Lethal 'Warthog' warplanes visit MacDill

TAMPA, Fla. - Some unusual and lethal warplanes are visiting MacDill Air Force Base.

They are called "Warthogs" but their official designation is A-10 Thunderbolt.

They were legendary tank killers in the Gulf War. Then it looked like they would be retired, but not now.  

"You can kind of pick your poison with the A-10 because we have the capability to engage any enemy threat," says Lt. Col Josh Waggoner, who leads a squadron of A-10's from Indiana Air National Guard.

They're visiting to train at MacDill and Avon Park Air Force Bombing Range. 

The plane was designed in the 1970s around its signature weapon - a .30 caliber Gatling gun that fires 100 rounds per second.

The first A-10s flew in the mid-1970s, but have been updated as new generations of pilots have flown them. 

"It was built around the big gun in the 70's, but it executes just as effectively, if not better today," says Waggoner.

Some reports say it's likely the Warthogs will be flying through 2040.