<p>After years of noise about wanting to retire the famous Fairchild Republic A-10 ground attack fighter, the US Air Force now says it has graduated the last class of new pilots assigned to fly the &quot;Warthog&quot;.</p><p>But just weeks later, the Pentagon announced that the A-10&#39;s. retirement is being pushed back to at least 2030. It&#39;s just the latest example of the titanium-enclosed jet beating the odds on bureaucratic survival.</p><p>Has the end really come for the Warthog or can the plane famous for its battlefield survivability once again stave off the end from Washington?</p><p>Americas defence reporter Ryan Finnerty speaks with the commander of the 357th Fighter Squadron that trains new A-10 pilots and retired air force Colonel Kim &quot;KC&quot; Campbell, whose combat service in the Warthog over Iraq has made her arguably the most famous A-10 pilot.</p><p><br></p><p>Show Notes:</p><p><br></p><p>Kim Campbell profile in Flight International, 2023:</p><p>https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/2023/06/rough-air-over-baghdad-a-10-pilot-kim-campbell-flies-into-aviation-history/</p><p><br></p><p>US Air Force begins first A-10 retirements:</p><p>https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/2023/04/usaf-begins-long-sought-a-10-retirements/</p><p><br></p><p>The A-10 returns to combat in Iran:</p><p>https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/2026/03/a-10-returns-to-combat-hunting-iranian-vessels-in-strait-of-hormuz/</p><p><br></p><p>A-10 &quot;Sandy&quot; mission over Iran:</p><p>https://www.flightglobal.com/archive/2026/04/iran-rescue-mission-featured-155-aircraft-refuelling-over-enemy-territory-and-one-lost-a-10/</p><p><br></p><p>The armed crop duster that could replace the A-10:</p><p>https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/2025/02/us-air-force-dubs-new-oa-1k-armed-crop-duster-skyraider-ii-ahead-of-first-delivery/</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>