.

My dad was the Air Force Lieazon to Republic during the development of the A10, specifically the GAU 8 gatlin gun. He has films and posters signed by the team and the first cartrige fired from the gun. At 6 years old I sat in the cockpit of the very first one off the assembly line in Northrup California. Needless to say it's my favorite aircraft. This was just the first of many projects my father was involved with up too the space suttle and the Hubble telescope. I myself was later involved with NASA up to the Space Station. I like to think me and my dad moved our country further into the Space Age.

The Cessna Dragonfly served in CAS as well in VN. Surprised to see no mention of it.

Interesting aircraft. Sorry it never went into production. What is interesting is the similarities between the YA9 and the Soviet SU 25. Very similar in appearance and weapon hard point layout. Just thought I'd mention it.

Another good video. I'd not heard of the YA-9A. Consider doing a vid on the A-12 Avenger. A fascinating project.

Yes, that other plane with a 30 mm auto cannon - i.e. the one that closely resembles the losing contender for the A-X competition, namely the A-9 ... so, actually the third plane with a 30 mm BRRRT cannon.

Although the gau-8 was not the first weapon used to kill tanks in the middle east wars it was effective in engaging enemy fortified positions and in strafing runs which doesn't show up on paper but much appreciated by the troops. Also effective for engaging APC's and soft skin vehicles

Someone FINALLY Produced A Video With Fresh Information About 💥Northrop's Close Air Support Marvel 💥! You Did It ' Dark Skies ' ! Another Fantastic Production 👍🏼👍🏼

@nicholashall6850

Жыл бұрын

A++++

@DeeEight

Жыл бұрын

Fresh to you maybe. Nothing fresh to me in this video.

@patriot692

Жыл бұрын

@@DeeEight well, Woop de Doo, smarty pants 🤤

Always fascinating, thank you!

My father was a senior project evaluation officer on the AX Program. He used his experience flying A-37's in the CAS role in SEA, to make recommendations to the Air Force.

I knew the rotary Cannon was big (obviously) but seeing it next to a VW bug was insane

I remember the YA-9A it used to be part of the Castle Air Force Museum before it was transferred back to another Museum !!! The A-10 was the superior airframe as the YA-9A used Lycoming YF102 engines and was way underpowered compared to A-10 !

@raymondlowry8564

Жыл бұрын

Obviously I don’t know for certain, but the YA-9A you saw may be the one at March AFB, just South of the City of Riverside, CA. I have been an aircraft enthusiast since childhood, so imagine my surprise when I saw one of the two YA-PA’s on display there. It is showing its age as it is outside, but still looks good.

@MichaelSmith-kr9qw

Жыл бұрын

@@raymondlowry8564 That is possible !!! That was many moons ago...I used to live in Atwater Ca up until 2009 then I moved to Texas...

The argument the engine was unproven and experimental DIDN'T stop the USAF from choosing the F-15 for production given it was the first to use the P&W F100-PW-100. The USAF already had a new CAS aircraft in Vietnam, the Cessna A-37B Dragonfly which had everything the A-X program demanded EXCEPT the heavy payload and with over 160,000 sorties in vietnam and only 24 total aircraft lost it had already proven itself in the role and 577 were built split between the USAF and the South Vietnamese air force. In comparison in its first shooting war, the A-10s flew only 16,000 sorties in the 91 gulf war and six aircraft were shot down and dozens of others were expensive to repair from ground fire damage. The A-37 also mirrors the general form of the P-59, and the YA-9 which came afterwards. Both YA-aircraft in the test program had the M61A1 Vulcan and aluminum armor tubs to cut costs and so as to demonstrate their accuracy on equal terms with identical weapons. As to the engines position... the YA-9 engines used retractable inlet screens the same as the engines of the A-37B to keep FOD out on take-offs and landings while the gear is down. The YA-10 engine position doesn't matter for FOD in low level attacks because unless you're flying into a trees there'd so circumstance in which debris from the ground would get into the intakes anyway. But combat results would prove A-10 which loses an engine become basically impossible to control in manual reversion mode, whereas aircraft like the A-37B and YA-9, with engines close to the centerline of the fuselage and more importantly the center of gravity can still be controlled in manual mode & single-engine operation (based on combat results with the A-37Bs in Vietnam). The A-10 design also has a lot of airframe drag, which is why it is slower in flight than the YA-9 had been, and in spite of the A-10s having much more thrust and why its impossible to control properly in manual mode without both engines functioning. People who argue the partially exposed main gear wheels helps in case of a belly landing don't seem to ever look at the actual results of those from combat damage. In the 91 gulf war it was attempted twice. It was successful the first time and a fatal failure the second time. The reason the YA-10 was awarded the production contract was purely political. Fairchild-Republic was in danger of collapse, Northrop was not. So F-R got the contract to keep them in business.

F-100 Super Sabers were routinely delivering ordinance on target in 1964-65. High explosive bombs with Comp B or tritanol, napalm, cluster bomb units (CBU), 2.75” rockets with various war heads, and high explosive incendiary bullets from 4 ea 20mm cannons were all delivered. The SkyRaider A-1E had a longer loiter time, but the F-100 got there faster. A good combination. The A-10 combines the advantages of both. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

@chrissschwehr5911

Жыл бұрын

The Super Sabre got there faster but couldn't loiter long and was too fast for really precise placement of rockets and dumb bombs that were carried back then....

Good as the A-9A was, it was obvious that the A-10A's engine placement made it a far more survivable plane. The Russians copied the same engine layout as the A-9A with the Sukhoi Su-25 and found out having two engines placed closely together was not as survivable, based on the 1980's Afghanistan operational experience.

@imrekalman9044

Жыл бұрын

Work on the Su-25 begun in 1968, two years before the USAF "request for proposals".

@DeeEight

Жыл бұрын

Su-25s survived very well in Afghanistan until the USA started giving out stinger missiles like they were candy on Halloween. A-10s fall out of the skies around small surface to air missiles also. A-10s are only survivable with a lost engine IF they don't lose the primarily hydraulic flight control system also. If they do, they're nigh impossible to fly in manual reversion as there isn't enough flight control authority using trim tabs to manage the assymetric thrust problem also. Su-25s on the other hand CAN lose an engine and fly in manual mode, as could the earlier A-37B.

USAF objected to the Cheyenne because while being a helicopter, it also had fixed wings. Not for carrying armaments like other attack helicopters, but for aerodynamic lift. USAF wanted a monopoly on fixed wings.

@craig4867

Жыл бұрын

Cheyenne helicopter has been resurrected with the new Defiant X! You will see how similar they look and it was ahead of its time!

@amaneyugihanako-kunofthesi8849

Жыл бұрын

@@craig4867 Actually no, the Defiant lost to the Valor, so that's not gonna happen

@thedungeondelver

Жыл бұрын

The USAF's attitude towards anything larger than a paper airplane borders on psychopathic. I wonder how many soldiers died in Vietnam because "muh fixed wing"

@craig4867

Жыл бұрын

@@amaneyugihanako-kunofthesi8849 I'm very well aware of that but I think the other helicopter is much better is that okay with you am I allowed to have an opinion thank you!

@WALTERBROADDUS

Жыл бұрын

@@craig4867 you're welcome to an opinion. Just not make up facts however.

The A-10 gets called officially the "Thunderbolt II", but aircrews call it the warthog for obvious reasons. Awesome airplane, great video!

First time hearing about the A-9, and its competition with the A-10 prototype, and both were very interesting,👍.

I have sympathy for war vets from Vietnam. I don't share empathy because I was a baby. I haven't got a clue about how difficult it was besides my imagination from stories heard. I say this with extreme respect as a civillion.

Please do the OV10 Bronco

A quote from a favorite video of mine: "The A-10 is a flying gatling gun built by a washing machine company that specializes in turning enemies into spaghetti and allied soldiers into insurance claims."

What i find very interesting is that at 4:18, we can multiple designs for the program. And all of those designs reminds me of others type of aircraft. Locheed Design reminds me of the U2 spy aircrat. While others, with underwing power cells reminds me of carrier based aircrafts. Love the fact they re-used their design in other project. Proving that they could do great for other missions. More over, the YA 9A reminds me of the russian SU25 CAS aircraft.

Inter-service rivalry is the most dangerous adversary the US Military is forced to deal with. The Air Force is pathalogically opposed to the CAS role or anything that smacks of it. It pursued the AX program because it was going to lose its fixed wing monopoly to the Army, not because it was committed to a joint arms vision for winning wars. They may have put a big gun in it but they also chose to equip it as a day fighter with virtually no search and track capability other than the pilot's Mk I eyeballs. Pretty sure they knew the enemy worked the night shift and in bad weather but that wasn't their concern. The fact that Fairchild-Republic created a war winning classic is to their credit, not the Air Force.

@shadowgunner69

11 ай бұрын

Fairchild also created a pair of aircraft for night time CAS, the AC-119G Shadow and AC-119K Stingers. Both were extremely effective in use.

I know for a fact that there are alternate timelines where the YA-9 was selected instead of the YA-10.

@tegunn

Жыл бұрын

It was the same timeline; different country..

@WALTERBROADDUS

Жыл бұрын

Alternative timelines? There's no quantum leap machine here.

An excellence video, out of all the videos on youtube on the subject of the A10 warhog. this is the best. The full history on close support aircraft requirement for aircraft that became the A10. When they mean close support aircraft, they mean below 500 ft if not lower to see the dandelion on the grass. The A10 mow tanks and armor carries with it armor piercing bullets from a six barrel Vulcan Gatling gun. This is why the A10 can win a land war. Even Russian don't anything like something so lethal and fly so low and hang around for a couples hours. The US army and Marine just love this plane. Thank you , I will subscribe.

Brilliant video, loved that content, thank you

Other than teething problems inherent in every new aircraft, the AH-56 Cheyenne would have been an awesome helicopter at the time, it is still faster than the AH-64 Apache. At least it paved the way to develop the Apache.

@atomicskull6405

Жыл бұрын

If he AH-56 had went into production it would probably still be around like the AH-1Z Viper is.

The YA-9 somewhat reminds me of the SU-25, atleast with the way the engines look.

@Indexium

Жыл бұрын

im convinced the soviets copied the YA-9 to build the frogfoot

@imrekalman9044

Жыл бұрын

@@Indexium Since work on the Su-25 begun in 1968, two years before the USAF made the request for proposals to the 6 companies including Northrop and Fairchild I'm not convinced about that "Soviets copied" part. Let's not forget the Soviets also had a CAS aircraft in WWII, the Ilyushin IL-2 Shturmovik, and also saw in the 50's and 60's jets becoming too fast for the CAS role.

@dongately2817

Жыл бұрын

@@Indexium there’s only so many configurations you can come up with when you need maneuverability, while carrying a large payload, at low altitude/speed. It does look surprisingly similar but I think the form is a matter of function. The A-10 was a scary, almost sci-fi looking aircraft, at least compared to the dogs that were the YA and the Su-25.

The level of detail in the research for these videos is second to none

This is a pretty good program. Not loaded down with errors, well researced, not much of that boring and repetitious drivel that some producers use to turn a 10 minute program into a 30 minute program without any added content. Photography is good. The use of tech drawings used as needed. My only issue was the lack of much about the A10. I know that the show was about the A9 but since the heart of the program was the competition between the two birds. A bit more about the A10 (the ultimate winner of the contract) would have added enough more info so that the non-wing nut could understand the whys and wherefores of those differences. My comment is NOT intended to sound like criticism. More in the line of constructive information.

YA-9でなくA-10が採用されるとは…

I can see where the Russian may have gotten the frogfoot ground attack fighter.

@hicknopunk

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, seems obvious in hindsight. I love these YT documentaries.

@imrekalman9044

Жыл бұрын

Work on the Su-25 begun in 1968, two years before the YA-9/YA-10 selection.

@deltonlomatai2309

Жыл бұрын

@@imrekalman9044 the soviets did not launch a competition for a CAS until 1969.

@imrekalman9044

Жыл бұрын

@@deltonlomatai2309 Correct, Pavel Sukhoi had already been working on the T-8 by then.

There's a YA9 on display at the museum at March AF reserve base in Riverside, Ca.

I remember the YA-9 (1of2) sitting all by itself almost hidden at Castle Air Museum for years until the Air Force repoed it. Either on display or "Being restored" forever now.

They had a design problem with the 30mm and A-10. When they fired the cannon the engines shut off. A man by the name of Coward from San Antonio figured out the cannon consumed the oxygen in front of the engines. They moved them further out on the pylons and bam, problem solved.

This plane looks suspiciously simmilar to the soviet Su 25.🤨 I even thought according to the thumbnail this video is about the Frogfoot 🧐

@WALTERBROADDUS

Жыл бұрын

You have things backwards. It's more like the Russians copied us.

@imrekalman9044

Жыл бұрын

Work on the Su-25 begun in 1968, two years before the YA-9/YA-10 selection.

Always informative. Excellent Presentation.

It's interesting how much the Su25 looks like the YA9

Funny how SU-25 looks a whole lot like YA-9......

@paoloviti6156

Жыл бұрын

@Jay Riley perhaps but the YA-9 was no slouch and apparently had superior performance to the A-10...

@hicknopunk

Жыл бұрын

I am sure the USSR developed it independently and without spying on the USA. 🤣🤣

@WALTERBROADDUS

Жыл бұрын

It's thought that Sukhoi took a lot from the design.

@paoloviti6156

Жыл бұрын

@@hicknopunk how could you ever think claiming such a terrible thing like this: Russians never spy in USA! Lol 😆 😂🤣

@hicknopunk

Жыл бұрын

@@paoloviti6156 I know, I am silly and corrupted by centrist views 😂🤣😂🤣

Very similar to the su-25 pretty interesting

@PresidentEvil

Жыл бұрын

not really

@babulapiderazi1924

Жыл бұрын

i thought this video is about the frogfoot when i saw the thumbnail.🧐

@marklnz

Жыл бұрын

Yep - the suspicion is that the SU-25 was basically a Soviet-ized A9, i.e. they stole the plans and changed it a bit

@tegunn

Жыл бұрын

@@PresidentEvil yes really...they acquired the design and adapted it to Russian engines/hardware.

@tegunn

Жыл бұрын

@@marklnz during the 80's it was pretty well known they tweaked the design after acquiring it

When the narrator started talking about the advancement of CAS aircraft developed in WWII, I thought he was going to mention the Stuka, Sturmovik, or HS 129. Not high-altitude interceptors that got pressed into CAS usage because of their payload capacity.

This is the channel I go to for the sort of content that was on the Discovery channel in the 1990s.

YA-9 look Very similar to a SU-25 with straighter wings. There is more to the story of why the A-10 won The contest. The Air Force wanted a plane that not only did close air support but also could destroy Soviet armor in Europe. The Russians and their satellite armies had vastly more tanks than NATO. If the cold war turned into a hot war they expected a battle in the “Fulda Gap”. The Russian tanks had good design for the times. They were simple and somewhat disposable. The Russians believed it was better to have quantity rather than quality. The life of an individual soldier didn’t mean a whole lot especially to communist. Strangely they still follow this doctrine. That is why they send conscripts to Ukraine to fight without proper winter clothing and supplies. They really don’t expect these conscripts to survive on the battlefield more than a couple of weeks therefore giving them the best Gore-Tex jackets and boots with Thinsulate is considered a waste of time. Dead bodies don’t need warm clothing. These men are written off as dead before they get off the bus in the Ukraine.

@bc-guy852

Жыл бұрын

Two separate points being made in the same paragraph... In my opinion - BOTH points are spot-on. Unfortunate but true at the moment. (I believe the one thing putin did well - was controlling the media completely since 1999. He's had 23 years to brainwash some of the russian sheep and make the rest of them just not care. Pass the vodka - "not my business" - here we are.

Looks like early su25 prototype. After su24/f111 and mig25/f15 and tu160/b2 I start to wonder. Also I think (imho) that 30mm cannon is a huge overkill. 20mm was enough for most targets and tanks always require guided missiles to kill.

@imrekalman9044

Жыл бұрын

Work on the Su-25 begun in 1968, two years before the YA-9/YA-10 selection.

@tonyunderwood9678

Жыл бұрын

Well, the A-10 was originally intended to counter Russian tanks pouring through the Fulda gap... That is why there is a 30mm gun on the airplane. For other targets perhaps the GAU80 is overkill, but for a T-62/72 it was what was needed.

I remember a show, believe it was on history channel, that dealt with concept german planes from ww2. One of them looked extremely familiar even though it was never produced. I don't think it even made it to prototype stage. The A10 looks a lot like that aircraft. Can't remember who had designed it. The show was around 25 years ago.

I remember in testing, the A-10 went into uncommanded rolls when they fired the gun. I think it also made one engine quit.

Soldiers and Marines getting killed due to lack of CAS Airforce: Meh Army going to make their own CAS platform Airforce: Oh no, we need to do something!

@davidmicalizio824

Жыл бұрын

wrong

@machupikachu1085

Жыл бұрын

@@davidmicalizio824 yes. You absolutely are.

@baconsnot

Жыл бұрын

@@davidmicalizio824 Hey, thanks for commenting. Be sure to like, subscribe and ring the bell for notifications.

GREAT CONTENT!! Thank you!

great historical vid. thanks.

Fascinating. Never heard of the YA-9.

The A10 saved my life 3 different times in Afghanistan. Nothing sounds as sweet as that brrrrrrrat burp when it means you get to go home NOT in a box.

when a warthog flies a winter mission, it goes BRRRRRRRT. but i guess thats every mission ;)

I'm not familiar w/ the Fairchild YA-9. Much thx for posting this, Dark Skies 👍🇺🇲

I like how he whispers “Stay tuned” at the end.

Interesting to note that the A-10 was designed using informations about a J87 Stuka pilot called Hans-Ulrich Rudel, the most decorated German pilot of WWII.

No telling how the YA-9 would have done, but there is no doubt the A10 met all real-world expectations.

Fair to say this about any era but the designs and tech being developed all over the planet at this time, fascinates me. Cheers Dark 👍🇨🇦

You can really see what design choices on the A-9 carried over to the A-10. That top view of the schematic is almost a 1:1 match aside.from the tail design.

The headline "30mm BRRRT cannon" The punchline "it never carried the 30mm BRRRT cannon"

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

Good one! I love the A-10

love it thank you