USAF A-10C Demo Team Davis-Monthan AF Base 2021

Plastic model kit for a Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Demo Team 2021
   Limited edition – 1,000 units worldwide  

• 1:72 scale
• Includes clear parts, photo-etched parts, painting masks, and a balance weight
• 1 marking option
• Unassembled, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II flown by the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base A-10C Demonstration Team was one of the US Air Force's most famous demonstration aircraft during the 2021 airshow season. Part of the 355th Wing, the demo team was based in Tucson, Arizona. Its mission was to showcase the A-10C's exceptional flight characteristics and operational capabilities at airshows both at home and abroad, as well as to perform alongside historic warbirds and modern fighter jets in "Heritage Flight" formations. Capt. Haden "Gator" Fullam served as the demonstration pilot for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Technically, the demonstration aircraft was identical to a standard-production A-10C Thunderbolt II and had not been specially modified for aerobatics. Powered by two General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofan engines, it reached a top speed of approximately 830 km/h. Characteristic features include straight wings, high-mounted engines, and a robust airframe with a titanium-reinforced cockpit designed to protect the pilot from ground fire. Developed specifically for low-altitude operations, the aircraft is distinguished by excellent low-speed handling, high maneuverability at low altitudes, and exceptional resilience against combat damage. The centerpiece of the A-10 is its permanently mounted 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun, with its barrel axis aligned precisely with the aircraft's centerline. Capable of firing up to 3,900 rounds per minute, it was originally designed to engage heavily armored targets. Additionally, the A-10C features eleven external hardpoints for a wide range of modern precision weapons, unguided rockets, air-to-ground guided missiles, and bombs, as well as AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self-defense.

As part of the "Precision Engagement" modernization program, the A-10C received a fully digital cockpit featuring two color multifunction displays, a modern mission computer, GPS-aided navigation, a data link, a Helmet-Mounted Cueing System, and the capability to employ modern targeting pods such as the Litening or Sniper XR. These upgrades enabled the close-air-support aircraft—originally developed in the 1970s—to deploy high-precision guided weapons by day and night.

The 2021 demonstration program deliberately avoided classic aerobatic maneuvers in favor of maneuvers reflecting actual combat operations. These included tight, high-bank turns, slow flyovers, steep climbs and descents, simulated attacks on ground targets, and passes that showcased the A-10's exceptional low-speed maneuverability. The goal of the demonstration was to highlight the Thunderbolt II's role as one of the world's most effective close-air-support aircraft.

Although the US Air Force has since begun the gradual retirement of the A-10, the A-10C remained an indispensable support aircraft for ground forces in 2021. The demonstration team played a key role in showcasing the capabilities of this legendary "Warthog" to a wide audience and highlighting the importance of its aircrews and maintenance teams. Consequently, the demonstration aircraft from the 2021 season ranks among the most well-known A-10Cs of the type's final years of service.