Stuka and Sturmovik - The Aircraft that Inspired the A-10

DicedT · December 17, 2013, 08:44:57 PM

With commentary from the esteemed James Sterrett (his book would make a great Christmas gift!): https://medium.com/war-is-boring/8c8d885d61db

Michael

Gusington · December 17, 2013, 08:51:42 PM

^Cool, thanks. The Stuka is one of all time favorite aircraft.

Staggerwing · December 17, 2013, 10:00:14 PM

Michael, the Henschel Hs-129 would be a worthy addition to this discussion as well. The penultimate version was armed with a 75mm gun that could crack any tank armor from above and also had an armored bathtub protecting the pilot. It was slightly underpowered but was due for an engine upgrade had production continued. It's small production numbers have insured it's lack of representation in many CAS discussions.

mirth · December 17, 2013, 10:15:51 PM

I love the Hs-129, but it was kinda weird. IIRC, the cockpit was so small that they mounted at least some of the gauges on the engine nacelles and the pilot looked out to read them.

Staggerwing · December 17, 2013, 10:20:27 PM

Quote from: mirth on December 17, 2013, 10:15:51 PM
I love the Hs-129, but it was kinda weird. IIRC, the cockpit was so small that they mounted at least some of the gauges on the engine nacelles and the pilot looked out to read them.

Actually, that was done on other twin-engined aircraft as well.

mirth · December 17, 2013, 10:33:22 PM

Quote from: Staggerwing on December 17, 2013, 10:20:27 PM
Quote from: mirth on December 17, 2013, 10:15:51 PM
I love the Hs-129, but it was kinda weird. IIRC, the cockpit was so small that they mounted at least some of the gauges on the engine nacelles and the pilot looked out to read them.

Actually, that was done on other twin-engined aircraft as well.

Wacky Krauts.

GDS_Starfury · December 17, 2013, 10:36:07 PM

http://www.luft46.com/

BanzaiCat · December 18, 2013, 08:22:18 AM

Stuka Pilot is a great read...love the Stuka with the 37mm antitank pods underneath.

LongBlade · December 18, 2013, 09:36:38 AM

Quote from: Staggerwing on December 17, 2013, 10:00:14 PM
Michael, the Henschel Hs-129 would be a worthy addition to this discussion as well. The penultimate version was armed with a 75mm gun that could crack any tank armor from above and also had an armored bathtub protecting the pilot. It was slightly underpowered but was due for an engine upgrade had production continued. It's small production numbers have insured it's lack of representation in many CAS discussions.

;)

Al · December 18, 2013, 12:57:56 PM

Good article. Thanks! :)

DicedT · December 18, 2013, 01:22:31 PM

I debated adding the Hs-129, but the article was long enough. Fairly or not, the Ju-87G is the more famous tank-buster, probably because of Rudel's book.

What freaked me out was looking at a photo of a Ju-87G, and realizing that the barrels of the 37-millimeter wing pods stretched almost out to the propeller.

Michael

SgtRock · December 18, 2013, 03:50:14 PM

I always hear the A-10 was a direct response to the Russian SU-25 Frogfoot?

GDS_Starfury · December 18, 2013, 04:42:15 PM

Other way around.
The A-10 was a direct response to 50000 commie tanks.

DicedT · December 18, 2013, 04:58:53 PM

Wiki has the A-10's first flight in 1972 and fielded in 1977. The Frogfoot is listed as first flying in 1975 and fielded in 1981.

Michael

bob48 · December 23, 2013, 02:11:21 PM

Quote from: Staggerwing on December 17, 2013, 10:00:14 PM
Michael, the Henschel Hs-129 would be a worthy addition to this discussion as well. The penultimate version was armed with a 75mm gun that could crack any tank armor from above and also had an armored bathtub protecting the pilot. It was slightly underpowered but was due for an engine upgrade had production continued. It's small production numbers have insured it's lack of representation in many CAS discussions.

Good one, Stagger. The Hs129 is a wicked looking aircraft.