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Couldn't compare the other way because A-10 couldn't fly that fast. Combing that with other flight tests and available data, an interesting picture emerged.įlying at its normal attack speed and using high drag bombs in a visual attack, A-10 was more accurate than A-7 flying at its normal attack speed. USAF being USAF, the aircraft apparently weren't evaluated for the CAS role as much as they were evaluated for the A-10 role, which, looking strictly at that, the A-10 won handily. A-10's 1,350), podded (rejected early because of performance considerations or not carried at all with Mavericks to be used, something A-10 itself adopted.įlyoff was held in early 1974.
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The proposed ER was proposed with the GAU-8A internally mounted (550 rounds vs. It would also have increased thrust, most likely from an uprated TF41 to maintain or increase performance in light of the higher weight. The ER would incorporate a fuselage stretch (based on some work done for the A-7X) to accomdate more fuel to increase loiter. For the flyoff, the A-7D would substitute for the A-7DER. USAF objected loudly, but faced with a cutoff of A-10 funds, reluctantly went along.
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I wonder if the fact that the A-7 was a Navy plane (albeit significantlyy improved by USAF into the A-7D-so much so that Navy bought the AF version as A-7E) had something to do with it.Ĭongress mandated a flyoff between the A-10 and the A-7. However, at about the time of contract award AF announced a different strategy, the A-7D would be taken out of USAF service and given to the ANG. At first, the A-10 was going to be a complement to the A-7 as their performance didn't really overlap that much. Once the AH-56 died, AF had to figure how the A-10 was going to fit into its inventory anyway.
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