Capt Joe Shetterly is Air Combat Command's A-10 West Coast Demonstration Team Pilot and Officer in Charge of the Team. As the Demonstration Pilot, he is responsible for showcasing America's A-10 to over seven million people at more than 65 shows around the world and is currently assigned to the 354th FS, 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona.
The A-10 first flew back in 1972 and was designed to meet a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support (CAS) for ground forces by attacking tanks and armoured vehicles and was actually the first U.S. Air Force aircraft procured solely for that role.
The aircraft was designed around the GAU-8 Avenger, a heavy rotary cannon which remains the heaviest weapon of its kind ever mounted on to an aircraft, while the A-10’s hull incorporates over 1,200 pounds of armour and was designed with survivability as a key priority, with protective measures in place which enable the aircraft to continue flying even after taking significant damage over the battlefield.
1/ Name? Joe "Rifle" Shetterly
2/ Display mount / mounts? A-10/RV-8
3/ Day job? USAF A-10 Instructor Pilot
4/ How many hours in your log book? 4000+ (1100ish in A-10s)
5/ On what types? 110+ makes/models...everything from Cub/Champ to Pitts/Extra to Twin Beech and A-10.
6/ How many years have you been displaying? 2
7/ What was your first public display? Brownsville, TX
8/ All time favourite display venue? Tough call between flying a Heritage Flight over Oshkosh or over Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Michigan.
9/ What's the best thing about being a display pilot? Meeting great people.
10/ And the worst? Wearing a flight suit in the summer sun.
11/ Favourite part of your display? Heritage Flights
12/ If you could improve one thing about the UK airshow circuit what would it be? Getting to do it more. This RIAT 2011 is my first time flying in the UK.
13/ Other than yourself (obviously), who's your favourite current display pilot? Tough call...with a little bit of Stearman time in my logbook I'll have to say John Mohr is a magician.
14/ Which other act / team would you always stop and watch? Matt Younkin
15/ Is there a team / aircraft you've never seen displaying which you always wished you had? Bob Hoover (only saw him once as a small child)
16/ If you could choose anything from any era, which aircraft would you most love to get your hands on? Terribly hard question to answer...I'm thinking Corsair.
17/ Who inspired you to begin display flying? My dad. My first logbook entry was from him at 6 months old and I've loved it ever since.
18/ Which airshow has the best grub? It's hard to beat the BBQ in most of Texas
19/ Where's the best after show party? The ones with a live band that let A-10 West take over the stage.
20/ What one piece advice would you give to anyone who wanted to get in to display flying? "Lock your dream in your sights and TAKE THE SHOT!"
2011-07-15 - Peter Fleetwood
With the A-10 as one of my all-time favourites, anything like this is mouth-watering. Thanks for asking the questions. The answers point to a man who doesn't waste much time making decisions. Just as well, I guess.
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