Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1336A-10A Thunderbolt II "Arctic Scheme" 80-0221, 18th TFS, 343rd Composite Wing, Alaska, March 1982
General Background
October 1975 saw delivery of the first USAF A-10A and deployment in March 1976. Built specifically for close ground support the pilot is protected by titanium armor while being covered by a bubble canopy giving a commanding view. The Warthog has everything needed to survive, dual engines; self-sealing fuel cells; redundant flight control systems protected by titanium armor; a 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun; a wide array of bombs and missiles. This plane packs a heavy punch and can stay on scene a long time to deliver its payload.
The Aircraft
December 18, 1981 saw the arrival of the first two A-10s, 80-221 and 80-222 assigned to Eielson AFB. Soon after their arrival 80-221 received an Arctic white paint scheme that differed from the usual all grey or green. This was an experimental scheme for the upcoming exercise “Cool Snow Hog '82-1” that was the first test for the A-10 operating at a forward base in Alaska. The exercise took place from March 8 to 16, 1982 in the area of Kotzebue, Alaska. The Snow Hog operating in Alaska never panned out.
Hobby Master HA1336, A-10A Thunderbolt II "Arctic Scheme" 80-0221, 18th, 1:72
- Crew : OneMain role : A-10 - close air support, OA-10 - airborne forward air controlManufacturer : Fairchild Republic Co.Power Plants : Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofansThrust : 9,065 pounds per engineLength : 16.16 metersHeight : 4.42 metersWingspan : 17.42 meters Speed: 420 miles per hour (Mach 0.56)Ceiling : 13,636 metersMaximum Takeoff Weight : 22,950 kg.Range : 800 miles (695 nautical miles)Armament : One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gunMaximum 7,200 kg of mixed ordnance including :225 kg “ Mk-82 ” and 900 kg “ Mk-84 ” series low/high drag bombs,incendiary cluster bombs,combined effects munitions,mine dispensing munitions,AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs ,infrared countermeasure flares ,electronic countermeasure chaff ,jamming pods ,6.99 cm (2.75in.) rockets ,illumination flares ,AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles
