A-10 wind tunnel models

There's one complete, and one partial, 1/20-scale aluminum models. The 1/20-scale models seems to have different functions like, one was used for stores configuration, one for weapons testing, and the other for airflow and flight characteristics testing. The same nose section fits on both models and (I think) was used on whichever model was being tested at the time.

The "weapons test" model has no tail section so when the nose is used on the other model this one is only about 50% complete. The 1/20-scale also includes items like different slats configuration, gear pods of different shapes, different flap configurations and, lot of bits and pieces like weapons and pylons.

We assembled the complete 1/20-scale (as much as we could in a short time) to display at the 2002 Program Management Review and it now sits at my house waiting to be refurbished for display at the A-10 SPO.

One 1/24 scale balsa wood model, which I believe may have been the first model built which defined the basic A-10 concept before building the more expensive aluminum models. If so this may have been the first look at the A-10 outside the drawing board. This model was in the worst shape of all and as you can see from the pictures it had not survived the test of time like the more durable aluminum ones.

We donated this one to the Utah State University ROTC where they refurbished and hung it in the entrance to the ROTC building.

(Sorry about the low quility of the above pics but these are all I have.)

Of all the things I've done as the HQ/ACC Liaison, excluding supporting the A-10 during wartime, I'm proudest of this find! These small pieces of A-10 history will be able to be enjoyed by generations to come, and will probably outlive the A-10 itself.

25 Feb 2008 update on one of the models and some of the parts coming in the next week.

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