https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-air-force-now-plans-to-keep-the-a-10-warthog-flying-1788309985

The A-10 Thunderbolt AKA “Warthog” is a flying farm tractor. Slow, brutish, but reliable as the tide and endearingly indestructible and incredibly effective. Strategists have feared that the jet will be axed in favor of funding the F-35, but the U.S. Air Force recently confirmed that it plans to keep the A-10 flying “indefinitely.”

The coolest modern plane ever.

Its very expensive replacement seems to be stuck on a track to?
http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-air-force-initiative-to-replace-the-a-10-warthog-is-1771018719

Our attack guys flew OV-10 Broncos, another old school kick ass ground assault plane.
http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/ov-10-broncos-were-sent-to-fight-isis-and-they-kicked-a-1764407068

 

I wonder if the general who had to make this decision was gritting his teeth in anger.

 

Hey @nsaspook, here's a very interesting story that you might already know, but it's pretty well written and full of detail:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160905-the-pilot-who-stole-a-secret-soviet-fighter-jet

 

Practical side of things, the USD 40.000 bill for shipping costs when the plane was returned to the URSS.

 

Yes, that is a great aircraft. However, in my option, the GAU-8 mounted up front is the main attraction.

4000 rounds per min of 30mm shells.

I can't remember the numbers, but from memory the recoil on that gun is about the same as 1 of the a10's engines. The active barrel needed to be mounted at the absolute centre of thrust as not to induce any yaw.
The engines also need to have reignites in the hot section to make sure they don't flameout while firing as the gas generated by the gun is not combustible.

Awesome!

 

I can't imagine any aircraft that could replace the A-10 for its specific capabilities, except for, perhaps, another A-10.

It's an absolutely perfect design for its purpose. A classic example of "form follows function". I'd have been proud to be an engineer working on that design.