The Warthog stays alive...for now.

[DMF13]

It's a Commemorative paint job: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...k-a-10-warthog

How.much are these useless shenanigans costing the taxpayers?

These are weapons for the defense of our nation, not hotrods for fun and show.

[Doc_Glock]

I like it! What is up with the snake face up front? Are Warthogs known as anything else? (Kind of like Falcon or Viper both referring to F16)

[Doc_Glock]

It's a Commemorative paint job: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...k-a-10-warthog

Nevermind, disregard last post. Thanks for the answer.

[DDTSGM]

How.much are these useless shenanigans costing the taxpayers?

These are weapons for the defense of our nation, not hotrods for fun and show.

I can see your point. I would just like to throw out that there is probably a morale building aspect/goal behind the paint job.

[Andy in NH]

How.much are these useless shenanigans costing the taxpayers?

These are weapons for the defense of our nation, not hotrods for fun and show.

In 2018 the USAF painted an A-10 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Attachment 74811

[NEPAKevin]

I like it! What is up with the snake face up front? Are Warthogs known as anything else? (Kind of like Falcon or Viper both referring to F16)

Thunderbolt II which I believe is in reference to the WWII era Republic P47 Thunderbolt.

ETA: sorry, didn't see the disregard post until after posting.

And FWIW, I have much less of a problem with tax payer money being used to paint planes than on Critical Race Theory, Diversity, Sexual Reassignment and promoting Wokeness in the military in general.

[RevolverRob]

How.much are these useless shenanigans costing the taxpayers?

These are weapons for the defense of our nation, not hotrods for fun and show.

1) The planes have to be repainted regularly. So, whatever?

2) I guarantee that repainting A10s occasionally is cheaper than a single F35.

So, perhaps we should focus our outrage on tax expenditures on the places where it can best be focused - Like...airplanes that are far too expensive, boats that we cannot afford the ammunition for, or useless things like pistols that are already broken.

[MistWolf]

Tail number 80244. That's a 1978 manufacture date, and it's still kickin ass!!

80-0244 was ordered in fiscal year 1980.

It has snake nose art because it belongs to the 122nd Fighter Wing, nicknamed Blacksnakes.

[vcdgrips]

"How.much are these useless shenanigans costing the taxpayers?

These are weapons for the defense of our nation, not hotrods for fun and show."


To quote Sgt. Hulka- "Lighten up Francis!"

To dovetail of a post above-actual likely additional cost to the taxpayer=0.

1. We had to paint the plane at some point anyway
2. Somebody needed the training/practice etc painting said plane.
3. The Service members who painted said plane were coming to work anyway.
4. It is a matter of public record that many Air National Guard Units have historically maintained the same or better readiness standards than active units because the folks want to be there as opposed to having to be there and/or tend to be very experienced and very good at what they do.

That Unit also goes to war.

https://www.122fw.ang.af.mil/News/Ph...to/2001951477/

[Andy in NH]

Senate to Air Force: You’re gonna keep your A-10 Warthogs and you’re gonna like it!

Like a hoarder with separation anxiety, Congress just can’t let go of the A-10 Warthog, the aging but legendary attack plane the Air Force has tried and failed for years to start to get rid of.

In its most recent attempt, the Air Force tried to cut 42 A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft from its fleet of 281 airframes. The move was supposed to free up maintenance costs on the aging platform which the branch could then use to buy more advanced aircraft like the F-35A, which the Air Force thinks has a better chance of surviving against high-tech anti-aircraft weapon-equipped countries like China.


But not if Congress had anything to say about it, which it did. In its proposal for the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, the bill which will set the funding levels for the U.S. military next year, the Senate Armed Services Committee prohibited the Air Force from retiring any A-10 aircraft in fiscal year 2022.