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Cessna A-37 Dragonfly



The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly was designed in the early 1950s as a result of the U.S. Air Force's desire for an easily-flown turbojet trainer. In 1953, Cessna was awarded the contract for their Model 318 aircraft, which was later redesignated as the XT-37 (later T-37 Tweet). It was found that the Dragonfly had excellent handling and service qualities, and was pressed into counter-insurgence and attack roles by various countries, including the Republic of South Vietnam. The attack version utilized a nose-mounted 7.62mm mini-gun and weaponry mounted on eight underwing hardpoints. In 1996 The National Warplane Museum was lucky to acquire two A-37s, which still bear Vietnam-era camoflauge and Vietnamese graffiti.
 
 General characteristics
Primary function Light attack aircraft, CAS (Close Air Support)
Power plant Two turbojet engines
Thrust 2x 930 kp 2x 9.12 kN
Length 29 ft 8.84 m
Wingspan 33 ft 10.06 m
Heught 9 ft 2.74 m
Max. speed 426 mph 685 km/h
Ceiling 46,400 ft 14,142 m
Max. takeoff weight 1,316 lb 597 kg
Range 1,323 miles 2,130 km
Crew Two
Armament 2x bomb (113 kg) or 4x AIM-9 Sidewinder


Jirka Wagner

 

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