CoolPix - Modern Military: Getting To Know The GAU-8 (The A-10 Nose Cannon)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 06:56PM 
(click pic for hi-res)
‘A-10 Warthog Week’ continues with a CoolPix 4-pack…
Catch the Air Combat Command A-10 East Demo Team
at the Indy Air Show June 12th & 13th
To understand the history of the Farchild-Republic A-10’s design, you really need to start with General Electric GAU-8 Avenger gatling-gun weapon, as the airplane was really designed and built around this huge 30mm cannon. Interestingly, the GAU-8 wasn’t completed and operational when both the prototype YA-10A and the Northrop YA-9A first flew in 1972. The gun was being developed in parallel to these two contenders for the ’Attack Experimental’ competition being held by the Air Force in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Both prototype aircraft flew originally with the GE M61 Vulcan gun, a 20mm cannon similar to the upcoming GAU-8 but nowhere near as powerful.
The complete GAU-8 system with full load of ammunition weighs in at just over 4,000 pounds which is about 16% of the A-10’s empty weight. This gun and its bullets really are a significant part of the airplane. The gun can unload those 30mm projectiles very quickly as well, at a rate of 3,900 rounds per minute, which means you could empty the entire load (1,174 rounds max) very fast if you don’t go easy on the trigger finger! Warthog pilots say they never get tired of pulling that trigger, as the thrill of unleashing that kind of firepower never gets old.
(click pic for hi-res)
The rather amazing picture above really puts the size of the GAU-8 system into perspective… it’s pretty honkin’ huge! The 7 rotating barrels measure 90.5 inches long, and the entire system from muzzle to the back end of the ammunition system is 19 feet 5.5 inches overall. The large cylinder at the rear is the magazine where the ammunition is stored - typically 1,150 rounds.
The gun is mounted on the airplane centerline to enhance accuracy, which also means that the nose wheel is offset to the side - one of many A-10 trademark features. The muzzle velocity is 3,500 feet per second and the gun is known for being extremely accurate. One major innovation in the system was in using aluminum for the shell cases which allowed for significant weight reduction, a big advantage when dealing with systems for aircraft. Many large challenges related to firing so many large bullets out the nose of a flying airplane had to be overcome, including an early problem of the firing gases causing engine flameouts, but in the end, a fantastically functional, reliable and accurate system was developed.
(click pic for hi-res)
The GAU-8 is an amazing piece of firepower that has been very happily married to the A-10 airframe to create one of the most impressive and effective military aircraft ever. It’s a very capable and dangerous combination that puts anything on the ground, especially tanks, in great peril.
I highly recommend you read the wikipedia entry for the GUA-8 as it’s filled with many interesting technical details about the cannon. And, watch for more of ’A-10 Warthog Week’!
(click pic for hi-res) The A-10's amazing GAU-8 gatling gun cannon
Reader Comments (1)
alicray e3d3fd1842 https://prendster.com/porenkairye