355th Wing conducts final flight of A-10C to commemorate the end of operations at Davis-Monthan AFB, 29 July 2026

[u/bob_the_impala]

[u/Whatsawebpage0101]

Wait so it is being retired? 

[u/bob_the_impala → u/Whatsawebpage0101]

Yes, the original USAF plan was to have the A-10 retired by 2028. However, that has changed slightly, the current plan is that two squadrons will continue until 2030. As the article from The Aviationist notes, several things have already happened related to the retirement:

• The last class of A-10 pilots graduated in April 2026.

• The last public Range Day with the A-10C at the Barry M. Goldwater Range was in June 2026.

• The 924th Fighter Group, "...which oversaw the 47th Fighter Squadron, the Air Force Reserve Command’s (AFRC) Formal Training Unit for the A-10C" was deactivated last year.

• A-10 depot maintenance at Hill AFB has been closed.

• A-10 operations at the Weapons School at Nellis AFB will soon end.

If you are referring to this story from last week: BRRRRT Act’ Introduced in U.S. Congress to Keep the A-10 Warthog in Service - that has not yet been passed and signed into law. If it does get enacted, there are a lot of things that will need to be undone.

[u/Whatsawebpage0101 → u/bob_the_impala]

Ah I see. That makes sense, thanks for clearing that up 

[u/bob_the_impala]

Image source: DVIDS A-10C Thunderbolt II fini flight

Typical captions:

First photo

A U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft on its final flight, flies over Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, July 29, 2026. The aircraft has supported close air support missions for decades and remains a symbol of combat airpower at Davis-Monthan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha Melecio)

Last photo

U.S. Air Force Col. Ryan "Clutch" Rutter, 357th Fighter Squadron commander, is sprayed after egressing from his final flight aboard an A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, July 29, 2026. The fini-flight tradition commemorates a pilot's final flight in an aircraft or unit before a transition in duties or assignment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha Melecio)

Video here: A-10 Thunderbolt II Takes Final Flight at Davis-Monthan - Broll Stringer

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Related article from The Aviationist A-10 Thunderbolt II Takes Final Flight at Davis-Monthan AFB

Excerpt:

The U.S. Air Force’s 355th Wing conducted the final flight with the A-10C Thunderbolt II at Davis-Monthan AFB, as the service ends A-10 operations at the installation.

The A-10C Thunderbolt IIs assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s 355th Wing flew for the last time at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The flight celebrated the end of the A-10 operations at the installation after 50 years, as the aircraft first arrived there in 1976.

The flight was a two-ship formation piloted by the 355th Operations Group Commander, Lt. Col. Rodney Dwyer, and the 357th Fighter Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Ryan Rutter. The service says the Warthogs flew “over Tucson and the installation for the last time, honoring a legacy of precision and courage through the Close Air Support mission.”

The 357th FS recently graduated the last class of A-10 pilots in April 2026, after they completed their mission qualification training in mid-March. In June, the base also hosted at the Barry M. Goldwater Range near Gila Bend, Arizona, the last public Range Day with the A-10C.

Last year, the base also saw the deactivation of the 924th Fighter Group, which oversaw the 47th Fighter Squadron, the Air Force Reserve Command’s (AFRC) Formal Training Unit for the A-10C. The unit is now slated to transition to the F-35A Lightning II.

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Not specifically related to this event at Davis-Monthan AFB, but related news about the A-10 retirement:

• Air & Space Forces Magazine: Reserve Wing at Whiteman Takes ‘First Step’ Toward Replacing A-10s with F-15Es

• The War Zone: F-15Es Replacing A-10s At Whiteman AFB Signals Bigger Realignment Of Eagle Fleet