420 knots in the A-10...depends on whether or not we're talking indicated
airspeed or true. 420 indicated is a "book" speed...few Hog pilots ever see
that in the cockpit.

With a decent load, a typical max speed in a cool, sea level climate would
be about 350KIAS. Any hard maneuvering would bleed that down pretty fast.
Increase the temperature, and the jet's performance drops off
alarmingly...at Red Flag, we could get maybe 300KIAS on the deck after a
long run in. A 90 degree hard turn would bleed that down to about 250KIAS
which was our "knock it off" point.

The A-10 is quite maneuverable for its apparent size. WW2 fighter roll rates
were relatively slow compared to modern jets...and roll rate is a very
important aspect of turn performance. If the A-10 is clean, it can maneuver
very well in cool temperatures and low altitudes. It is not a high altitude
machine, and would not be a good comparison to a late WW2 fighter in that
sense.

The A-10 gun is a true laser beam in close in air combat...and today's Hog
has a much better gunsight than was in the early 1980s airplane. In Europe
back in the good old days, there was many a F-16 and F-15 pilot that lived
to rue the day that he got low and slow with the Hog.

But, after all is said and done, in these comparisons, we always have to
return to the only thing that is important. The pilot. Past that, most
everything else is conjecture.
"Stephen Harding" wrote in message
...
We've had a couple scenarios of aircraft going back in
time and speculation on what sort of effect they'd have.

I just saw a show on the A-10 Warthog with a top speed
of 420 mph. That's WWII fighter speeds (although I'm
not certain at what altitude).

Since an A-10 can carry something like 16,000 pounds of
weapons, at the speeds it flies, it would be one hell of
a WWII bomber. I'll bet even Art would ditch Willie in
a second to fly such a machine.

But what about as a fighter? Other than the extreme
ruggedness of the aircraft, would it have been any good
in fighter contests, especially in Europe, but in the
Pacific as well?

Seems the 30mm canon is a bit over kill for fighters.
Probably just load it up with a bunch of 20mm canons
in wings and as would fit in the nose.

It wouldn't be much good taking over mustang escort
duty since its range is only about 800 miles.

The aircraft seems very maneuverable, but I have no clue
how its roll rate, climb, dive and turn/stall performance
compare with a late WWII fighter of German or Japanese
pedigree.

Could an A-10 hold its own, or best, an Me 109 or FW 190?
An Oscar, Zero, Tony, Frank, whatever?

No doubt the marines in the Pacific would love the A-10
and the harrassed German ground transport would really
take a thrashing if this aircraft showed up. But would
the fighter opposition be quaking in their flight boots?


SMH