USAF cuts powerlines with an A-10

[Jon Jones]

Just saw this in the local paper: http://articles.ky3.com/2013-05-23/power-lines_39483002

Thought it was kind of funny. No one was hurt. Two A-10s doing maneuvers over the lake. One runs into the powerlines, shocking onlookers. The other pilot does the sensible thing and flies under the powerlines.

If I ever make it to flight school, I'm going to make sure to implement the second pilot's system of dealing with obstacles (i.e. not fly straight into them). Dodge, dip, duck, dive, dodge.

 

[MIDNJAC]

I'm sure your IP's will enjoy that....

 

[jmcquate]

I'm sure your IP's will enjoy that....

Ya the word "under" is seldom good with regards to flying.

 

[Jon Jones]

Ya the word "under" is seldom good with regards to flying.

I'd bet they'd prefer that to using the word "into" for describing a pilot's flight path haha

 

[ea6bflyr]

I stopped reading after the first sentence due to loss of credibility. The A-10 never has been nor will it ever be a "fighter jet". Stupid reporters.

 

[HuggyU2]

The A-10 never has been nor will it ever be a "fighter jet". Stupid reporters.

Well... maybe.
But keep in mind that during the first Gulf War, an A-10 pilot from my base got an air-to-air kill, as did another A-10 from the NOLA Guard unit.
Don't know if those 2 kills make it a "fighter",...
...but keep in mind that the F-16's didn't a single kill. Is the F-16 a "fighter"?

 

[MIDNJAC]

I'd bet they'd prefer that to using the word "into" for describing a pilot's flight path haha

If you are that low in flight school, you are probably wrong or on short final. I'm sure the first pilot is 10x the aviator that any dude in the history of flight school has ever been, regardless of his esoteric low altitude power line avoidance game plan.

 

[BusyBee604]

If I ever make it to flight school, I'm going to make sure to implement the second pilot's system of dealing with obstacles (i.e. not fly straight into them). Dodge, dip, duck, dive, dodge.

Easy to say, but those suckers are hard to see (especially when you're 350+ kts, and they don't have the orange warning balls). Never tangled with them... but as a VA "Sandblower Centurion", have had a few close shaves!
BzB

 

[wink]

On more than one occasion when stopping at a USAF base for gas in a S-3 I was asked, "fighter, tanker, transport?" "Well, uh, none." "Fighter, Tanker, transport, sir?" Putting my pride aside just to get past the guy for a burger I would ultimately respond..."fighter", and shuffle away justifying my embarrassing answer by reminding myself we did deployed weapons while the tankers and transports didn't.

 

[armada1651]

Well... maybe.
But keep in mind that during the first Gulf War, an A-10 pilot from my base got an air-to-air kill, as did another A-10 from the NOLA Guard unit.
Don't know if those 2 kills make it a "fighter",...
...but keep in mind that the F-16's didn't a single kill. Is the F-16 a "fighter"?

Helicopters don't count.

And American F-16s may not have had any kills in Desert Storm, but they did get 2 about a year later enforcing the No Fly Zone. Though, to be fair, if having an A/A kill is what makes you a fighter, Super Hornets and Strike Eagles are both out of the club.

 

[jmcquate]

Helicopters don't count.

And American F-16s may not have had any kills in Desert Storm, but they did get 2 about a year later enforcing the No Fly Zone. Though, to be fair, if having an A/A kill is what makes you a fighter, Super Hornets and Strike Eagles are both out of the club.

I remember a F-15E killing a Hip using an LGB during Desert Storm.

 

[Renegade One]

Live with it…the Air Force has long called many aircraft "fighters" that the Navy and Marine Corps didn't/don't/wouldn't (Corsair IIs, Skyraiders, Thunderbolt IIs…you get the idea). If that's what "floats their boat" (weirdly inappropriate, I know…) what the heck.

 

[picklesuit]

Helicopters don't count.

And American F-16s may not have had any kills in Desert Storm, but they did get 2 about a year later enforcing the No Fly Zone. Though, to be fair, if having an A/A kill is what makes you a fighter, Super Hornets and Strike Eagles are both out of the club.

At least the P-3 managed to bag a Chinese F-8...
Pickle
Fighter/Reconnaissance pilot

 

[jmcquate]

USAF hates the letter A..........F-111 and F-117......really. At least the Vark could carry Winders.

 

[armada1651]

I remember a F-15E killing a Hip using an LGB during Desert Storm.

Again, helicopter. And it especially doesn't count if you kill it with a bomb.