AIRSPACE REVIEW (airspace-review.com) – Pada Foto Minggu Ini Airspace Review mengangkat tema mengenai tank killer A-10C Thunderbolt II milik Angkatan Udara Amerika Serikat (USAF). Tapi bukan foto-foto saat pesawat berkiprah di medan perang, melainkan latihan rutin dari Tim Demonstrasi A-10C.
Foto diambil oleh Letnan Dua Casey E. Bell, personel USAF saat latihan demontrasi penerbangan oleh pilot Mayor Cody Wilton pada 27 Februari 2020.
A-10C Thunderbolt II Demo Team menggunakan pesawat serang darat kursi tunggal varian terbaru A-10C Thunderbolt II. Tim bermarkas di Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
Setiap tahun, rata-rata A-10C Thunderbolt II Demo Team
melaksanakan penampilan selama 20-an kali pertunjukan di seluruh dunia.
A-10C merupakan versi upgraded dari A-10 dan OA-10. Peningkatan yang diintegrasikan pada varian ini mencakup sistem kontrol senjata, electronic countermeasurement, dan penuntun bom pintar.
Tahun 2005 seluruh 356 A-10 dan OA-10 milik USAF menjalani proses upgrade menjadi A-10C sekaligus penambahan usia pakai. Total anggaran yang digelontorkan Pentagon untuk hal ini mencapai 2,25 miliar dolar AS. Pengerjaan diselesaikan hingga 2013.
Tahun 2010, USAF juga memberikan kontrak kepada Raytheon untuk mengintegrasikan Helmet Mounted Integrated Targeting (HMIT) di A-10C.
Tambahan lainnya adalah updrade pada Juni 2011 meliputi pengintegrasian displai multifungsi, sistem komunikasi modern, Hands-on-Throttle-and-Stick (HOTAS) gabungan dari stik di F-16 dan tuas gas di F-15.
A-10C juga diberikan sistem jaringan radio Link-16 dan komunikasi satelit. Hasilnya, walau bermuka garang dan klasik, A-10C merupakan pesawat serang darat modern dengan kapabilitas tinggi.
Roni Sontani
Berikut foto-fotonya:
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Hunter Nance, A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team maintainers, awaits the arrival of an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 27, 2020. The A-10 Demonstration Team is composed of 10 members, one pilot, eight maintainers and a public affairs specialist. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Casey E. Bell)A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, assigned to the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, sits on the flight line at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 27, 2020. The A-10 Demonstration Team performs in over 20 shows a year internationally to hundreds of thousands of fans. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Casey E. Bell)Airmen from the A-10C Thunderbolt Demonstration Team stand along side an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona on Feb. 27, 2020. The A-10 Demonstration Team performs in over 20 shows a year internationally to hundreds of thousands of fans. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Casey E. Bell)A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, assigned to the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, taxis down the flight line at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 27, 2020. The A-10 Demonstration Team performs in over 20 shows a year internationally to hundreds of thousands of fans. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Casey E. Bell)A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, assigned to the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, flies over Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 27, 2020. The A-10 Demonstration Team performs in over 20 shows a year internationally to hundreds of thousands of fans. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Casey E. Bell)U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Andrew Ringquist, A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team superintendent, and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Robert Bercasio, A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team non-commissioned officer in charge, stand on a platform at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 27, 2020. The A-10 Demonstration Team is composed of 10 members, one pilot, eight maintainers and a public affairs specialist. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Casey E. Bell)A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, assigned to the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, takes off from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 27, 2020. The A-10 Demonstration Team performs in over 20 shows a year internationally to hundreds of thousands of fans. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Casey E. Bell)U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Arron Canady-Post, A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team maintainer, inspects a tire of the A-10 Thunderbolt II at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 27, 2020. The A-10 Demonstration Team is composed of 10 members, one pilot, eight maintainers and a public affairs specialist. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Casey E. Bell)
