Our friend Spencer Hughes is back with another fantastic video from last year’s Huntington Beach Air Show, featuring flight demos of both the A-10C and F-35A. It makes for an interesting contrast, particularly when considering that the Air Force still wants to eventually replace the one with the other. Personally, I just can’t see that happening with any kind of true success.
These competing demos are a perfect example of why the F-35 isn’t a Warthog replacement. The ‘Hog excels at low and slow, carrying a big payload, and making tight maneuvers thanks to that big wing. The Panther can’t match that turn radius, nor can it go as slow. It also doesn’t have the Warthog’s payload capacity, even in the “Beast Mode” configuration.
However, the F-35 is much better in a high-threat environment. Personally, I think if the Air Force really wants to get rid of the A-10, then it needs to be replaced with some other CAS aircraft (like the A-29, or even an attack variant of the T-7) that can handle carrying a mid-size payload in a low-threat environment. Leave the F-35s to kick the door down and self-escort, or else turn the CAS mission back over to the Army and let them operate their own air elements the same way the Marines do.
Of note too, is that this was one of the first appearances of the Warthog with its WWII Inspired paint scheme. Looks darn good, if I do say so myself.
