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According to several news agencies a US "Warthog" A 10 Thunderbolt crashed in Germany this afternoon.

The pilot escaped via ejection seat.

The Aircraft went down only 300-500 m away from Laufeld, a little village with around 500 inhabitants.

Another plane down? First the F-15 in Libya, now this. It seems those planes are getting old.

The A-10s are old beyond their years in terms of airframe fatigue due to the nature of their operations... but, most of them have had their wings and parts of their airframes rebuilt or replaced, so they should be good for several more years.

A-10s have a habit of smacking into things from time to time because there are lots more interesting objects at the altitude they operate at than there are at 30,000ft.

The jet belonged to 81st FS out of Spangdahlem. The cause of the crash, of course, has yet to be released, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least to find that the A-10s natural enemies (birds and power lines) might have played a role.

Thorben wrote:Another plane down? First the F-15 in Libya, now this. It seems those planes are getting old.

I wouldn't say that if I were you. You might get flamed.

Click Click D'oh wrote:The A-10s are old beyond their years in terms of airframe fatigue due to the nature of their operations... but, most of them have had their wings and parts of their airframes rebuilt or replaced, so they should be good for several more years.

There is a lot more to it then that and they plan for them to last until 2028.

Myf favorite hat is my A10 hat which you can't find anywhere.

Under Precision Engagement, the A/OA-10 is being modified to employ the Joint Direct Attack Munition and the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser. The program is integrating advanced sensors, a datalink and the LITENING AT and Sniper XR targeting pods onto the aircraft, which will boost pilot situational awareness, targeting capabilities, survivability and communication with other coalition ground and air elements.

An aircraft modified with the Precision Engagement kit is designated as an A-10C.

"The A-10C program effectively takes one of the most lethal air-to-ground platforms ever designed and significantly upgrades its ability to precisely detect, identify and destroy targets while increasing situational awareness and standoff capability," said John Boker, A-10 Program Manager with the 642nd AESS.

As part of the upgrade effort, the A/OA-10 fleet is receiving advanced integrated cockpit controls and displays, an improved pilot vehicle interface using two new multifunction color displays and a new central interface control unit with three state-of-the-art computer processors to provide stores management -- the control of weapons release and pod employment -- and overall avionics systems integration.

A/OA-10 pilots will enjoy hands-on-stick-and-throttle control of weapons, targeting pods and navigation systems, simplifying their duties considerably.