US Air Force's A-10 'Warthog' completes final flight after 50 years at Arizona base

The U.S. Air Force's iconic A-10C "Thunderbolt II" attack aircraft, widely known as the "Warthog," has completed its final flight at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. This symbolic farewell signifies the conclusion of a 50-year mission at the base and reflects the broader U.S. military plan to retire the legendary close air support (CAS) aircraft.

The farewell flight involved two A-10Cs from the 355th Wing, flying over the base and the city of Tucson. Since its arrival in 1976, Davis-Monthan has been a prominent hub for A-10 training, combat readiness, and CAS missions, serving as a key base for the aircraft's operations for half a century. The 357th Fighter Squadron concluded its final A-10 pilot training in April, and the base hosted its last public A-10 live-fire demonstration in June, officially marking its exit from A-10 operations.

The retirement of the A-10 extends beyond Davis-Monthan. Hill Air Force Base in Utah has ceased major A-10 overhaul operations, and the USAF Weapons School is ending its A-10 courses. These actions indicate a phased withdrawal, not only reducing the fleet but also scaling back associated training, maintenance, and operational support capabilities.

However, the A-10's complete retirement is not yet finalized. The Air Force plans to keep one active squadron at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia and one Air Force Reserve squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri operational until 2030. Furthermore, some members of the U.S. Congress are attempting to delay the A-10's retirement. Arizona Representative Abe Hamadeh has proposed legislation to maintain at least 126 A-10s until 2033, including the restoration of maintenance, flight training, and testing capabilities, arguing against further fleet reductions until new aircraft can fully replace the CAS role.