A10 Battle Damage - Capt. Brett DeVries, 107th Fighter Squadron pilot from Selfridge Air National Guard Base, next to his Warthog after crash landing July 20, 2017 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (Image credit: USAF National Guard)
The A-10 is known for its exceptional strength and ability to withstand direct hits from AP and HE rounds. A recent episode proves that the Warthog's reliability, combined with pilot training, can be very useful when it comes to dealing with unusual emergencies.
A10 Battle Damage
On July 20, Captain Brett DeVries, flying his A-10 Thunderbolt II over the forests of Alpena County in northeastern Michigan, was able to land on the runway at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. 25 minutes ago, the plane blew up the main radio station, the first backup and the landing gear, which did not lower, stopped working.
Hill Air Force Base To Increase Flying Over Next 2 Weeks
According to the US Air Force, a 107th Fighter Squadron pilot from Selfridge Air National Guard Base did something unprecedented in the nearly 40-year history of the A-10: Indeed, De Vries was the first pilot to land without them. a flashlight and with the chassis up.
"At this point, your training begins. Training is what saves you and your wingman," DeVries said in the official release, which provides all the details you can find in the story.
It was part of four ships on a routine training run from Selfridge to the Grayling gun range: a routine mission for DeVries and his colleagues from the 107th Division, known as the "Red Devils," who included a 30 minute transition. on Grayling to drop trumpet bombs and fire some 30mm GAU-8 Avenger Gatling-style cannons. The kind of sortie DeVries made about 300 flights!
After completing the six-bomb run on the range, each A-10 fired a 30 mm gun in turn. However, during his second run, DeVries' pistol malfunctioned. At the same time, a lantern was blown into his plane. When the canopy was removed and he was flying at about 325 knots, the wind brushed his helmet and hit DeVries head on the seat.
Rounds Per Minute: Why The A 10 Warthog Can't Be Stopped
At that time he was flying at an altitude of about 150 feet. De Vries instinctively pulled back on the stick to gain altitude and climb to 2,000 feet, deviating from the normal range trajectory to create some space between his plane and the ground.
He saw a "bagel of gas" from the Avenger's cannon around Devries' plane, but did not realize that the canopy had exploded because he was focused on ground targets in range. However, he thought something was wrong when the A-10 in front of him suddenly gained altitude.
In his cockpit, DeVries acted instinctively: first, he lowered his seat in the cockpit to try to avoid the wind, which tossed his head back and forth and caused his maps and checklists to spray in all directions.
Another question that the pilot had to decide concerns the integrity of the ejection seat: does the canopy blow damage it?
We Can Prove The A 10 Warthog's Cannon Can Kill Even Modern Tanks
Besides being an A-10 pilot for the past 10 years, Vickers brings a little extra knowledge. The Michigan native began his military career as a gunner working on the A-10 with the 110th Attack Wing in Battle Creek.
Soon the two red devils decided that the best plan would be to fly to Alpena, which is only a few minutes away, and try to land there. During the flight, the Alpena control tower called Selfridge, about 250 miles south of metropolitan Detroit. Soon, several A-10 maintainers were talking on the speakerphone, sharing their ideas and recommendations, which Alpena relayed to Vickers and DeVries, who were now using their third most efficient radio system.
Finally, as Vickers chased after him, the damaged Warthog pilot tried to drop the landing gear: the landing gear began to descend, but, as they feared, the nose strut was hanging from the damage to the gun.
Since there was no other choice, DeVries, and the landing gear raised and removed the canopy, leveling the plane for landing.
Top 10 Myths About The A 10 Thunderbolt Ii
"When he made the last run, I was sure he made the right decision," Vickers said. "We discussed all possibilities and now he was going to do it."
On the A-10, the two main landing gear wheels are open even in the raised position. This is part of the combat stability of the aircraft. So Captain Brett DeVries landed his Hog in the middle of the runway, almost like in a book - it was filmed on video by another pilot who was on the ground in Alpen.
"I sent him down, shouting his height," Vickers said. "He landed, I mean it was a very soft landing."
Flying with DeVries during the landing, Vickers circled the field and saw his fellow Red Devil exit the plane alone and run toward the fire engine; He was then ordered to return to Selfridge.
Meet The Air Force A 10 Pilot Who Landed With Chunks Of Her Tail Shot Off
"There's a reason we train like two ships or more," said Col. Sean Holtz, commander of the 127th Task Force and A-10 pilot. "We rely on each other and need mutual support during the flight. Major Vickers was the definition of what a wingman should be like on this flight. He stayed with Captain Devries and did everything in his power to lead that. to a safe landing. Both of these pilots not only demonstrated superb flying skills, but also exemplified the type of teamwork and professionalism that should be the goal of every attack pilot."
Overall, the flight lasted about 25 minutes from the time the canopy was raised to landing. Now that they have investigated the cause of the original defect. The A-10 is still at Alpen undergoing refurbishment and will return to flight personnel at Selfridge.
"Again, I want to emphasize training," DeVries said. "Sometimes we may think, 'Why do we have to do this training over and over again?' Well, in this case, training took place, and that's what was important."
Slocum said the two men would be presented for recognition in their superior aircraft during the July 20 flight. DeVries also received a congratulatory email from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein.
A 10 Warthog
Capt. Brett DeVries (right) and his Wing Maj. Shannon Vickers, both A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots of the 107th Fighter Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. Vickers helped DeVries crash to safety on July 20 at Alpena Combat. A malfunction at the Readiness Training Center following the flight of the A-10 DeVries. (Air National Guard photo by Terry Atwell)
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the founder and editor of The Aviationist, one of the world's most popular and widely read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major global magazines including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime, and cyber warfare. He has reported from the US, Europe, Australia and Syria and has flown several combat aircraft from various air forces. He is a former 2nd Lieutenant in the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and computer engineering graduate. He wrote five books and contributed to many others.
A French Mirage 2000 pilot takes a cool selfie as an American F-22 stealth fighter lines up on his wing during a joint exercise. The image (frame of a GoPro video) was probably taken during [...]
The September 11 attacks changed the way the United States waged war. But how? Two decades have passed since the September 11 attacks and the beginning, and now the declared end of the global war on terrorism. […]
The A 10 Thunderbolt Ii Is Basically A Giant Flying Gatling Gun
TSgt. John Chapman may have fought one desperate battle to protect the rescuers. Lonely, abandoned, armed. US Air Force Technical Sgt. John Chapman wakes up on a frozen mountaintop in Afghanistan to realize a commando's worst nightmare: [...]
Email us at sales@ if you would like to support this site by purchasing the original patch available only on this website! Engineers working in the rooms and basements helped determine how bad the situation was and developed a repair plan.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and Americans continue to be encouraged to stay home as much as possible to prevent further outbreaks, employers, including the US military, are encouraging work from home whenever possible. At the same time, health care providers have expanded the use of so-called telemedicine, diagnosing and prescribing treatments remotely, giving the virus less opportunity to spread and reducing the strain on medical staff and infrastructure. These two worlds recently came together when a group of Air Force engineers, sometimes working in their bedrooms and basements, helped "diagnose" a battle-damaged A-10 Warthog attack plane and prescribe a maintenance plan. healing". staff down without even meeting face to face.
A-10, named "Unbind", was shot in the stomach.
A 10 Thunderbolt Ii Anniversary I Photos
Sig p365 tulster holster, sig p365 iwb holster, sig holsters p365, sig p365 sas holster, sig p365 xl holster, sig p365 hybrid holster, appendix holster sig p365, safariland holster sig p365, sig p365 belt holster, sig p365 holster, sig p365 purse holster, sig sauer p365 holster
0 Comments