Rare Footage Of The YA-10A Thunderbolt II Prototype 71-1369. Edwards Air Force Base #a10 #coldwar

This rare and restored 1972 footage shows the Fairchild Republic YA-10A Thunderbolt II prototype, serial number 71-1369, during its initial flight tests at Edwards Air Force Base. This video provides a unique historical look at the A-X program and the birth of the legendary A-10 Warthog, the ultimate close air support (CAS) aircraft.

Step back in time to the stark, sun-baked landscape of Edwards AFB in 1972. The lessons of the Vietnam War were clear: the U.S. Air Force needed a new kind of attack aircraft—one that was slow, brutally tough, and built specifically to protect troops on the ground. The result was the A-X competition, a head-to-head fly-off between Northrop's YA-9 and Fairchild Republic's rugged YA-10. This is the footage of that contender, the aircraft that would go on to become an icon.

In this newly restored and upscaled film, you are witnessing the very first steps of a legend. This is the Warthog in its purest form, raw and unpainted, before it earned its fearsome reputation. Watch as test pilots push the YA-10 prototype through its paces, demonstrating the incredible low-speed maneuverability afforded by its massive, straight wings. Notice the high-mounted General Electric TF34 engines, placed to shield them from ground fire, and the unmistakable silhouette that prioritized survivability above all else.

Interestingly, this prototype was flying before its legendary weapon, the GAU-8 Avenger cannon, was even ready. The aircraft you see here was a pure flight test vehicle, designed to prove a radical concept: that the best way to support the infantry was with a flying tank. This footage is a priceless glimpse into the birth of the machine that would become the infantryman's best friend and a symbol of American air power for over 50 years.

General Characteristics: Fairchild Republic YA-10A Prototype

Crew: 1
Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
Wingspan: 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Max takeoff weight: 50,000 lb (22,680 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofan engines, 9,065 lbf (40.32 kN) thrust each
Maximum Speed: 450 mph (720 km/h, 390 kn)

Key Features: Designed for extreme survivability with a titanium "bathtub" protecting the pilot, redundant flight control systems, and self-sealing fuel tanks. The prototype flew with a placeholder M61 Vulcan cannon before being fitted with the GAU-8.

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Видео Rare Footage Of The YA-10A Thunderbolt II Prototype 71-1369. Edwards Air Force Base #a10 #coldwar канала DroneScapes