A-10 demonstration team lands in Yuma for the first time

The A-10 demonstration team landed in Yuma for the Yuma Air Show for the first time.

The demonstration team flew in from Davis-Monthan Air Force base in Tucson, Arizona Thursday afternoon.

The pilot of the aircraft described the plane.

“It’s the grunt in the sky. You look at it, it’s built to do destruction on the ground, with 11 weapons piled on. It can carry 17,00 pounds of bombs. Of course, the entire plane is built around that rattling gun you see in the front,” said Captain Cody Wilton.

The airmen explained the aircraft’s well-known gun feature can shoot 70 rounds per second and can hit speeds of over 500 miles per hour.

He explained what it is like to be behind the wheel of the fighter jet.

“It’s almost like you strap the jet right on your back and you’re going out flying. You can see everything down below you. So the visibility from the airplane is just amazing. The maneuverability is just awesome,” said Captain Wilton.

Captain Wilton added the capabilities of the aircraft when it is in a war zone.

“It would be loaded up from wing tip to wing tip with weapons,” explained Captain Wilton. “Whenever the Army or Marines or whoever it is that needs help on the ground calls us and we get to show up and be that big brother that comes in and helps them in the fight.”

The Air Force pilot explained what those planning to attend the Yuma Air Show can expect to see from the plane.

“We’re going to take it as fast as it can go, as slow as it can go. I’ll take it vertical. I’ll come straight back at the ground at 90 degrees and show that tight turn radius. Then you’ll see the heritage flight at the end,” said Captain Cody Wilton .

The Air Show kicks off Friday evening at MCAS Yuma. General admission is free to the public.