ESzczesniak Posted May 24, 2024 Share Posted May 24, 2024 I'm trying to make sense of what's making the colors on A-10C exhausts. I'm doing a fairly modern bird and the imaging shows more or less light ghost gray exhaust nozzles like the link below: However, images of non-gray jest like this heritage bird look dark metal or matching green as seen around 5:18 in this YouTube video To me, it seems like they are painted fuselage colors and then discolor from the heat/exhaust. However, this would be really strange to paint jet exhausts. Is there something that make sense of this to help with painting them? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falcon053 Posted May 24, 2024 Share Posted May 24, 2024 You are correct, the color of the exhausts are the same color as the engine nacelles, in the case of modern A-10s, ghost gray. Duane Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncarina Posted May 25, 2024 Share Posted May 25, 2024 Not disagreeing, just curious: what’s the rational for painting them? I’m imagining that the high temperatures would lead to rapid deterioration of the overcoat. Cheers, Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted May 25, 2024 Share Posted May 25, 2024 Since the A-10 uses turbofan engines I’m pretty sure that painted cone is an aerodynamic fairing over the actual turbine exhaust duct inside the cone. It improves airflow over the exhaust pipe and may act as a heat shield to reduce IR signature a bit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncarina Posted May 25, 2024 Share Posted May 25, 2024 Ok thanks! Cheers, Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted May 25, 2024 Share Posted May 25, 2024 Think it’s interesting that the ghost gray one even seems to have the color demarcation line painted on it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted May 27, 2024 Share Posted May 27, 2024 I don't know why, but I always assumed that they were like a dark gray - thanks for the education! It might actually make painting a little easier. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted May 27, 2024 Share Posted May 27, 2024 I seem to recall seeing a few pics of gray A-10's with oversprayed exhaust fairings. They looked as if the end burned out. But in this article I found it looks as if the entire exhaust assembly is painted gray. https://theaviationgeekclub.com/a-10-warthog-that-crash-landed-after-being-damaged-by-misfired-cannon-is-back-flying-again-after-4-years/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ESzczesniak Posted May 29, 2024 Author Share Posted May 29, 2024 I’m sorry I’m very late acknowledging the help and information. Thank you everyone! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lasinaatti Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Does anyone have photos of the insides of the nozzles themselves? I can tell the bulbous shape is most likely gray but I'm interested in the deeper sections, but I'm unable to find any photos inside. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
riffraff Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 (edited) It's a bit dark, but you can kinda make out the colour. Hope this helps. Lee Edited January 26 by riffraff Added picture Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boom175 Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Keep in mind the A-10 exhaust actually consists of 3 components. The big piece that serves as continuation of the nacelle we referred to that as the aft cowl. The next portion which is painted, is referred to as the aft shroud and it is part of the engine whereas teh aft cowl is part of the airframe. The last part which is actually called the exhaust or tailpipe. that's the part that is actually exposed to the exhaust. The aft shroud is bolted to the tailpipe and there is internal structures to keep the "heat" from exhaust from damaging the aft shroud. that exhaust is unpainted and kinda brownish/tan metallic color. If you look in the exhaust you will see some discoloration "rings" that are where there are some reinforcement hoops that are welded to the tailpipe. Hope I made this clear as mud! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbryan911 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 Sorry for the size, this was taken with a Sony Mavic if anyone is old enough to remember them. Hopefully this gives you a better idea of Craig's description. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BillS Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 I love boom175’s correct description. Nobody, but nobody knows a jet like a crew chief! Most pilots wouldn’t pay any attention to that area unless they were model builders. Their walk around -1 inspection would require observing obvious signs of damage, fluid leaks and integrity, not color or nomenclature of the physical components. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boom175 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Great Pics Jbryan! wish I still had access to the T.O.'s I would post the diagram of that area. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnEB Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 Always listen to the crew chief. Remember too that the engine is rebuilt far from the airframe, the tailpipe color will have no relation to the color of the particular airframe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lasinaatti Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 On 1/29/2025 at 11:55 PM, boom175 said: Keep in mind the A-10 exhaust actually consists of 3 components. This is a great explanation! I found this photo of the S-3 Viking's exhaust which I believe is the same engine, seems to be the clearest pic I could find of the actual insides. I'm sure Hogs had some different colors but it's a good starting point. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BWDenver Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 Some shots from 1977 and one of the initial paint camo. The negative film was heat damaged, but you can see variations on scorching on the inside cone. Shot on Bike Lake, Ft Irwin. The two tone underside was interesting. Some of the birds had false canopy's, and they all had ESCAPAC IE-9 seats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boom175 Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 On 2/6/2025 at 9:10 AM, Lasinaatti said: This is a great explanation! I found this photo of the S-3 Viking's exhaust which I believe is the same engine, seems to be the clearest pic I could find of the actual insides. I'm sure Hogs had some different colors but it's a good starting point. Great Pic I have been in that pipe a few times!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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