Airmen and the community gathered as Davis-Monthan hosted the final public A-10 Range Day at Barry M. Goldwater Range.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, held on the Barry M. Goldwater Range near Gila Bend, Arizona, held its last public Range Day for the A-10C Thunderbolt II on June 24, 2026. The announcement comes despite congressional approval to save the iconic aircraft, which is facing tangible retirement.
“As the A-10C Thunderbolt II passed for the final time over the Barry M. Goldwater Range near Gila Bend, Arizona, Airmen assigned to the 355th Wing, community members and civic leaders gathered to witness the familiar roar that has echoed across the Tucson skies for nearly 50 years during one of the aircraft’s final flights,” the press release said.
For clarity, the press release referred to “one of the aircraft’s final flights,” but the title and caption explicitly stated “final A-10 in flight.”
Range Days is a traditional United States Air Force event held approximately every other month at the Barry M. Goldwater Range next to the 355th Wing. These events captivate the public, Airmen, Soldiers and their families alike with live-fire demonstrations of combat missions by the A-10C.
Retirement imminent
The A-10C, better known as the Warthog, was scheduled to be retired by the end of 2026 but is now scheduled to remain in service until at least the 2030s. In fact, the U.S. Congress opposes attempts to completely retire attack aircraft without replacements.
The jet took significant action against Iran during Operation Epic Fury, returning with new refueling probes in its nose and electronic warfare pods and with kill markings depicting bombs and Iranian naval vessels. As the type progressed to its final sunset, the Air Force deactivated other related units and activities.
This includes the closure of Detachment 1 of the 40th Air Test Squadron, a geographically separate unit at Davis-Monthan AFB that conducted A-10 developmental test operations in December 2025. The U.S. Air Force also ended A-10C training on April 3, 2026, when the 357th Fighter Squadron graduated its last batch of student pilots at Davis-Monthan AFB.
final range day
The Army described the final Range Day as “powerful and precise,” calling it “a living, breathing demonstration of everything the A-10 mission stands for: discipline, dedication and unwavering commitment to those watching on the ground.”
Among the spectators was retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Glenn “Wally” Moorhead, who has seen the A-10 for over 38 years. Moorhead delivered the first A-10 to Davis-Monthan nearly 50 years ago and was also one of the first pilots of the A-10C variant.
“The culture of offense is a special culture within the U.S. Air Force,” Moorhead said. “The people who fly the planes, the people who work on them, load them, make them work, the mission culture is really strong, very strong, and that’s always been a source of pride for me.”
Meanwhile, Tucson natives have come to see Range Days as more than just aerobatics and live-fire demonstrations. “The roar of a Gatling gun and the sight of a boar in the clouds became a message the base was sending to the cities that supported it – a silent message that the men within its walls were tirelessly ready to carry out the mission,” the release said.
Retired Air Force Col. Bill Pitts, who flew the A-10 for more than 14 of his 26-year career, recalled the event and the community involved: “The attitude and atmosphere surrounding the A-10 is special. Pilots fall in love with each other, and the strike community is a unique group.”
Other Recent Range Days
The most recent Range Days before the final competition at Gila Bend have been held since the beginning of the year on March 27, May 1, May 28, and June 11, 2026. Hosted by the 357th Fighter Generation Squadron (357th FGS), Range Days are attended by Airmen, civic leaders, Civil Air Patrol cadets and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets to witness an “installation rescue.” And attack missions.”
A-10 Wild boar strafing! I think the range tower temperature was around 107°F.
I had to keep my phone and camera in the shade between passes to avoid overheating and recording! pic.twitter.com/TbJOgVJr1w
— Andrew Kelly (@andrewkphotos) June 30, 2026
Airmen in attendance “were recognized as top performers and had the opportunity to participate in an A-10 flight training day and see the mission their work supports.” For the A-10, one image caption said the training day “demonstrated the aircraft’s speed and maneuverability while supporting pilot proficiency in a dynamic training environment.”
