http://www.news9.com/story/28039187/a-10-warthog-to-take-on-oklahomas-thunderstorms

Seems like a great idea, but as a retired AF weather weenie who spent a small portion of my career studying weather impacts on various AF airframes, this quote from the link gives me pause:

quote:

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"They've been hail tested up to two almost three inch hail balls and no damage whatsoever to the engines," said Schneider.

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"almost three inch hail balls" - really? Certainly NOT uncommon for that size and greater to be aloft in OK thunderstorms. And no mention of icing problems around the engine nacelles? I recall from my AF days that engine nacelle icing was a problem with A-10s as well, at least early in it's deployment.

That said, I believe the "weather warthog" will be of huge value to severe storm research. Certainly a tremendous upgrade from the T-28 prop plane previously used for this mission. (Note: in 2004 I was part of a support team for one of the last research missions that the T-28 flew.)

Any current or former Warthog drivers on this board who can provide an expert opinion on the subject?

Good to see any aircraft kept in the air.

Someone proposed converting surplus A-10s to fire-fighting aircraft. Certainly an interesting idea, don't know if it ever got anywhere.

That seems like a situation where the pilot can quickly get overloaded monitoring sensors and flying the plane.

What about having guys on the ground monitor weather data, and let the pilot fly?

That's most likely what's going to happen. Pilot's job is likely only to coordinate with the ground on what areas of the thunderstorm to enter and to fly the plane. Doubt they're going for any real-time stuff with the aircraft. The data will be available for MS students to chug through later.