A-10 vs. F-35 fly-off may begin next year. What plane will come out on top?

Regardless of the results, I think anyone that has seen the A-10 in action will side with that aircraft. There is no better sound then hearing one coming in for a run when you are in a bad place.

In close ground support roll nothing will beat the A-10. The plane was designed around a gun with every thought by Fairchild with the purpose in killing people and equipment on the ground. The F-35 was designed to be a Swiss army knife. It is designed to do a bunch of things good, but not able to do any one thing exceptional. The A-10 is a chainsaw. It has one job and it does that job better than anything else out there. The only exception I would think that the F-35 would excel in is survivability from surface to air missiles because of the stealth built into it.

Then there is the human factor. A-10 guys only purpose in life is to help troops on the ground. They live and breath ground support. F-35 pilots got a ton to do to fill a multi-roll aircraft driver roll.

The F-35 is so far behind in testing and is no where near ready to actually drop a bomb on anything. I would put money on the thing will not be ready for a flyoff with a Cessna by next year.

I heard somewhere, the the F-35 has difficulty landing in the fog. Also, if you don't sign on while in the aircraft, to some obscure computer system in texas, the Aircraft will not fly. Sometimes, low and slow is the best. Who can remember the A-1 Sky Raider in Vietnam? Linger on target much longer and lower than the Jets, who had to go refuel. I think, take these type of aircraft and give them to the army who would jump at the chance. Again, remember the C-7 Caribou? Army Pilots flew then when the Air Force was scared due to weather.