A-10 was the first USAF aircraft designed specifically for 'Close Air Support' (CAS) . It can be described as the outcome of the experience gained in the Vietnam War and the threats of the Soviet Union armour forces during the Cold War era. The first A-10A 'Thunderbolt II' was delivered October 1975 and deployment in March 1976. A-10's pilot is protected by titanium armour around his seat and the canopy is a large bubble canopy, which provides all-round vision. The aircraft is designed with dual engines and the self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam. Extra titanium is used to protect some flight control system parts of the aircraft. All these insure the plane and pilot's safety from enemy fires. Though A-10 may be slow comparing to other aircrafts, it is extremely manoeuvrable and have proven itself as a deadly machine. Its main weapon, the GAU-8A gun, can fire 30mm shells made of uranium at a rate of 4,000 rounds a minute which is sufficient to destroy most armoured targets. Captain Todd ‘Shanghai’ Sheehy of the 511th TFS flew the A-10a No.81-0964 in Jan 1991. On Feb.15, 1991, during his 27th combat sortie, Captain Sheehy identified an Iraqi's Mi-8 Hip helicopter and he started shooting at about 8,000 feet using the 30 mm cannon for around 300 rounds. The Hip caught fire at the tail section and Captain Sheehy fired another 200 rounds to put an end to the Hip. The "81-0964" was one of the two A-10s which had ever achieved air-to-air kills in combat (the first was the "77-0205" flown by Captain Bob Swain who downed an Iraqi Bo 105 C helicopter during the "Operation Desert Storm" in 1991) . In 2002, it was stationed with the 23rd Fighter Group with shark mouth nose art linking her to the proud history of the 23rd Flying Tigers of WWII.