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Vought A-7 Corsair II

posted by Jiri Wagner

The A-7 tactical aircraft arrived in Vietnam, first with the Navy and USMC, then in 1970 with the U.S. Air Force. For more than 15 years the Navy's top guns swore by the Corsair. Some still call it "the last gun fighter".

The first prototype of this carrier-based attack bomber was flown on September 27, l965, almost four weeks ahead of schedule, and initial deliveries to the Navy began on October 14, l966. The Navy flew more than 90,000 combat missions during the Vietnam War with 27 Corsair II equipped squadrons. This airplane was a valuable light attack aircraft in both USAF and USN service. In numerous bombing and gunnery competitions it constantly underlined its reputation as one of the most accurate strike aircraft ever built. The A-7 was powered by a Pratt & Whitney TF30 turbofan. The A7E Corsair II was powered by one 14,500-lb. thrust Allison TF41-A-2 turbofan, with a maximum speed (clean) of 698 mph at sea level, and tactical radius with typical weapon load of 700 miles. Airplane armament was one 20-mm M61A1 multi-barrell cannon, plus up to 15,000 lb. of mixed stores carried externally. The A-7 was replaced by F/A-18 Hornet aircraft.

General characteristics

Primary function Carrier-based attack bomber
Power plant One Pratt & Whitney TF30 turbofan
Thrust 14,500 lb 62.28 kN
Length 46 ft 14 m
Wingspan 38 ft 11.6 m
Height 16 ft 4.9 m
Max. speed 700 mph 1,124 km/h
Max. weight 8,641 lb 3,920 kg
Max. range 2,773 miles 4,463 km
Crew One
Armament One 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan six-barrell cannon, external payload upto 15,000 lb (6804 kg) of mixed stores on 8 pylons.


 

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