Moody's A-10C's take to skies above local area

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Months of hard work, movement of thousands of tools and the transfer of hundreds of Airmen are now showing tangible results as the 23rd Fighter Group began flying Moody Air Force Base-assigned A-10C aircraft Sept, 11.

With only six of the digitally-upgraded precision-attack Thunderbolt II's currently assigned to Team Moody, the skies above the base won't exactly be full of the distinctive aircraft quite yet, said Lt. Col. Pat McKeever, 75th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations.

"During the first week, only two of our aircraft will be in the air at any given time," said Colonel McKeever. "As more A-10C's come online week-by-week and are added to our flying schedule, the Thunderbolt will again become a familiar sight and sound in the skies over the local area."

Moody is scheduled to receive nearly 50 of the upgraded ground-attack aircraft working from two active-duty squadrons. The 75th FS is currently receiving its contingent of aircraft, followed by the 74th Fighter Squadron. The final airframe is expected to arrive at Moody in spring 2008.

Pilots from the 74th and 75th FS will be using the airspace and ranges around Moody to hone their skills in the core missions of the A-10C--close air support, rescue team escort and forward air control, said Capt. Paul Kanning, 75th FS chief of weapons and tactics.

"Regardless where or when we fly, our primary focus is always on safe, effective training for all of Team Moody's pilots," he said. "Flying operations over the Grand Bay Range are carefully controlled to maximize safety, and when flying outside of the range, our minimum height complies with all applicable standards."

While working on the bombing and gunnery range, A-10C's will be firing 2.75 inch training rockets, the aircraft's 30 mm gun and either full-sized concrete-filled training munitions or small 25-pound practice bombs.

"Our aircraft will be able to safely drop large training munitions on Grand Bay, but the largest explosive device allowed on this range is the small spotting charge in our rockets and practice bombs," said Captain Kanning. "But the primary weapon of the A-10 will always be its seven-barrel, 30 mm Gatling cannon.

"The gun shoots approximately 3900 rounds a minute, or about 70 rounds every second," he said. "While over Grand Bay, we only use inert target practice ammunition instead of our 'combat load' of high density/high explosive rounds."

Given the weapon's extreme size and power, it can be heard for quite a distance when fired, said Captain Kanning. A-10's from other bases have been using the Grand Bay range for some time, however, so local residents shouldn't notice anything unusual.

"It's a very difficult sound to describe," said the weapons and tactics officer. "Its been described as sounding like a mixture of a hammer drill, a deep roar and a high-pitched whir, depending on how far away you are when the cannon fires. It's a very distinctive sound."