Devilfish Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 For some reason, people seem to be posting their what ifs in the normal aircraft RFI threads. Not me!! lol Thunderbolt GA.1 20 (AC) Sqn RAF Germany 1986 When the British Army started flying it's own armed fixed wing aircraft in the close support role, there was, naturally, outrage in the halls of the Ministry, as the RAF complained that it was their role to support ground forces. Almost immediately the Air Staff began looking at a suitable, but better (read "more complicated") aircraft, that the Army wouldn't be able to maintain on their own. The obvious choice was the new Fairchild A-10, coming into service with the USAF. After much wrangling between the RAF and Army, eventually it was declared that if this was to go ahead, it would have to be a joint unit. The Army therefore insisted on having one of their officers on whatever plane was chosen. This scuppered the A-10 idea, until Fairchild came out with the N/AW A-10, two seater. Orders were immediately placed, with the idea of the rear seat being purely an Army observer. Eventually, as crew training progressed, it became evident the rear-seater would become a valuable member of the crew, operating the various systems, and target tracking etc The aircraft was modified for British use, with the addition of an IFR probe. Weaponry typically consisted of anti armour and ground suppression rounds, with a Sidewinder for self defence, and an American AGM-88 HARM for anti-radar use. 20190522_175645 by Paul Carter, on Flickr 20190522_175551 by Paul Carter, on Flickr 20190522_175631 by Paul Carter, on Flickr 20190522_175535 by Paul Carter, on Flickr 20190522_175520 by Paul Carter, on Flickr 20190522_175504 by Paul Carter, on Flickr 20190522_175406 by Paul Carter, on Flickr 35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abandoned Project Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 10 hours ago, Devilfish said: For some reason, people seem to be posting their what ifs in the normal aircraft RFI threads i have noticed that this is becoming more of an 'if only' than 'what if' section. Great model of an 'if only' A-10. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 That.. looks oddly plausible. Cheers, Andre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperService Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 What a fantastic idea! I have one of these and have been looking for suitable 81 TFW decals. Very, very nicely finished and built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamS Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Right, now I know what to do with my Trumpeter 1/32 two seater. Lovely! Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsman Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 We should definitely have bought some ............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted May 31, 2019 Share Posted May 31, 2019 Hmm the army wouldn't be able to maintain eh? I know one or two Remes who would like to debate that ...and I'm an ex WAFU...too much RAFism going on round here🤣 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackem01 Posted June 2, 2019 Share Posted June 2, 2019 Brilliant build, great backstory. She looks every inch a beast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskey Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 I wonder if the refueling probe could withstand the back force generated by the GAU when fired and not snap off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilfish Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 On 5/31/2019 at 6:03 PM, junglierating said: Hmm the army wouldn't be able to maintain eh? I know one or two Remes who would like to debate that ...and I'm an ex WAFU...too much RAFism going on round here🤣 I didn't say they couldn't, more that the powers that be assumed they couldn't. The fact that they operate the Apache proves otherwise. Remember, this was back in the 80's during the Cold War, when there was much more elitism than there is now. Ex-RAF Techie myself, and I've had a lot of dealings with both Army and Navy equivalents, so I'm well aware of their capabilities, but I needed a "plausible" backstory., 7 hours ago, whiskey said: I wonder if the refueling probe could withstand the back force generated by the GAU when fired and not snap off. If probes like this can withstand supersonic flight, I don't think a little deceleration would be a problem. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 Nice one, Paul. I always liked the look of the two seater and it looks good in those colours. Pete. (7 miles North of you). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 Awesome! If only our politicians were far-sighted and ambitious enough! A few squadrons of RAF or AAC A-10s would still be very useful and capable now. Imagine sitting by the approach at Honington or Cottesmore watching these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbo88 Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 (edited) RAF operated A10s could have been feasible I suppose, particularly if the US government had pushed for it to happen. I have long had an idea for an RAF Germany A10 force, using aircraft funded by the US government as an addition to their own European and UK based A10 wings. In my 'what if' scenario NATO was so worried about the masses of Warsaw Pact armour facing it that further orders for A10s were placed, specifically to be operated by the RAF in Germany and the Luftwaffe. The US provided funding for two four squadron wings of A10s, one each RAF and Luftwaffe, along with pilot and ground crew training, ground facilities and armaments. Service entry would have been around 1981/82. Aircraft supplied would essentially be standard USAF specification, with minimal modifications to ensure rapid availability. In my scenario the RAFG A10s would have been operated by four resurected squadrons disbanded back in the 1957 cuts. Colour scheme would have been standard RAF dark green/dark sea grey wrap round, with limited squadron markings. Major servicing would have been carried out at RAF Kemble (which in real life was used for some USAFE maintenance). With the end of the Cold War I imagine the RAF and Luftwaffe A10s would quickly have been withdrawn to save money (the UK MoD would certainly not want to fund them out of its own resources), the squadrons disbanded and aircraft absorbed within the USAF or gone into storage. I imagine they would have all gone back to the US by the early 90s (maybe around just long enough to participate in the first Gulf War?) Just an idea! Edited July 8, 2019 by Timbo88 Spelling 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Thats great and another airframe that looks better as a two seater rather than a single seater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Now, I'm not normally one for What-Ifs, but that is really rather good! Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Super work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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