You nailed it, nothing I can really add. I do hope they go with something as effective as the A-10 ... what a plane!
You nailed it, nothing I can really add. I do hope they go with something as effective as the A-10 ... what a plane!
You nailed it, nothing I can really add. I do hope they go with something as effective as the A-10 ... what a plane!
That's amusing but I can sort of relate. Well, my brother more so. He used to be subscribed to some mailing list that would send him a dozen well made glossy foldout page things to fill large binders with. Each page had an aircraft and all sorts of details, pics and specs for it. They were pretty neat, we had them in the bathroom for poopin books for years. They definitely sparked my interest in 40's-70's aircraft.
But yeah the A-10 has a limited life span that is quickly running out. It's still rocking analog instruments in the cockpit and has to have a hard point dedicated to range finding/laser designation for some of the armaments it carries. The biggest issue that they face is simply breaking their back. Those roughly prepared air strips at FOB's along with the sheer abuse they endure. Eventually it will just wear out the life on the air frames themselves and no upgrade or mod can replace that.
The (GOD DAMN BEAUTIFUL) 30 mm GAU-8 cannon is redundant in today's modern battlefield. But something needs to able and capable of replicating the Hog's rugged and redundant capabilities to ensure the pilot returns unharmed (A-10 has a cushy titanium bathtub for their pilot) but can also provide that long loiter time and appropriate fire power for whatever situation presents itself.
A turbojet would certainly be able to bring the firepower and long loiter times required, but it really comes down to their capabilities of STOL from dirt fields and endurance to damage through armor and redundant systems.