A-10s are not pretty, but they are not Navy-ugly like the A-6. I think the A-10 is very well-proportioned and looks great for a plane that is designed to be basically a flying tank.
I think the only reason the USAF agreed to fly it was to make sure the US Army didn't talk Congress into letting them have some fixed-wing jets again...the operation of fixed wing planes is jealously guarded by the Air Force, who to this day have still not gotten over the divorce with the Army in the 1940s. They lobbied Congress into allowing the Army to have only rotor wing aircraft, aside from a few spotter planes and VIP jets.
Fortunately the Navy and Marines play nicer together when it comes to aviation, and it works out even better since Marine aircraft are all part of the Navy's maintenance and supply system and many of the parts and technical skills are interchangable. All Marine pilots are actually Navy-trained and Marine Corps air units frequently "plug into" Navy units and act as part of the carrier air wing when needed.
I think the only reason the USAF agreed to fly it was to make sure the US Army didn't talk Congress into letting them have some fixed-wing jets again...the operation of fixed wing planes is jealously guarded by the Air Force, who to this day have still not gotten over the divorce with the Army in the 1940s. They lobbied Congress into allowing the Army to have only rotor wing aircraft, aside from a few spotter planes and VIP jets.
Fortunately the Navy and Marines play nicer together when it comes to aviation, and it works out even better since Marine aircraft are all part of the Navy's maintenance and supply system and many of the parts and technical skills are interchangable. All Marine pilots are actually Navy-trained and Marine Corps air units frequently "plug into" Navy units and act as part of the carrier air wing when needed.