The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is more endearingly called the “Warthog”. It has been a fixture in the US Air Force for many years. It was time for the iconic aircraft to sunset from service when the 23rd Maintenance Squadron at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia gave it an impressive makeover and truly turned it into the real “Flying Tiger.”
The transformation is not only aesthetically pleasing but also a strong symbol of the A-10’s rich history in modern aerial warfare.
A shark-toothed nose art that has simply become iconic for the A-10 airframe is more than just a stylistic exercise says visually that the aircraft brings to bear some of the most crushing close air support capacities in the business, plus the aircraft pays a nostalgic tribute to the legendary “Flying Tigers” of World War II.
Decades of memorable images associated with the shark teeth design of the A-10, of course, derive their original inspiration from the legendary markings of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk flown by the American Volunteer Group (AVG), known as the Flying Tigers, during their 1941-42 campaign against the Japanese.
The shark teeth nose art on the A-10C Thunderbolt II at Moody Air Force Base is evidence that the Flying Tigers would not give up and that the A-10 remains very relevant in modern aerial warfare. Care in the multi-step paint process, which begins with washing and sanding, masking, and laying down multiple colors, goes into duplicating the iconic design on the surface of the aircraft.
According to Tech. Sgt. Mark King, corrosion manager with the 23rd Maintenance Squadron, the shark’s teeth design holds its significance. “The A-10 teeth are iconic in their way. It’s even been adopted by the fashion industry and the teeth are everywhere. We’re the only ones in the Air Force that apply it to our nose art, and it means a lot to be able to represent it.”
Not only is the A-10 Warthog a pretty airplane, but it is a distinctive shark-teeth marking, a visually important feature that has little to nothing to do with its aesthetic value as opposed to becoming a vital element of the operational efficiency of the aircraft.
Those shark teeth unmistakably create an intense visual deterrent, instilling fear into opponents and providing allied forces with confidence. Airman 1st Class Leonid Soubbotine, 23rd Wing Public Affairs, at Moody AFB, said, “The distinctive appearance of the military aircraft is not just a matter of aesthetics, but a crucial aspect of our operational effectiveness – projecting power and intimidating adversaries.”
Despite its age, the soon-to-retire A-10 may eventually close its USAF service chapters, but the shark-teeth nose art added to the aircraft recently is a powerful reminder of just how big the legacy of this airplane has become.
The A-10 has proven itself time and again to offer close air support for the forces on land, something that evokes both respect and admiration from allies and adversaries alike. The shark teeth design will forever be the emblem of the Warthog and its awesome and storied history of aerial warfare.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the shark teeth nose art that adorns an A-10C Thunderbolt II isn’t a piece of cake. It takes very precise, multiple steps of equipment and skilled airmen. Staff Sgt. William Rogers, the 23rd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, describes it this way: “First and foremost before it even rolls into the paint barn, it will be washed.
The next steps are sanding and masking everything off that is not going to get painted to avoid overspray. After that, we mask and re-mask the jet – putting it through the multiple colors, stencils, and different curing times.”
To the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, the shark-tooth nose art of the A-10 Warthog is synonymous. Tech. Sgt. King said, “We’re the only ones in the Air Force that apply it to our nose art, and it means a lot to be able to represent it.” This special connection to Moody AFB only serves to enhance the A-10’s association with its historical past and cements the aircraft’s reputation as a force in close air support.
As the A-10 Warthog nears retirement with the USAF, the new application of its iconic shark teeth nose art serves as a reminder that this aircraft remains relevant and of the highest importance in today’s aerial warfare.
Its close air support capabilities are unmatched in military aviation annals, and its very impressive aspect makes it an asset the USAF can ill afford to lose. The shark teeth design, closely associated with the A-10, symbolizes that heritage and ability to strike a scary fear into the heart of the adversaries.