Six-ship A-10 formation simulates flying to AOR

Released today by 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs:



SPANGDHALEM AIR BASE, Germany – Three A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, taxi toward the hardened aircraft shelters November 20, 2009. The A-10s joined with three others to form a six-ship aircraft formation that flew to a simulated deployed location during Operation Saber Crown 10-02. The aircraft in the foreground is A-10C 81-0965 with Sniper targeting pod on station 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar) Hi-res



SPANGDHALEM AIR BASE, Germany – A-10C 81-0965 goes through a post-flight inspection near Hardened Aircraft Shelter 2 as A-10C 81-0992 (also carrying Sniper targeting pod on station 10) taxis past November 20, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar) Hi-res



SPANGDHALEM AIR BASE, Germany – A-10 81-0965 sits in front of Hardened Aircraft Shelter 2 prior to a post-flight inspection November 20, 2009. Loadout: AN/ALQ-131 (deep) ECM pod on station 1, LAU-131 rocked pod on station 2, MXU-648 baggage pod on stations 3 and 9, Sniper targeting pod on station 10, Dual Rail Adapter with ACMI (Air Combat Maneuvering and Instrumentation) pod (inboard) on station 11. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar) Hi-res



SPANGDHALEM AIR BASE, Germany –Senior Airman Josh Ogles, 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics specialist, releases the ladder of A-10C 81-0965 for Capt. Gary Moore, 52nd Operations Group executive officer and A-10 pilot, during a post-flight inspection here November 20, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar) Hi-res



SPANGDHALEM AIR BASE, Germany – Capt. Gary Moore, 52nd Operations Group executive officer and A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, speaks with a crew chief during a post-flight inspection of A-10C 81-0965 November 20, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar) Hi-res



SPANGDHALEM AIR BASE, Germany – Capt. Gary Moore, 52nd Operations Group executive officer and A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, exits A-10C 81-0965 after an initial post-flight inspection November 20, 2009. Airmen then backed the "Hog" into Hardened Aircraft Shelter 2 to conduct a more thorough inspection and aircraft regeneration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar) Hi-res

Source

Note:
AOR means Area Of Responsibility (like U.S. Central Command's AOR which includes Afghanistan and Iraq)

On the Dutch Scramble Message Board, today it was posted: The 81FS launched a 7-ship at 09.00lcl as "Hawg1-7" and 6 of them overflew the base as a formation at 11.05 lcl and then landed. Nr.7 probably landed earlier on it's own. See topic