Fightplane
Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
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Length: 53 feet, 4 inches (16.16 meters).Height: 14 feet, 8 inches (4.42 meters).Wingspan: 57 feet, 6 inches (17.42 meters).Speed: 420 mph (Mach 0.56).Ceiling: 1,000 feet (303 meters).Maximum Takeoff Weight: 51,000 pounds (22,950 kilograms).Range: 288 miles (250 nautical miles) carrying 9,500 pounds (4,275 kilograms) of weapons and with a 1.7-hour loiter time.
Features
The A-10 and OA-10 have excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and are highly accurate weapons-delivery platforms. They can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings (303.3 meters) with 1.5-mile (2.4 kilometers) visibility. Their wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines.
Thunderbolt IIs have single-seat cockpits forward of their wings, and a large bubble canopy which provides pilots all-around vision. The pilots are encircled by titanium armor that also protects parts of the flight-control system. The redundant primary structural sections allow the aircraft to enjoy better survivability during close air support than did previous aircraft. The aircraft can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles
