A-10 Warthog: 50 Facts About This Legendary Aircraft

The A-10 Warthog Has Many Paint Schemes

Since the A-10 Thunderbolt II flies so low to the ground, paint schemes for camouflage are more important here than with other aircraft. Multiple variations have tried – a “peanut scheme” of sand, yellow and field drab, a black and white version for winter work, and a brown, green, and tan version. Many A-10s have shark teeth, or a warthog head painted on the nose of the aircraft.

Some A-10s have a ‘false canopy’ painted on the belly of the aircraft. The diversion is meant to confuse enemy pilots into thinking the paint is actually a shadow cast by the real canopy – hopefully, tricking them into thinking the A-10 is going a different direction at a different altitude.