The Warthog: The Ultimate Tank-Busting Leviathan. The Aircraft the Air Force Tried to Kill

Explore the complete history and engineering behind the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, the ultimate close air support aircraft and the most lethal tank-buster of the modern era. Designed in the shadow of inter-service budget rivalries, the A-10 Warthog revolutionized the way the United States military approached ground combat. Discover how the transition from high-altitude strategic bombing doctrine led to a massive gap in infantry support, a gap temporarily filled by aging World War II P-47s and Korean War-era A-1 Skyraiders. In this documentary, we delve into the clandestine bureaucratic battles waged by the Fighter Mafia, including defense analyst Pierre Sprey and Colonel Avery Kay. Tasked with developing a cheap, highly survivable aircraft to defeat the US Army's expensive Cheyenne helicopter program, they engineered a masterpiece of lethal utility. Learn about the gruelling fly-off at Edwards Air Force Base between the Northrop YA-9 and the Fairchild YA-10, where survivability and dive-bombing accuracy determined the victor. We examine the terrifying thirty-millimeter GAU-8 Avenger cannon, a weapon so massive it dictated the entire layout of the airframe. Firing depleted uranium shells capable of igniting Soviet armor upon impact, the A-10 became a flying artillery piece. We detail the incredible survivability features built into the plane, from manual flight cable backups to the legendary two-thousand-pound titanium bathtub that protects the pilot from devastating ground fire. From its trial by fire in the Gulf War under General Norman Schwarzkopf to its modern-day deployments against insurgent forces, the A-10 has outlasted every attempt by the Air Force to retire it. To support our work and channel, join @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTTqBgYdkmFogITlPDM0M4A/join Thank you! 🙏🎖️ ➤ More aircraft and history videos: https://www.youtube.com/@Dronescapes ➤ Join the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Dronescapes/join ➤ THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@dronescapesvideos ➤ FB: https://www.facebook.com/Dronescapesvideos ➤ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Atellani/ ➤ IG: https://www.instagram.com/dronescapesvideos ➤ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/dronescapes.bsky.social ➤ Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/dronescapesvideos ➤ X/Twitter: https://dronescapes.video/2p89vedj VIDEO SERIES: 🎥U.S. AIRCRAFT VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/US 🎥AVIATION VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/aviation 🎥GERMAN AIRCRAFT VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/WWIIGermany 🎥BRITISH AIRCRAFT VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/British 🎥ERIC BROWN VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/EricBrown 🎥B-29 VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/B29 🎥VIETNAM AND KOREA: https://dronescapes.video/Vietnam 🎥TURBOJET VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/Turbojet 🎥SUPERSONIC VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/fastest 🎥EXTREME AIRCRAFT VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/Extreme 🎥STRANGE PLANES VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/Extreme 🎥COLD WAR ERA VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/ColdWar 🎥 WW2 VIDEOS: https://dronescapes.video/WW2 00:00:00 The Invasion of Kuwait and Desert Storm 00:01:39 The Origins of the USAF and Strategic Bombing 00:05:08 The P-47 Thunderbolt and World War II Close Support 00:09:02 The Key West Agreements and Inter-Service Rivalry 00:11:07 The Korean War and the A-1 Skyraider 00:16:09 The Vietnam War and the Cheyenne Helicopter Threat 00:18:36 Colonel Avery Kay and the Fighter Mafia 00:23:41 Designing the Ultimate Close Air Support Aircraft 00:27:41 The Titanium Bathtub and Aircraft Survivability 00:29:24 The 30mm Cannon and Depleted Uranium Ammunition 00:32:46 Evaluating the Harrier and Marine Corps Doctrine 00:34:38 The Fly-Off: Northrop YA-9 vs Fairchild YA-10 00:38:39 Resolving the A-10 Engine Stalling Issues 00:40:29 The Air Force Attempts to Kill the A-10 00:44:41 First Combat: The Invasion of Panama 00:45:01 Operation Desert Storm and General Schwarzkopf 00:48:34 The Struggle for a Replacement and the F-35 #A10Warthog #MilitaryHistory #CloseAirSupport