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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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