Odd looking vertical stabilizers on A-10A 76-0540

[Max89]

Does anyone know why the vertical stabilizers on A-10A 76-0540 look different compared to all other aircraft of its type? It almost looks as if the bottom of the vertical stabilizers are "clipped".

 

You should be able to see this in the attached photo on the left.

 

 

Here's the source of the image: https://www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Air-Force/Fairchild-A-10A-Thunderbolt-II/185519

 

The funny thing is that if you look up earlier pictures of that same aircraft when it was in service, it has normal looking stabilizers.

Edited March 15, 2022 by Max89

[f111guru]

Found these on the net

https://dstorm.eu/pages/en/usa/a-10.html

 

https://www.2951clss-gulfwar.com/piwigo/index.php?/category/2

 

Was hit by triple A during desert storm. The other possibility is that it may have had sensors in the lower part of the tails as this reference website.

 

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/code-number/NO

 

All The Best,

Ron VanDerwarker

 

 

[Robin-42]

Never trust a museum aircraft, as 111guru stated, it may have had the extra sensors and the USAF may have removed them as spares before donation.

[bentwaters81tfw]

Looks like home made replacement parts for display. Not the first time that has happened .

It also sits tail high, obviously no engines, and the oleos have not been adjusted.

[Dana Bell]

I photographed 76-540 on 8 July 1991, shortly after Desert Storm.  Both tail planes were normal at that time.  I agree it must be a display thing...

 

Cheers,

 

 

Dana

[Steve McArthur]

On 3/14/2022 at 9:19 PM, f111guru said:

From: https://www.2951clss-gulfwar.com/piwigo/index.php?/category/2

Quote

It did finally fly home, well to McClellen AFB anyway, where it supplied parts for other A-10's for awhile until August 22, 1991 when we ended up putting her on static display at the McClellan AFB Aviation Museum (now Aerospace Museum of California), Sacramento (North Highlands) CA.

 

Sounds like it made it home and it was turned into a parts donor.  The new tail it got in Desert Storm would be more useful as spares for the fleet than on a museum display.