Thread: A-10
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Old 05-14-2010 | 11:31 AM
  #25  
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USMCFLYR
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From: FAA 'Flight Check'
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Originally Posted by EYBusdriver
A civie visitor here.

"The A-1E was probably the best CAS aircraft ever built: Gobs of payload, 12 hr loiter time, etc. Totally kicked ass, but, alas it had a prop. The AF wanted jets. Fast, shiny, jets. (Still do.)"

Imagine if the other contender had won the bid for the A10 program, you might be flying P51 Mustangs. No kidding, the rival for the A10 was Pipers' contender, the PA48 Enforcer which was a brand new P51 Mustang with turbo prop power. The sole example is at Wright Patterson.
Wikipedia says that there is one waiting for restoration at Edwards AFB.
Of the prototype aircraft produced, two of the four still exist. One of the PA-48s (N482PE) awaits restoration at Edwards Air Force Base. N481PE (pictured above) has been fully restored and resides in the "Prototype Hangar" at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.
Interesting aircraft for sure.
There was a thread a little while ago talking about the new COIN aircraft and some people mentioned The Enforcer.

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