Gallery: Yo Air Force: Don't You Dare Kill Off Our Toughest Warplane

  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Aircraft Airplane Warplane and Bomber
    Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz/U.S. Air Force
    01

    In your face Ö

    An A-10 Thunderbolt II makes its way to the runway during Red Flag-Alaska, Oct. 9, 2009, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Red Flag-Alaska provides participants 67,000 square miles of airspace, more than 30 threat simulators, one conventional bombing range and two tactical bombing ranges. The A-10 is assigned to Osan Air Base, South Korea.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Aircraft Airplane Warplane Bomber Jet Human and Person
    Senior Master Sgt. Joy Josephson/U.S. Air Force
    02

    Green flight

    An A-10C Thunderbolt II from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., flies along the coast of Florida March 25, 2010, during the first flight of an aircraft powered solely by a biomass-derived jet fuel blend. The A-10 was fueled with a 50/50 blend of Hydrotreated Renewable Jet and JP-8.
  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Airplane Aircraft Warplane Bomber and Helicopter
    Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon/U.S. Air Force
    03

    Oct. 12 airpower summary: A-10 hits target

    An A-10 Thunderbolt II deploys flairs over Afghanistan Nov. 12, 2008. A-10s provide close-air support to ground troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. The A-10's excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude and its highly accurate weapons delivery make it an ideal aircraft for supporting coalition operations.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Aircraft Airplane Airport Airfield Warplane and Bomber
    Staff Sgt. Dayton Mitchell/U.S. Air Force
    04

    10,000 hours

    Two A-10C Thunderbolt IIs, flown by Lt. Col. Michael Millen, 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander, and Col. John Cherrey, 451st Expeditionary Operations Group commander, taxi down the runway after completing 10,000 hours of flying at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 1, 2010. The flying was accomplished during a six-month deployment.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Aircraft Airplane Warplane and Bomber
    Senior Airman Matthew Bruch/U.S. Air Force
    05

    Operation Enduring Freedom

    An A-10 Thunderbolt II receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker July 10, 2014, over Eastern Afghanistan. The A-10 is assigned to the 303rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan and the KC-135 is assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Its maneuverability at slow speeds and low altitude has made the Thunderbolt II one of the most utilized aircraft for close air support throughout Operation Enduring Freedom.
  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Aircraft Airplane Airport Human Person Airfield Machine and Warplane
    Senior Airman Kenny Holston/U.S. Air Force
    06

    Thorough inspection

    Airman Jill Hallandsworth performs a preflight engine check on an A-10 Thunderbolt II during an overall aircraft inspection Sept. 25, 2009, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. Airman Hallandsworth is a 442nd Fighter Wing crew chief.
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