Planetag A-10A Thunderbolt II 77-0252

In December 2022, the National Defense Authorization Act approved a long-sought-after request by the U.S. Air Force to begin retiring the A-10 Thunderbolt II, specifically approving the retirement of 21 A-10s in 2023. The A-10 has been in USAF service since 1977 and MotoArt is especially honored to introduce a Warthog into the PlaneTags fleet. Meet 77-0252, a Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II.

77-0252 was constructed as an A-10A and delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1978, first serving with the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Bentwaters, Suffolk. The 81st Wing remained at Bentwaters for over 40 years, as a key part of NATO’s defense of Western Europe throughout the Cold War years. As they began phasing down their presence during the early 1980s, 77-0252 was transferred to the 176th Tactical Fighter Squadron, then to the 706th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The 706th TFS, the Cajuns, were called to active duty in December 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield, with the first of its A-10s deploying to Saudi Arabia on January 1, 1991. After retirement, the front fuselage of this A-10 was displayed at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. MotoArt acquired the back half in 2022 from Andy Wade, of Wade Salvage in Atco, NJ. Wade has amassed an eclectic collection of aircraft and vehicles in his own personal boneyard and serves as Deputy Mayor of Waterford Township in New Jersey. 

The A-10 Thunderbolt II was used in combat for the first time during the Gulf War. It was designed to provide close air support (CAS) of friendly ground troops, and also served as forward air controllers, to direct other aircraft during close air support strikes to ensure that friendly troops are not harmed. The rugged A-10 is a single seat, twin turbofan, subsonic attack aircraft which was developed specifically for CAS. It was designed by the famed aeronautical engineer and aircraft designer Alexander Kartveli, who also developed its namesake, the P-47 Thunderbolt. The A-10 was armed with a 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger seven barrel Gatling style auto cannon that delivered its armor-piercing rounds at a high rate of fire. The A-10 was notably used in the Gulf War, Grenada, and Afghanistan. As of December 2022, there are 281 currently in service.

CHARACTERISTICS:

• Manufacturer: FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC
• Serial # : 77-0252
• Crew: 1
• Wing Span: 57 ft 6 in
• Length: 53 ft 4 in
  
• Height: 14 ft 8 in
  
• Armament: 1x GAU-8/A 30MM SEVEN-BARREL GATLING GUN AND 16,000LBS OF MIXED ORDNANCE
  

PERFORMANCE:

• Range:1,080 Nm
• Cruise Speed: 291 kts
• Ceiling: 44,200 ft
• Empty weight:28,000 lb
• Max Takeoff:47,400 lb
• Rate of Climb: 6,000 ft / min
• Engine: 2x GENERAL ELECTRIC TF-34-GE-100 TURBOFANS