USAF A-10C 75th Anniversary Idaho Air National Grd

Plastic model kit for a Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft
Idaho Air National Guard 75th Anniversary (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 Idaho Air National Guard’s USAF A-10C Thunderbolt II "75th Anniversary" aircraft was one of the most striking special-livery planes of 2021. Bearing serial number 78-0618, the aircraft belonged to the 190th Fighter Squadron ("Skull Bangers") of the 124th Fighter Wing, based at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base in Boise, Idaho. The special livery was designed to mark the unit's 75th anniversary while honoring its historical roots, which trace back to the 405th Fighter Squadron of World War II. The paint scheme was inspired by a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt from 1944—the squadron's predecessor aircraft.

This historical livery differed significantly from the standard two-tone gray scheme of the A-10C. Instead, the aircraft featured an Olive Drab upper surface and a light gray underside, complemented by a distinctive white engine cowling, historical US star roundels, and the characteristic black-and-white D-Day invasion stripes on the fuselage and the undersides of the wings. The fuselage also bore the squadron code "8N," modeled after the markings used on the 405th Fighter Squadron's P-47 Thunderbolts during their deployment in France in 1944. This design made the A-10C an impressive link between the modern ground-attack aircraft and its legendary namesake predecessor. Technically, the aircraft was a standard-production A-10C Thunderbolt II. It was powered by two General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofan engines and featured the modern "Precision Engagement" upgrade, which included digital multifunction displays, GPS-aided navigation, a Helmet Mounted Cueing System, and data-link capabilities, as well as the ability to employ modern targeting pods and precision-guided munitions. The centerpiece of its armament remained the famous 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun, complemented by a wide array of bombs, rockets, and air-to-ground guided missiles.

The special livery was applied at the Air National Guard Paint Facility in Sioux City, Iowa, and officially unveiled in May 2021. The goal was to showcase the unit's history and heritage while also commemorating the role of the P-47 Thunderbolt during World War II. The aircraft subsequently appeared at numerous airshows and quickly became one of the U.S. Air Force's most recognizable "Heritage Hawgs." To this day, aviation and scale-modeling enthusiasts regard it as one of the finest special liveries ever applied to an A-10 Thunderbolt II.