The Modern Hog Guide The A-10 Warthog Exposed Book Review
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | September 2008 | Title | The Modern Hog Guide The A-10 Warthog Exposed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Jake Melampy | Publisher | Reid Air Publications |
| Published | 2008 | ISBN | 978-0-9795064-2-0 |
| Format | 120 pages, softbound | MSRP (USD) | $36.95 |
Review
Reid Air Publications has released the next installment of their excellent aircraft series by author Jake Melampy. In their first two books, the author examined the F-16 Fighting Falcon in service with the USAF and the Air National Guard. The title ' Modern Viper Guide' walked the modeler (and enthusiast) into the various corners and bays in the F-16's airframe.
In this title, the author has extended that detailed look around the airframe to the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The title is crammed full of excellent color photos that not only illustrate the details of the Hog, the author shows 'before and after' type shots to illustrate the progressive improvements that were applied to the A-10. From the basic production airframe, through LASTE, and into the current A-10+ configurations used by the Air National Guard and the A-10C upgrades entering service with the USAF.
The title has very useful images and detail points about weapons load-outs, which pylons are plumbed for external tanks, which pylons are wired for AGM-65, which pylons will support LITENING, and which pylons will support LITENING and SNIPER on the A-10C. This is the first publication that has provided nice photos of the instrument panel and cockpit layouts for each of the progressive configurations of the A-10 including the A-10C.
This is the best reference for the A-10 ever published. If you keep only one reference title around for any given subject, you can trade away those other walk around titles and you'll be in 'hog heaven' with this great work.
My sincere thanks to Afterburner Decals for this review sample!