East Coast A-10 Demo Team to hold last practice Published April 26, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Cassandra Locke Editor POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The East Coast Demonstration team will have its last planned practice Thursday at noon. Around this time, Team Pope can go outside of their work centers to observe this or can come to the parking lot behind the library to hear the team's narrator as he describes the maneuvers. The team flies an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and is from the 23rd Wing based out of Moody AFB, Ga., but stationed at Pope. According to Master Sgt. Anthony Sangregorio, demo team superintendent, the team demonstrates the capabilities of the A-10 while showing spectators the professional competence of the people in the Air Force. They promote Air Force recruiting and retention and help build community and international relations. "The crowd is treated to maneuvers like the single aileron roll with a rapid roll at almost 200 degrees per second," said Sergeant Sangregorio. He said the A-10 twists and turns low over the runway to perform the Cuban Eight, and does a simulated strafe pass using the 30mm Gatling gun. Later in the demonstration, the team performs a dedication pass, paying tribute to U.S. warfighters and its allies. During World War II, the original Flying Tigers painted teeth on the noses of their P-40 Warhawks to strike fear into the hearts of the enemy. The A-10 was the first Air Force aircraft designed for close air support of ground forces. The team headlines air shows where the runway is shorter in distance. Some of the maneuvers shown by the A-10 include a short runway take-off and the A-10s are one of the only military attack aircraft to take off with a short runway. Sergeant Sangregorio said even with a 16,000 pound bomb load, A-10s can still take off in less than 4,000 feet. During a slow roll, spectators see a fake canopy painted on the belly of the aircraft which is designed to deceive enemy ground troops as to the A-10's direction of turn. Sergeant Sangregorio said the aircraft is capable of operating from much shorter runways than most fighter aircraft. They can be near battle areas for extended periods of time and operate at low altitudes with limited visibility. Most people who work with the aircraft refer to it as a "Warthog." The Warthog has a top speed of .75 Mach and its 30mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun can fire 3,900 rounds a minute and can defeat an array of ground targets to include tanks. Since 1985, the A-10 East Coast Demonstration Team has showcased the capabilities of the world's most heavily armed, and armored, close air support aircraft. It's one of six single-ship demonstration teams within ACC, including two F-15 teams, two F-16 teams and another A-10 team.