How The Fairchild Republic A-10 Warthog’s Titanium Bathtub Protects Pilots From Ground-Level Ballistics
The metal fortress that encloses the pilot is where we begin the tale of the A-10’s famous ruggedness and stunning battle-damage resilience. This US Air Force attack jet contains the ultimate bulletproof bubble: a massive, 1,200-pound titanium cradle that is bolted together and nearly an inch and a half thick in some places. The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II’s titanium bathtub is more than just a skin covering; it’s an engineered fortress made of premium titanium alloy.