This silent 1970’s color film depicts the prototype, two seat Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II trainer jet aircraft ( technically known as the YA-10B ) developed for the United States Air Force, during test flight takeoffs and landings (TRT 10:10). Flying in the second seat is U.S. Air Force Major General and Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, who was an advocate of aviation and the A-10 program. Many A-10s were based at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona and the nearby test range is now named in Goldwater’s honor. The YA-10B shown was the only one of its kind produced. It was originally intended as a prototype for an A-10 trainer / all weather and night attack expansion of the A-10A Warthog, but no money was allocated for further production of the variant so it remained a one-off. Today this aircraft is on display at Edwards AFB.
A silver-haired Sen. Barry Goldwater, wearing glasses, sits in the open cockpit of the YA-10B aircraft, speaking to several engineers from Fairchild-Republic and USAF personnel huddled around him. One of the airmen climbs into the front cockpit as the camera pans (0:09). Zoom out to reveal both cockpits in full. Zoom in on flight mechanics standing on the ground below (0:30). The cockpit is further inspected. Necks crane to see something out of view (0:54). Photographers stand on yellow scaffolding to photograph the pilot and his team (1:13). A wide view shows the edge of the aircraft’s wing (1:35). The jet taxis on an open runway amid numbered distance markers (1:49). The A-10 Thunderbolt II approaches the camera through heat distortion. The jet takes off from a close distance, with twin turbines in full view. It flies into the distance (2:01). The plane returns, growing in size as it approaches (3:03). An apparent lens change. The jet comes in for a successful landing on the test runway, then takes off again in the distance (4:10). Another lens change. The jet flies towards the camera head-on against a blue filtered sky (4:51). The Thunderbolt passes at high speed then takes off again in the distance, this time at dusk, with red signal lights glowing on the runway (5:31). A return to daylight footage. The Thunderbolt moves slowly on the runway with heat distortion around the turbines. The cockpit passes from right to left. The pilots are visible in the cockpit (6:01). The plane taxis in profile, then turns 90 degrees (7:19). Men of the Air Force, photographed from behind, discuss the flight with the silver haired Goldwater (7:54). Pilots and engineers reconnoiter, removing flight suit equipment (8:37). A walk around the landing gear of the aircraft with a photographer The pilot looks up at the aircraft (8:55). Chatting with Air Force suits. The men get into a grey car labeled “Fairchild Republic Company” (9:38). Film reel runs out (10:01).
The A-10 Thunderbolt II had its first flight in May of 1972, and was introduced into service in October of 1977. It remained in production until 1984. The A-10 was designed for close air support of ground troops, and is the only production-built aircraft that has served in the USAF for this purpose.
Barry Goldwater trained as a pilot and was assigned to the Ferry Command in WWII, including missions flying over the “Hump” into China. Following the war, Goldwater served in the reserves and eventually retired as a Command Pilot with the rank of major general. By that time, he had flown 165 different types of aircraft.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
