The A-10s fly wingtip to wingtip, then Shufeldt dips below his wingman’s aircraft and looks up, checking the belly of the A-10. Before flying back to Boise, the pilots check each other’s aircraft for any issues. “Bang 11, good hits,” is heard after the rounds are fired.Īfter expending all weapons, he has completed the training mission.
“Bang 11, cleared hot,” said the ground troop on the radio below, providing Shufeldt clearance to shoot the 30 mm Gatling gun. “Bang 11 in from the south, guns,” said Shufeldt. They are providing ground support while shooting training targets. He can see several dirt roads below in the vast desert and sagebrush-filled land of the OCTC as he approaches the target area near the ground troops below.
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The sun is just above and to the left, the heat from its rays beating down on his neck, the only portion of skin that is exposed. A moment of calm, but it is short-lived as he begins his in-flight checks and focuses on the mission. The mighty Warthog gains speed quickly, reaching approximately 150 miles per hour before he pulls back on the stick and the tires leave the runway. As he eases the throttles forward, the 12-and-a-half-ton beast starts to shake as it reaches nearly 20,000 pounds of thrust.Īfter checking his gauges and instruments, he pushes the throttles to maximum and releases the brakes. Once cleared for takeoff, he steps firmly on the brakes and runs up the engines. He disconnects with his crew chief, they salute and he taxis to the runway, stopping near the end to have his A-10’s weapons armed. “Pull the chalks, see you soon,” said Shufeldt. “We check everything, from the brakes to the rudders to the digital systems inside the jet,” said Shufeldt.īoth Warthogs are now ready for flight. “Clear on two.” “Two is clear,” is echoed back to him and the two engines are now fired up. He and his crew chief turn on the auxiliary power unit and fire up the twin turbine engines. He climbs up the ladder and straps into his seat. “Usually there isn’t because our crew chiefs and our maintainers are really good.
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“I do a full preflight inspection on the outside of the jet, to make sure there isn’t anything I see wrong,” said Shufeldt. He walks around his A-10, scanning for any visible issues. as he begins the 45-minute preflight check.
Attack,” are the last words said before he heads out to the flight line where his A-10, commonly referred to as a Warthog, is patiently waiting. They are briefed on the weather, coordinates, weapons and the close air support mission they are about to fly. The step brief is for him and his wingman, the additional pilot flying the second aircraft on this morning’s training mission. At the operations desk, he listens to his step brief. Preparing for his flight and the training mission can take up to two hours. He gets dressed in his flight G-suit, then his harness for his seat and parachute, and he grabs his high-tech flight helmet. Shufeldt enters the building of the 190th Fighter Squadron and prepares for his day. Today is a good day to fly the mighty A-10 over the nearby Orchard Combat Training Center. Shufeldt approaches the main gate of Gowen Field, Boise’s Air Terminal and National Guard Base, with a smile on his face. The commute across the Treasure Valley isn’t too bad as he heads down the interstate, even with the sun shining in his eyes as it rises above the beautiful Idaho foothills. Shufeldt grabs his thermos of coffee, throws the ball a couple of times for Poppy, pats her furry head and walks out the door. It’s early in the morning, but his dog, Poppy, sits at his heels patiently waiting with a ball in her mouth and tail wagging. He can smell the strong scent of coffee brewing from the kitchen, as he brushes his teeth. Mike Shufeldt, one of the Idaho National Guard’s A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots, and feel firsthand what it is like to be an A-10 fighter pilot. GOWEN FIELD, Idaho – Spend a day flying with Capt.
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