My first aircraft in awhile

**Paragon** · #1 09-25-2010, 07:21 PM

I know, it's not exactly what you all were hoping, but it's what I felt like doing, which is often the only thing that makes me make a model.

Anyway, I call this the Boeing S/A-10D Thunderstrike. If you couldn't tell, it's a (fictional) upgrade to the A-10 Thunderbolt II, similar to the F/A-18E and F Boeing now produces. Obviously upgrades include altered design for low observability, but also increased performance, and an expanded role as a support and electronic warfare aircraft.

The aircraft's exterior is almost completely redesigned to help hide it from radar, and incorporates new composite materials. The GAU-8 Avenger gun and the aircraft's engines have shrouds to help limit detectability, and new, more efficient engines have been added, as well as some limited thrust vectoring that can help it avoid ground fire, as well as somewhat decrease landing and takeoff distances.

I haven't figured out the hardpoints yet. Obviously carrying external stores severely compromises any changes made for low-observability. I'm thinking shells for external stores that it would shed when deploying weapons, kind of like a sabot, but they'd need to be flush with the wings, which might seriously lower lift.

**calotuc2** · #2 09-25-2010, 07:24 PM

muy bueno amigo felicitaciones para ti

**Lex** · #3 09-25-2010, 07:25 PM

Paragon... I thought you had disappeared...... Or were you here all along?

**mchale** · #4 09-25-2010, 08:01 PM

good job i also thought you had droped off the face of the earth hows the new star trek models

**3Turner** · #5 09-25-2010, 08:04 PM

Interesting concept Paragon. Great looking model.

**airdave** · #6 09-25-2010, 09:11 PM

gimme gimme gimme

**mchale** · #7 09-25-2010, 09:17 PM

is this going to be a free model

**Nh3ave2009** · #8 09-26-2010, 01:33 AM

That is WICKED!!!!! Avery cool concept and nice build! Bravo James! :D

**Rhaven Blaack** · #9 09-26-2010, 04:52 AM

Paragon,

Welcome back, I thought you had fallen off the grid.
That is most impressive. It is an interesting concept. I like the back story to it as well.

As for hard points, You could creat new weapons pods that fit flush to the plane. It would keep the signature low but still have the weapons that a craft like would need to do the job.

**legion** · #10 09-26-2010, 02:13 PM

Why not have a whole new set of stealthed armaments? No need for silly compartements then, plus it'll give the plane the old Fully Loaded look like the real A-10?