warthog
Common name of the Fairchild-Republic A-10 ground attack airplane. Almost univerally used within the U.S. Air Force and other aviation circles in place of the airplane's official given name, the Thunderbolt II.
The name refers to the airplane's awkward appearance, its incredible toughness, its slow speed compared to USAF fighter planes, and the fact that it "hugs the ground" while performing its primary mission of close-range, low-altitude ground attack.
The name refers to the airplane's awkward appearance, its incredible toughness, its slow speed compared to USAF fighter planes, and the fact that it "hugs the ground" while performing its primary mission of close-range, low-altitude ground attack.