Maxwell A-10

Four A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs were at Maxwell Air Force Base supporting a joint terminal attack controller exercise being conducted near Savoy, Alabama, Jan. 21, 2015. They were working in cooperation with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron and an AC-130H Spectre to deliver the best training possible for the JTACs in calling in strikes on the ground. The training and working relationship benefits all parties when they deploy to combat zones and have to perform the same operations against real-world targets. In addition, the A-10s are conducting flight operations within Maxwell’s flight pattern to increase the 42d Operations Support Squadron’s Air Traffic Controller training supporting A-10 aircraft mixed with the complexities of other aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and the Cessna 182 Skyline all in Maxwell’s flight pattern at the same time. The differences in speed and size within Maxwell's airspace provides the training controllers benefit from and is solid preparation for controlling diverse aircraft in airspace of different sizes while deployed in combat zones. The A-10s came to Maxwell due to its proximity to Savoy and the training opportunities within Maxwell’s flight pattern. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William Blankenship/Cleared)