The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, the Warthog, has been earmarked for retirement for over a decade, but what is happening today with the men and women who keep the Hogs flying into their sixth decade? Col Nick 'Stoli' Radoescu is the commander of the 355th Operations Group based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. He oversees the operations of four squadrons of A-10s and their support units, including the training of the next generation of Hog drivers. Stoli kindly sat down with Boney to chat about his career, the A-10 today and the future of the Close Air Support mission in the USAF, with the spectre of the F-35 hanging over the venerable Hog.
★Find out more about the 355th Operations Group here: https://www.dm.af.mil/About-DM/Units/355th-Operations-Group/
★Learn more about Davis-Monthan Air Force Base here: https://www.dm.af.mil/
Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum through the links below:
★Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum’s website here: https://pimaair.org/
★Learn more about the Titan Missile Museum here: https://titanmissilemuseum.org/
★Find out who is in the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame here: https://pimaair.org/about-us/arizona-aviation-hall-of-fame/
★Want to know how the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum is progressing? Find out more here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/
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00:00 Introduction and Welcome
02:48 Stolis's Journey to the Air Force
05:44 First A-10 Flight and Firing the Gun
11:27 Training and Future of the A-10
18:39 Technological Advancements in the A-10
23:57 Incorporating New Weapons and Systems
25:35 Deployment Experiences and Mission Evolution
32:12 Challenges and Changes in the A-10 Community
42:51 Memorable Combat Stories
47:22 Conclusion
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