Avenger Wrath is the story of a Hog Driver and his ride during the War in Afghanistan, operating out of Bagram Airbase with the beautiful, if deadly Afghan Mountain range as a backdrop. The A-10 saw almost constant use in Afghanistan, proving itself yet again, as formidable and capable weapons platform. This revised and updated version of the book, has become more poignant as the F-35 has the chance to prove that it can take on the A-10s role. The A-10 is due to stay in service until at least 2022, with life extension, maybe until 2040.
Fitted with the GAU-8 Avenger a 30mm cannon, designed to cut through tank armour was found to be just as good at tearing through the thick mud walls of compounds were the Taliban often took refuge in to mount ambushes on coalition troops. It has survivability like no other aircraft currently in operation and has brought its pilot back in a state that would have caused other aircraft to have crashed. Follow this high-octane story based on real operations and get an exciting insight into an amazing aircraft.
Currently in the top twenty on Amazon.com for Aviation and Afghanistan, sales of around 5000 copies so far.
Lt Elliot Griffin walked around his Hog, which was the nickname given to the Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II that Griffin flew. He walked round and undertook all his pre-flight checks, starting with the 30mm Cannon, which represents about 16 percent of the aircraft's weight. He then checked the undercarriage and flaps, and finally the stores. Griffin climbed up the steps into his cockpit and started to strap himself in with help from a member of ground crew. The A-10's cockpit and portions of its flight control system are protected by 1,200 pounds of titanium aircraft armor, called the "bathtub." The bathtub can withstand direct hits from armor-piercing projectiles up 23 mm. The front windscreen and canopy are resistant to small arms fire. This protection combines with double-redundant hydraulic flight systems, and a mechanical system that still works even if hydraulics is lost. The armor and system redundancy has allowed pilots to safely return with a large amount of battle damage. In 2003, Capt. Kim Campbell with the 75th Fighter Squadron could successfully bring back her Hog back from a close air support mission near Baghdad. Her A-10 was hit by ground fire, taking extensive damage to the starboard vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilizer, aft fuselage, and engine. Upon sustaining the hit, the airplane became uncontrollable—rolling left, nose-down. After trying several ways to regain control, she engaged the backup mechanical flight control system. The jet finally started to respond and with help from her wingman, she manged to keep the Hog in the air and landed back at her forward base.
Sitting in the Hogs ‘titanium bathtub’, Griffin shuffled himself around on his seat to get comfortable. He completed his pre-flight checks before starting each of the two General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans.
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French
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Already translated.
Translated by Louise Chaumont
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Author review: Fast and efficient |
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Portuguese
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Already translated.
Translated by Glenio Madruga II
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by Lia Garcia
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