The two prototype aircraft finalists of the A-X program, the Northrop YA-9A and the Fairchild Republic YA-10A, would be designed to carry the Avenger, although both aircraft would carry the M61 while the GAU-8/A was under development. In order to accommodate one of the largest and most powerful cannons ever fitted to an aircraft, and be installed in the frontal/lower area of the fuselage slightly to the port side, the front landing gear of the A-10 is offset to the right instead of being centered, retracting forward alongside the gun. The large 30 mm cases contain a considerable amount of propellant, and having the gun at the nose of the aircraft means a lot of soot, smoke, and unburnt propellant are present at the nose of the aircraft during firing.
Author: Darrick Leiker
Published at: 2025-07-29 21:17:00
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