A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

While most aircrafts try to avoid storms, the 309th Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group is finishing the first transition of preparing an A-10A Thunderbolt to do just the opposite: fly into the storms!

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A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

David Jaramillo, 576th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Squadron aircraft mechanic, installs a portion of the heat exchange on an A-10A Thunderbolt on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 23, 2013. Jaramillo and other members of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group are working to ensure the aircraft is safe and ready to fly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

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A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

Kenneth Thompson, 576th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Squadron aircraft mechanic, fastens a screw on top of an A-10A Thunderbolt on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 23, 2013. After the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group is done repairing the aircraft, it will take approximately one year to convert the aircraft into a drone used to collect data on storms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

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A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

Kenneth Thompson, 576th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Squadron aircraft mechanic, aligns a portion of the pre-cooler ram air duct onto the top of an A-10A Thunderbolt on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 23, 2013. The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group is regenerating the aircraft, which was used as a trainer for munitions load crews, so that it can be converted into a storm chaser. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

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A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

David Jaramillo, 576th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Squadron aircraft mechanic, looks at the technical data for an A-10A Thunderbolt on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 23, 2013. The A-10 Jaramillo is working on will be converted into a remote drone capable of flying into storms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

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A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

The gun bay of an A-10A Thunderbolt is open under a maintenance hangar on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 24, 2013. Once the A-10, tail number 174, is converted into a storm chaser the former gun bay will house computer equipment used to track storms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

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A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

Kenneth Thompson, 576th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Squadron aircraft mechanic, aligns a portion of the pre-cooler ram air duct onto the top of an A-10A Thunderbolt on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 23, 2013. The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group is regenerating the aircraft, which was used as a trainer for munitions load crews, so that it can be converted into a storm chaser. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

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A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

An A-10A Thunderbolt sits under a maintenance hangar on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 24, 2013. This particular A-10, tail number 174, was used as a trainer for loading munitions on D-M and will now be used to track storms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

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A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

Kenneth Thompson, 576th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Squadron aircraft mechanic, works inside the nose landing gear wheel well of an A-10A Thunderbolt on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 24, 2013. Members of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group are ensuring the aircraft is safe and ready to fly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

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Photos: A-10: From Trainer to Storm Chaser

Published Jan. 31, 2013
By Senior Airman Timothy Moore
355th Figther Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- While most aircrafts try to avoid storms, the 309th Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group is finishing the first transition of preparing an A-10A Thunderbolt to do just the opposite: fly into the storms!