LTV A-7 Corsair II

LTV A-7 Corsair II

A-7 Corsair II

U.S. Navy A-7E from Attack Squadron 46 (VA-46)

Role

Attack aircraft

Manufacturer

Ling-Temco-Vought

First flight

26 September 1965

Introduction

February 1967

Retired

1991 (USAF, USN); 1993 (ANG)

1999 (Portuguese Air Force)

Status

Active (Greece)

Primaryusers

United States Navy (historical)

United States Air Force
(historical)
Portuguese Air Force (historical)
Hellenic Air Force

Produced

19651984

Number built

1,569

Unit cost

US$2.86million

Developed from Vought F-8 Crusader

Variants

Vought YA-7F

The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-capable subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. The A-7 airframe design was based on the successful supersonic Vought F-8 Crusader. It
was one of the first combat aircraft to feature a head-up display (HUD), an inertial navigation system (INS), and a
turbofan engine.
The Corsair II initially entered service with the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. It was later adopted by
the United States Air Force, including the Air National Guard, to replace the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, North
American F-100 Super Sabre and Republic F-105 Thunderchief.Wikipedia:Citation needed The aircraft was also
exported to Greece in the 1970s, and Portugal in the late 1980s.

LTV A-7 Corsair II

Design and development

In 1962, the United States Navy began preliminary work on VAX (Heavier-than-air, Attack, Experimental), a
replacement for the A-4 Skyhawk with greater range and payload. Particular emphasis was placed on accurate
delivery of weapons to reduce the cost per target. The requirements were finalized in 1963, announcing the VAL
(Heavier-than-air, Attack, Light) competition.[1]
To minimize costs, all proposals had to be based on existing designs.
Vought, Douglas Aircraft, Grumman and North American Aviation
responded. The Vought proposal was based on the successful Vought
F-8 Crusader fighter, having a similar configuration, but shorter and
more stubby, with a rounded nose. It was selected as the winner on 11
February 1964, and on 19 March the company received a contract for
The first A-7 mock-up in 1964
the initial batch of aircraft, designated A-7. In 1965, the aircraft
received the popular name Corsair II, after Vought's highly successful Vought F4U Corsair of World War
II.Wikipedia:Citation needed (There was also a Vought O2U Corsair biplane scout and observation aircraft in the
1920s.)
Compared to the F-8 fighter, the A-7 had a shorter, broader fuselage. The wing had a longer span, and the unique
variable incidence wing of the F-8 was omitted. To achieve the required range, the A-7 was powered by a Pratt &
Whitney TF30-P-6 turbofan producing 11,345lbf (50.5kN) of thrust, the same innovative combat turbofan produced
for the F-111 and early F-14 Tomcats, but without the afterburner needed for supersonic speeds.
The aircraft was fitted with an AN/APQ-116 radar, later followed by
the AN/APQ-126, which was integrated into the ILAAS digital
navigation system. The radar also fed a digital weapons computer
which made possible accurate delivery of bombs from a greater
stand-off distance, greatly improving survivability compared with
faster platforms such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. It was
the first U.S. aircraft to have a modern head-up display, (made by
Marconi-Elliott),[2] now a standard instrument which displayed
information such as dive angle, airspeed, altitude, drift and aiming
VA-147 was the first operational U.S. Navy A-7
squadron, in 1967.
reticle. The integrated navigation system allowed for another
innovation the projected map display system (PMDS) which
accurately showed aircraft position on two different map scales.[3]
The A-7 had a fast and smooth development. The YA-7A made its first flight on 27 September 1965,[4] and began to
enter Navy squadron service late in 1966. The first Navy A-7 squadrons reached operational status on 1 February
1967, and began combat operations over Vietnam in December of that year.[5]
The A-7 offered a plethora of cutting-edge avionics compared to contemporary aircraft. This included data link
capabilities that, among other features, provided fully "hands-off" carrier landing capability when used in
conjunction with its approach power compensator (APC) or auto throttle. Other notable and highly advanced
equipment was a projected map display located just below the radar scope. The map display was slaved to the
inertial navigation system and provided a high-resolution map image of the aircraft's position superimposed over
TPC/JNC charts. Moreover, when slaved to the all-axis auto pilot, the inertial navigation system could fly the aircraft
"hands off" to up to nine individual waypoints. Typical inertial drift was minimal for newly manufactured models
and the inertial measurement system accepted fly over, radar, and TACAN updates.[6]

LTV A-7 Corsair II

Operational history
Initial operational basing/homeporting for U.S. Navy A-7 squadrons was at NAS Cecil Field, Florida for Atlantic
Fleet units and NAS Lemoore, California for Pacific Fleet units. This was in keeping with the role of these bases in
already hosting the A-4 Skyhawk attack squadrons that would eventually transition to the A-7.
From 1967 to 1971, a total of 27 Navy squadrons took delivery of four
different A-7A/B/C/E models. The Vought plant in Dallas, TX
employed up to 35,000 workers who turned out one aircraft a day for
several years to support the Navy carrier-based needs for Vietnam and
SE Asia and commitments to NATO in Europe. In 1974, when the
USS Midway (CV-41) became the first Forward Deployed Naval Force
(FDNF) aircraft carrier to be homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, two
A-7B squadrons assigned to Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5) were
concurrently homeported at NAF Atsugi, Japan. In 1978, these
squadrons (VA-93 and VA-56) finally transitioned to the much more
Lynn Garrison in a F4U-7 leads A-7 Corsair IIs
of VA-147, over NAS Lemoore, CA on 7 July
advanced A-7E model. Six Naval Reserve attack squadrons would also
1967 prior to the type's first deployment to
eventually transition to the A-7, operating from NAS Cecil Field,
Vietnam on USS Ranger. The A-7A "NE-300" is
Florida; NAS Atlanta/Dobbins ARB, Georgia; NAS New Orleans,
the aircraft of the Air Group Commander (CAG)
Louisiana; NAS Alameda, California and NAS Point Mugu, California.
of Attack Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2).
An additional active duty squadron stood up in the 1980s, Tactical
Electronic Warfare Squadron 34 (VAQ-34) at NAS Point Mugu, which would operate twin-seat TA-7C and EA-7L
aircraft with both a pilot and a naval flight officer in an adversary electronic warfare role.[7]
Pilots of the early A-7s lauded the aircraft for general ease of flying (with the exceptions of poor stability on
crosswind landings and miserable stopping performance on wet runways with an inoperative anti-skid braking
system) and excellent forward visibility but noted a lack of engine thrust. This was addressed with A-7B and more
thoroughly with A-7D/E. The turbofan engine provided a dramatic increase in fuel efficiency compared with earlier
turbojets the A-7D was said to have specific fuel consumption one sixth that of an F-100 Super Sabre at equivalent
thrust. An A-7D carrying 12 x 500lb (227kg) bombs at 480mph (775km/h) at 33,000ft (10,000 m) used only
3,350lb (1,500kg) of fuel per hour. Typical fuel consumption at mission retrograde during aircraft carrier recovery
was approximately 30 pounds per minute compared to 100+ pounds per minute for the Phantom F-4J/N series.[8] The
A-7 Corsair II was tagged with the nickname "SLUF" ("Short Little Ugly Fucker") by pilots.[9]

Southeast Asia carrier use

In Vietnam, the hot, humid air robbed even the upgraded A-7D and
A-7E of power. Takeoff rolls were lengthy, and fully armed aircraft
struggled to reach 500mph (800km/h). For A-7A aircraft, high density
altitude and maximum weight runway takeoffs often necessitated a
"low transition", where the aircraft was intentionally held in "ground
effect" a few feet off the runway during gear retraction, and as much as
a 10-mile (16km) departure at treetop altitude before reaching a safe
flap retraction speed. (A-7A wing flap systems were either fully
extended or fully retracted. The A-7A flap handle did not have the
microswitch feature of later models that permitted the flaps to be
slowly raised by several degrees per tap of the flap handle as airspeed
slowly increased during max-weight takeoffs.)[10][11]

A-7Bs of CVW-16 on the USS Ticonderoga in

1968

LTV A-7 Corsair II

Carrier catapult launches at maximum weight under these performance-robbing conditions were not significantly
better and were characterized by the aircraft decelerating by as much as 20 knots (37km/h) immediately after
launch. As a result, A-7A units operated their aircraft four thousand pounds below the max-rated takeoff weight for
the A-7E.[12][13]
In a sortie against the Thanh Hoa bridge, four A-7Cs from VA-82 successfully delivered 8,000lbs of high explosives
with two planes carrying two 2,000lb (910kg) Walleyes, while two others also carried 2,000lbs in Mk 84 GP
bombs. In a simultaneous attack, the center piling on the bridge's west side was hit and broke the span in half. After
this, the Thanh Hoa bridge was considered permanently destroyed and removed from the target list. A total of 98
USN A-7 Corsairs were lost during the war.[14]

United States Air Force A-7D

The United States Army has not been permitted to operate fixed-wing
combat aircraft since the establishment of an independent United States
Air Force in 1947. To meet its need for close air support of its troops in
South Vietnam, the Army pressured the Air Force to procure a
specialized subsonic close air support fixed-wing aircraft that would
suit its needs better than the general-purpose supersonic aircraft that
the USAF preferred.[15]
YA-7D-1-CV AF Serial No. 67-14582, the first
The Vought A-7 seemed to be a relatively quick and inexpensive way
USAF YA-7D, 2 May 1968. Note the Navy-style
to satisfy this need. However, the USAF was initially reluctant to take
refueling probe and the modified Navy BuNo
on yet another Navy-designed aircraft, but Secretary of Defense Robert
used as its USAF tail number.
McNamara was insistent. On 5 November 1965, Secretary of the Air
Force Harold Brown and USAF Chief of Staff General John P. McConnell announced that they had decided to order
a version of the Corsair II, designated A-7D, for the Tactical Air Command.

The A-7D differed from the Navy's Corsair II in several ways. For one, the Air Force insisted on significantly more
power for its Corsair II version, and they selected the Allison TF41-A-1 turbofan engine, which was a license-built
version of the Rolls-Royce Spey. It offered a thrust of 14,500 pounds, over 2000 pounds greater than that of the
TF30 that powered the Navy's Corsair IIs. Other changes included a head-up display, a new avionics package, and an
M61 rotary cannon in place of the two single-barreled 20-mm cannon. Also included was a computerized
navigation/weapons delivery system with AN/APQ-126 radar and a head-up display.[16]
Two YA-7D prototypes were completed with TF30-P-6 engines, and
the first of these flew on 6 April 1968. The first Spey-powered A-7D
(67-14854) flew for the first time on 26 September 1968. The
seventeenth production aircraft introduced a provision for boom flight
refueling in place of the Navy's probe/drogue system, with the boom
receptacle being on the top of the fuselage behind the cockpit and
offset to port.
Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D-7-CV Corsair IIs
70-0976, 70-0989 and 70-0970 of the 354th
Tactical Fighter Wing over the skies of Southeast
Asia. 976 and 989 were retired to AMARC in
1992, 970 is on permanent display at the Museum
of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson
AFB, Ohio.

The A-7D first entered service with in 1970 with the 57th Fighter
Weapons Wing at Luke AFB Arizona, and with the 354th Tactical
Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina was equipped with
four squadrons of A-7Ds by 1972; the 355th TFW at Davis-Monthan
AFB was equipped with four squadrons in 1972, and in 1973, the 23d
TFW at England AFB, Louisiana was fully equipped with A-7Ds.

LTV A-7 Corsair II

The 354th TFW first deployed two squadrons of A-7Ds to Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand in September 1972 as
part of Operation Cornet Dancer, The A-7Ds were quickly assigned the "Sandy mission" of providing air cover for
Combat Search and Rescue missions of downed pilots.
Taking over for Douglas A-1 Skyraiders (and adopting their call sign of "Sandy"), the A-7's higher speed was
somewhat detrimental for escorting the helicopters but the aircraft's high endurance and durability were an asset and
it performed admirably.
On 18 November 1972, Major Colin A. Clarke led a successful CSAR mission near Thanh Hoa to rescue a downed
F-105 Wild Weasel crew. The mission lasted a total of 8.8 hours during which Clarke and his wingman took a
number of hits from 0.51 cal (12.7mm) anti-aircraft fire. For his actions in coordinating the rescue, Clarke was
awarded the Air Force Cross, the USAF's second-highest decoration for valor, and his A-7D (AF Serial No.
70-0970) was eventually placed on display on 31 January 1992 at the National Museum of the United States Air
Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.[][17]
With the end of US involvement in South Vietnam, the 354th TFW
(Deployed) at Korat began flying combat sorties in Cambodia to
support the Lon Nol government in support of Khmer National Armed
Forces against the Khmer Rouge. Rotational deployments began to
Korat from the 355th TFW and 23d TFW, with pilots and support
3d TFS A-7D-10-CV Corsair II 71-0309 Korat
personnel beginning six-months deployment cycles. In March 1973,
Royal Thai Air Force Base, 1973 Retired to
the 354th transferred a squadron of A-7Ds to the 388th TFW, the host
AMARC as AE0206 15 September 1991.
wing at Korat RTAFB at the time, which re-established the 3d Tactical
Fighter Squadron and created a permanent USAF A-7D presence in Southeast Asia. A-7Ds from both wings
stationed at Korat engaged in combat operations in Cambodia until 15 August 1973 when an A-7D of the deployed
353d TFS/354th TFW carried out the last air support mission. In March 1974, the 354th TFW transferred several
more aircraft to the 3d TFS prior to its return to Myrtle Beach AFB.
The USAF A-7D flew a total of 12,928 combat sorties during the war with only six losses[18] the lowest of any
U.S. fighter in the theater. The aircraft was second only to Boeing B-52 Stratofortress in the amount of ordnance
dropped on Hanoi and dropped more bombs per sortie with greater accuracy than any other U.S. attack aircraft.

A-7E Development

A VA-192 A-7E over Vietnam. This aircraft was

lost on 2 November 1972

The Navy was sufficiently impressed with the increased power offered
by the A-7D Spey engine used by the Air Force, and decided to use
this engine for its own version of the Corsair II. The designation A-7E
was assigned, and this version was to succeed the A-7A in production.
However, there were delays in the deliveries of the TF41-A-2 engine
specified for the A-7E, so the first 67 aircraft of the order were
delivered with the TF30-P-5 engine. These aircraft had all of the other
improvements planned for the A-7E, including the improved avionics
and the M61 rotary cannon, and were re-designated A-7C after
delivery.[19]

The first Spey-powered A-7E flew for the first time on 9 March 1969. The A-7E differed from the USAF A-7D in
retaining the probe-and-drogue midair refueling system of the earlier A-7A/B. It entered service in Southeast Asia in
May 1970 with VFA-146 and VA-147 deployed aboard the USS America. The A-7E participated in numerous
close-air support missions over both North and South Vietnam, the A-7E's state-of-the-art bombing and navigation
system being particularly reliable and accurate. Most air wings operating Douglas A-4 Skyhawks and early A-7s
were re-equipped with A-7Es. The A-7E participated in the mining of Haiphong harbor in 1972, and played a vital

LTV A-7 Corsair II

role in the Linebacker I and Linebacker II operations that led up to the formal end of US involvement in the Vietnam
war on 24 January 1973.
On 15 May 1975, A-7E aircraft operating from the USS Coral Sea, in conjunction with A-7D aircraft assigned to the
3d TFS at Korat RTAFB, provided air cover in what is considered the last battle of the Vietnam war, the recovery of
the SS Mayagez after it was hijacked by Khmer Rouge gunboats. By the time Operation Mayaguez was over, three
USAF Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters had been shot down, two airmen, 11 Marines and two Navy
Corpsmen had been killed in action and a further three Marines were missing in action.[20]

Post-Vietnam era
Air National Guard
With the pullout of the USAF from its Thailand bases in late 1975, the
A-7Ds stationed at Korat initially went to Clark AB, Philippines. The
3d TFS transitioned from its Corsairs to the McDonnell Douglas F-4E
Phantom II and remained at Clark. The A-7Ds were returned to the
United States where they were reassigned to several Air National
Guard squadrons.
With the end of the Vietnam War, the Air Force began to transfer its
active-duty A-7D aircraft to Air National Guard units beginning in
1974. The Corsairs had been in a sense, a forced acquisition by the Air
Force in the late 1960s, and the inter-service rivalry of flying a Navy
plane had led, beginning about 1970, to the development of its own
Close Air Support aircraft.[21] In 1974, selection of the Republic
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II was made as the replacement
of the A-7D. The first A-10As were received by the 354th TFW in
A-7 Corsair II aircraft of the Iowa (IA) and South
1977 at Myrtle Beach AFB; the 355th TFW at Davis-Monthan AFB
Dakota (SD) Air National Guard flying near RAF
began replacing their A-7Ds in 1978, and the 23d TFW at England
Waddington, UK. These aircraft were deployed to
AFB in 1979. As the A-10s were received from Republic, the A-7Ds
the United Kingdom from 21 August through 12
were
transferred from the USAF to the National Guard Bureau for
September 1979 for NATO operation CORNET
Stallion
subsequent re-allocation.[22] By 1981, when the 23d TFW sent their
last A-7Ds to Tonopah Test Range Airport, Nevada for clandestine use
in the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk development program, fifteen ANG squadrons were equipped with the A-7D
Corsair II.
However, Congressional decisions added additional funding to the DOD FY 1975 and FY 1976 budgets for the
procurement of additional A-7Ds, primarily to keep the LTV production line in Dallas open and the workers
employed in the wake of post-Vietnam DOD procurement reductions. As a result of these unplanned acquisitions,
the Air Force assigned these new 1975 and 1976 built aircraft, along with new twin seat A-7Ks trainers in 1979
directly to the Air National Guard.
On 12 January 1981, in the 1981 Luis Muoz Marn International Airport attack, 10 A-7Ds of the 198th Tactical
Fighter Squadron, Puerto Rico Air National Guard were destroyed or damaged in a terrorist attack by the Boricua
Popular Army at Muniz Air National Guard Base in the largest attack ever on American military station since the
Vietnam War.[23] This terrorist attack was largely unreported due to the Iran hostage crisis at the time.
During the post-Vietnam era, Tactical Air Command gained Air National Guard frequently deployed their Corsairs
on annual operational exercises. Frequent deployments were made to Howard AFB, Panama to provide CAS training
with Army units in the Canal Zone as part of Operation Cornet Cove. Other Air National Guard deployments were
made to NATO and USAFE bases in West Germany and Denmark as part of Cornet Cove exercises along with the

LTV A-7 Corsair II

USAREUR Reforger training exercises. In 1989, while deployed in Panama for a Coronet Cove deployment, Ohio
Air National Guard 180th Tactical Fighter Group A-7Ds were employed during Operation Just Cause.
Grenada and Lebanon
Navy A-7E squadrons VA-15 and VA-87, from the USS
Independence, provided close air support during the Invasion of
Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, in October 1983.[24]
Navy A-7s also provided air support during the U.S. mission in
Lebanon in 1983. An A-7 and an A-6 Intruder were shot down by
Syrian surface-to-air missiles (SAM) on 4 December 1983. The A-7
pilot, Commander Edward Andrews, managed to guide his failing
Corsair over coastal waters before ejecting; he was rescued by a
Lebanese fishing boat and safely returned to the U.S. Marines.[25]

A-7Es on the USS Independence (CV 62) in 1983

Libya
On 24 March 1986, during the Gulf of Sidra dispute with Libya,
Libyan air defense operators fired SA-5 missiles at two Fighter
Squadron 102 (VF-102) F-14s from USS America that were orbiting in
international air space on a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) station. A-7s
operating from Saratoga responded by firing the first AGM-88 HARM
missiles used in combat. On the next day, A-6s attacked Libyan
warships approaching the U.S. Fleet, while A-7s again launched
HARM missiles against Libyan SAM sites.[26]

A-7E of VA-72 on USS America off Libya in

April 1986.

In April 1986, Navy Sixth Fleet A-7Es from VA-72 and VA-46 aboard
USS America (CV-66) also participated in Operation El Dorado
Canyon, the retaliatory attack on Libya, using HARM and Shrike
anti-radar missiles to protect the naval strike force from SAMs.
Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm
While USAF A-7s stayed home in favor of A-10s, the U.S. Navy
deployed two of their last A-7E squadrons to Operation Desert Shield
in August 1990 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), the only carrier
of six deployed to Desert Storm to operate the A-7. VA-46 and VA-72
made the last combat sorties of the A-7 in Operation Desert Storm
flying from the Red Sea to targets throughout Iraq. The A-7 was used
A-7E from VA-72 flying over the Saudi desert
during Operation Desert Shield
both day and night to attack a wide range of heavily defended deep
interdiction targets in Iraq as well as "kill boxes" (geographically
defined kill zones) in Kuwait, employing a variety of weapons including precision-guided munitions (PGMs), such
as the TV-guided Walleye glide bomb, unguided general purpose bombs, and High Speed Anti-Radiation missiles
(HARM). The A-7 was also used as a tanker in numerous in-flight refueling missions.Wikipedia:Citation needed

LTV A-7 Corsair II

Use in F-117 development
see also: 1987 Indianapolis Ramada Inn A-7D Corsair II Crash
The 4450th Tactical Group stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada had the distinction of being the last active USAF unit to
operate the A-7 Corsair II. The mission of the 4450th TG was the operational development of the Lockheed F-117
Nighthawk, and the unit needed a surrogate aircraft for pilot training and practice. A-7Ds and A-7Ks were obtained
from various active duty and air national guard squadrons and were assigned initially to the "(P)" or "Provisional"
unit of the 4450th Tactical Group, redesignated the 4451st Tactical Squadron in January 1983.[27]
The A-7s were used as a deception and training aircraft by the group between 1981 and 1989. It was selected
because it demanded about the correct amount of pilot workload expected in the F-117A, was single seat, and many
of the F-117A pilots had F-4 or F-111 backgrounds. A-7s were used for pilot training before any F-117As had been
delivered to bring all pilots to a common flight training base line. Later, the A-7s were used to chase F-117A tests
and other weapon tests at the Nellis Range.
A-7 flight operations began in June 1981 concurrent with the very first
YF-117A flights. The A-7s wore a unique "LV" tailcode (for Las
Vegas) and had a dark purple/black paint motif. The A-7s were based
officially at Nellis Air Force Base and were maintained by the 4450th
Maintenance Squadron. In addition to providing an excuse for the
A-7D-5-CV AF Serial No. 69-6241 of the 4451st
4450th's existence and activities, the A-7s were also used to maintain
Test Squadron / 4450th Tactical Group at Nellis
pilot currency, particularly in the early stages when very few
AFB, Nevada in 1984
production F-117As were available. The pilots learned to fly chase on
F-117A test and training flights, perform practice covert deployments,
and practice any other purpose that could not be accomplished using F-117As, given the tight restrictions imposed
on all F-117A operations.
Some A-7s operated from the Tonopah Test Range Airport, about 30 miles (48km) southeast of Tonopah, Nevada
where the F-117s were being operationally tested. As a deception operation, care was taken to ensure that F-117As
were never left parked outside aircraft hangars during daylight hours. However, A-7s were deliberately and routinely
left outside hangars for the benefit of any orbiting Soviet spy satellites. Soviet intelligence agencies examining spy
satellite imagery of the base would undoubtedly notice the A-7s parked on the Tonopah flight line, and would not be
particularly interested. The intention of this deception was to convince the Soviets that Tonopah operated nothing
more exciting than some A-7 Corsairs.
There were approximately 20 A-7D aircraft used in developing the F-117, including several two-seat A-7K trainers.
In January 1989, just three months after the USAF admitted the F-117A existed, the A-7s were retired to AMARC
and were replaced by AT-38B Talons as training aircraft and the 4451st TS was deactivated.

LTV A-7 Corsair II

Training and retirement

Pilots quipped that the Corsair "is not very fast, but it sure is slow."[28]
For dissimilar air combat training (DACT), and aerial demonstrations
by the Blue Angels, the Navy would choose the more nimble Douglas
A-4 Skyhawk as a subsonic maneuvering platform, as some considered
the A-7 to be inadequate in air combat, even though it was highly
maneuverable. While some questioned its air combat capability it was
widely regarded as a highly successful attack aircraft, partly by virtue
of being a stable bombing platform. Despite this, the Marine Corps
would also pass on the Corsair, opting instead for the V/STOL vertical
landing AV-8 Harrier as their light attack aircraft to replace their
A-4F/M Skyhawks.Wikipedia:Citation needed
The Hellenic Air Force ordered 60 new A-7H aircraft in 1974 and three
TA-7Hs in 1980 and received 62 surplus A-7E/TA-7C from the USN
after the Gulf War, 42 of which are still in use. The last squadron that
uses the aircraft is the 336th. The A-7 is programmed to be retired in
2014.[29]

Prototype YA-7Ds 67-14582 and 67-14584,

along with 69-6191 and 69-6217 making last
flyover retirement formation over Edwards AFB,
California, heading to AMARC, August 1992

The sale of A-7s to Pakistan was not approved due to U.S. opposition to its nuclear program.[30]
F-16s began replacing the Air National Guard Corsairs beginning in the late 1980s and the last were retired in 1993
by the ANG units at Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio; Des Moines International Airport/ANGB, Iowa; Tulsa
International Airport/ANGB, Oklahoma; and Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport/ANGB, Ohio.
U.S. Navy A-7 Corsairs began being phased out of the fleet during the mid-1980s with the arrival of the McDonnell
Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The last Navy A-7s were retired by the last fleet operational squadrons (VA-46 and VA-72)
in May 1991 shortly after their return from Operation Desert Storm.
Some of these surplus aircraft were passed to Greece, Thailand and Portugal; however, by the end of 1998, with the
exception of some airframes used as static displays, all U.S. A-7s were disposed of by the AMARC at
Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.

Variants
A-7A
First production version. Early USN Corsair IIs had two 20 mm
Colt Mk 12 cannons with 250 rounds per gun. Maximum
ordnance, carried primarily on the wing pylons, was theoretically
15,000 lb (6,804 kg), but was limited by maximum takeoff
weight, so the full weapon load could only be carried with
greatly reduced internal fuel; Equipped with AN/APN-153
navigational radar, AN/APQ-115 terrain following radar, and a
separate AN/APQ-99 attack radar; 199 built.

TA-7C of VA-174 in 1988

A-7B
Uprated TF30-P-8 engine with 12,190 lbf (54.2 kN) of thrust. In 1971, surviving A-7Bs were further upgraded
to TF30-P-408 with 13,390 lbf (59.6 kN) of thrust; AN/APQ-115 terrain following radar in earlier A-7A is
replaced by AN/APQ-116 terrain following radar; 196 built.

LTV A-7 Corsair II

10

A-7C
First 67 production A-7E with TF30-P-408 engines.
TA-7C
Two-seat trainer version for U.S. Navy, 24 converted from
A-7B, 36 from A-7C. In 1984, 49 airframes, including the 8
EA-7Ls, were re-engined with the TF41-A-402 and upgraded to
A-7E standard.
EA-7L of VAQ-34 in 1987

A-7D
Version built for the USAF, with one Allison TF41-A-1
turbofan, and a single M61 Vulcan 20 mm rotary cannon;
AN/APN-153 navigational radar in earlier models is replaced by
AN/APN-185 navigational radar, AN/APQ-116 terrain following
radar in earlier A-7B/C is replaced by AN/APQ-126 terrain
following radar; 459 built.
A-7E
Naval carrier-capable equivalent of the A-7D; AN/APN-185
navigational radar in earlier A-7D is replaced by AN/APN-190
navigational radar, AN/APQ-126 terrain following radar in
earlier A-7D is replaced by AN/APQ-128 terrain following
radar; 529 built.

Greek Air Force TA-7H

YA-7F Strikefighter (A-7D Plus)

Stretched, supersonic version of A-7 powered by an F100,
optimized for interdiction role, but cancelled after two
prototypes were built.
A-7G
Proposed version for Switzerland, none built.[31]
A-7P of the Portuguese Air Force

A-7H
Modified A-7E for Greece without air-refuelling capability, 60 built.
TA-7H
Two-seat trainer version for Greece.
EA-7L
8 TA-7C modified into electronic aggressor aircraft used by VAQ-34, upgraded to A-7E standard while
retaining twin seats in 1984.
A-7K
Two-seat trainer version for Air National Guard, 30 built.
A-7P
Ex-U.S. Navy A-7A rebuilt for Portugal, 44 refurbished with TF30-P-408 engines and an avionics fit similar
to the A-7E.
TA-7P

LTV A-7 Corsair II

11

Two-seat trainer version for Portugal; six converted from ex-U.S. Navy A-7A.
YA-7E/YA-7H
Two-seat prototypes built by Ling-Temco-Vought as a private venture.

Operators
See also: List of A-7 Corsair II operators

Greece
Portugal Retired in 1999
Thailand
United States Retired in 1993

Aircraft on display
Poland
A-7P
5502 - Polish Aviation Museum, Krakw.[32]

United States
A-7A
152658 - Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, Patuxent River,
Maryland.[33]
152668 - Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Illinois.[34]

Retired A-7 Corsair II in front of the Veterans'

Museum in Halls, Tennessee

152681 - Prairie Aviation Museum, Bloomington, Illinois.[35]

153135 - Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, Titusville,
Florida.[36]
154345 - Hickory Aviation Museum, Hickory, North Carolina.[37]
A-7B
154550 - Air Victory Museum, Medford, New Jersey.[38]
154479 - Fort Worth Aviation Museum, Fort Worth, Texas.[39]
TA-7C
154370 - USS Midway Museum, San Diego, California.[40]
154420 - NAS Fallon, Nevada.[41]

A-7D "Speedwell" at Wings Museum

[42]

154502 - Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas, Texas.

154548 - USS Lexington Museum, Corpus Christi, Texas.[43]

156739 - Estrella Warbirds Museum, Paso Robles, California.[44]
156763 (painted incorrectly as 160122) - NAS Lemoore, California.[45]
156782 - New Century Air Center, Olathe, Kansas.[46]
A-7D
68-8220 - Tomah Veterans Hospital, Wisconsin.[47]
69-6188 - March Field Air Museum, Riverside, California.[48]
69-6190 - Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum, Rantoul, Illinois.[49]
69-6191 - Freedom Park Naval Museum, Omaha, Nebraska.[50]
69-6193 - Rantoul National Aviation Center, Rantoul, Illinois.[51]

LTV A-7 Corsair II

69-6197 - Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum, Middle River, Maryland.[52]

69-6200 - Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, Horseheads, New York.[53]
69-6201 - New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.[54]
69-6237 - England AFB, Louisiana.[55]
70-0964 - Chico Air Museum, aircraft donated from the collection of George Ford.[56]Wikipedia:Citation needed
70-0966 - Virginia Aviation Museum, Richmond International Airport, Richmond, Virginia.[57]
70-0970 - National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio.[58]
70-0973 - Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.[59]
70-0998 - McClellan AFB, Sacramento, California.[60]
70-1019 - Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina.[61]
71-0334 - Veterans Memorial, Altoona, Iowa.[62]
71-0360 - Ohio ANG, Blue Ash Air Station, Blue Ash, Ohio
72-0178 - Ohio ANG, Springfield, Ohio.[63]
72-0211 - Ohio ANG, Toledo Express Airport, Toledo, Ohio
72-0230 - Pope AFB, North Carolina.[64]
72-0261 - Selfridge Military Air Museum and Air Park, Selfridge AFB, Michigan.[65]
73-0999 - Ohio ANG, Rickenbacker Airport, Columbus, Ohio

74-1739 - South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.[66]
74-1756 - 45th Infantry Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[67]
75-0400 - Des Moines Airport, Iowa.[68]
75-0403 - Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa.[69]
75-0408 - Quonset Air Museum, North Kingstown, Rhode Island.[70]

YA-7D
67-14583 - Air Force Flight Test Center Museum, Edwards AFB, California.[71]
A-7E

158657 (painted incorrectly as 158857) - New Century Air Center, Olathe, Kansas.[72]
156804 - National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Florida.[73]
157452 - Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Marietta, Georgia.[74]
157506 - Air Power Park, Hampton, Virginia.[75]
158026 - Heritage in Flight Museum, Lincoln, Illinois.[76]
159261 - University Mall, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.[77]
159268 - MAPS Air Museum, Canton, Ohio.[78]
159278 - Southern Museum of Flight, Birmingham, Alabama.[79]
159291 - Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Charleston, South Carolina.[80]
159301 - Oakland Aviation Museum, Oakland, California.[81]
159971 - Carolinas Aviation Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina.[82]
160613 - Empire State Aerosciences Museum, Glenville, New York.[83]
160713 - Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.[84]
160714 - National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Florida.[85]
160715 - NAS Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida.[86]

12

LTV A-7 Corsair II

13

Specifications (A-7E)
[87]

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982-83Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft,
[88]

Military Aircraft,

International Directory of

[89]

Combat Aircraft since 1945

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 46ft 2in (14.06m)
Wingspan: 38ft 9in (11.8m)
Width: 23ft 9in (7.24m) wings folded
Height: 16ft 1in (4.9m)
Wing area: 374.9sqft (34.83m2)
Airfoil: NACA 65A007 root and tip
Empty weight: 19,127lb (8,676kg)
Max takeoff weight: 41,998lb (19,050kg) overload condition.
Fuel capacity: 1,338USgal (5,060l; 1,114impgal) (10,200lb (4,600kg)) internal
Powerplant: 1 Allison TF41-A-2 non-afterburning turbofan engine, 15,000lbf (66.7kN) thrust

Performance
Maximum speed: 600kn (690mph; 1,111km/h) at Sea level
562kn (1,041km/h; 647mph) at 5,000ft (1,524.0m) with 12x Mk82 bombs
595kn (1,102km/h; 685mph) at 5,000ft (1,524.0m) after dropping bombs

Range: 1,070nmi; 1,231mi (1,981km) maximum internal fuel

Ferry range: 1,342nmi; 1,544mi (2,485km) with maximum internal and external fuel
Service ceiling: 42,000ft (13,000m) http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/attack/a7/
Wing loading: 77.4lb/sqft (378kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.50
Sustained manoeuvring performance: 5,300ft (1,615.4m) turning radius at 4.3g and 500kn (930km/h;
580mph) at an All Up Weight (AUW) of 28,765lb (13,048kg)
Take-off run: 1,705ft (519.7m) at 42,000lb (19,000kg)

Armament
Guns: 1 M61 Vulcan 20mm (0.787in) rotary cannon with 1,030 rounds
Hardpoints: 6 under-wing and 2 fuselage pylon stations (for mounting AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs only) with a
capacity of 15,000lb (6,803.9kg) total capacity,with provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets: 4 LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4 127mm (5.000in) Mk 32 Zuni rockets)
Missiles:
2 AIM-9 Sidewinder AAM
2 AGM-45 Shrike Anti-radiation missile (ARM)
2 AGM-62 Walleye TV-guided Glide bomb
2 AGM-65 Maverick
2 AGM-88 HARM
2 GBU-8 HOBOS electro-optically guided Glide bomb
Bombs:
Up to 30 500lb (226.8kg) Mark 82 bombs or Mark 80 series of unguided bombs (including 6.6lb (3kg)
and 31lb (14kg) practice bombs)
Paveway series of laser-guided bombs
Up to 4 B28 nuclear bomb/B57 nuclear bomb/B61 nuclear bombs

LTV A-7 Corsair II

Other: up to 4 300USgal (1,100l), 330USgal (1,200l) or370USgal (1,400l) drop tanks[90]

Avionics

AN/ASN-90(V) Inertial reference system

AN/ASN-91(V) navigation/weapon delivery computer
AN/APN-190(V) Doppler groundspeed and drift detector
Texas Instruments AN/APQ-126(V) Terrain-following radar (TFR)
AN/AVQ-7(V) Head Up display (HUD)
CP-953A/AJQ solid state Air Data computer (ADC)
AN/ASN-99 Projected Map Display (PMD)

References
Notes
[1] Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 292.
[2] "Avionics: HUDAVAC." (http:/ / www. flightglobal. com/ pdfarchive/ view/ 1974/ 1974 - 1837. html) flightglobal.com.' Retrieved: 13
October 2010.
[3] http:/ / www. flightglobal. com/ pdfarchive/ view/ 1973/ 1973%20-%202885. html
[4] Dorr 1987, p. 61.
[5] Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 293.
[6] NAVAIR 01-45AAE-1, pp. 8-48 to 8-148.
[7] "Establishment Ceremony: 0900 March 01 1983." (http:/ / www. vaq34. com/ vaq34/ vaqhistory1. htm) VAG 34. Retrieved: 2 October 2012.
[8] NAVAIR 01-45AAE-1, pp. 11-111-93.
[9] Brown 1997.
[10] NAVAIR 01-45AAA-1, pp. 168.
[11] NAVAIR 01-45AAE-1, pp. 166.
[12] NAVAIR 01-45AAA-1, pp. 1233.
[13] NAVAIR 01-45AAE-1, pp. 1177.
[14] Hobson 2001, pp. 268269.
[15] Munzenmaier 2009.
[16] Wagner 1982.
[17] "A-7D 70-970 Factsheet." (http:/ / www. nationalmuseum. af. mil/ factsheets/ factsheet. asp?id=298) National Museum of the United States
Air Force.
[18] Hobson 2001, pp. 268, 269.
[19] Swanborough and Bowers 1990.
[20] Wetterhahn, Ralph. The Last Battle: The Mayaguez Incident and the End of the Vietnam War. New York: Plume, 2002. ISBN
0-452-28333-7.
[21] The A-10 Warthog, The Best Deal the Air Force Never Wanted (http:/ / www. dtic. mil/ cgi-bin/ GetTRDoc?AD=ADA442118)
[22] AFHRA Wings and Groups 354th TFW, 355th TFW and 23d TFW organizational records (http:/ / www. afhra. af. mil/
organizationalrecords/ wingsandgroups. asp)
[23] "Around the Nation: 8 Military Jets Destroyed At Air Base in Puerto Rico." (http:/ / query. nytimes. com/ gst/ fullpage.
html?res=9F04E0D6173BF931A25752C0A967948260& n=Top/ News/ U. S. / U. S. States, Territories and Possessions/ Puerto Rico) The
New York Times, 12 January 1981. Retrieved: 13 October 2010.
[24] Dorr 1987, p. 63.
[25] Rausa 1987, p. 34 (http:/ / www. history. navy. mil/ download/ pistons-jets-09. pdf).
[26] Mersky 2003, p. 150.
[27] Holder and Wallace 2000
[28] Higham and Williams 1978
[29] http:/ / www. janes. com/ article/ 36920/ greece-to-retire-corsair-iis-by-end-of-the-year
[30] Gunston 1984.
[31] Schrmann 2009
[32] "A-7 Corsair II/5502." (http:/ / pbondaryk. dotster. com/ foto. php?id=143054) pbondaryk.dotster.com. Retrieved: 7 May 2013.
[33] "A-7 Corsair II/152658." (http:/ / paxmuseum. com/ page/ aircraft-1) Patuxent River Naval Air Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[34] "A-7 Corsair II/152668." (http:/ / www. msichicago. org/ whats-here/ exhibits/ navy/ ) Museum of Science and Industry. Retrieved: 22
March 2013.

14

LTV A-7 Corsair II

[35] "A-7 Corsair II/152681." (http:/ / prairieaviationmuseum. org/ exhibits/ aircraft/ vought-a-7a-corsair-ii/ ) Prairie Aviation Museum].
Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[36] "A-7 Corsair II/153135." (http:/ / vacwarbirds. org/ AirplaneGallery/ images/ 0974-A7A. jpg) Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum.
Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[37] "A-7 Corsair II/154345." (http:/ / hickoryaviationmuseum. org/ aircraft. shtml) Hickory Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[38] "A-7 Corsair II/154550." (http:/ / airvictorymuseum. com/ a7. html) Air Victory Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[39] http:/ / vmap. wikispaces. com/ A-7B+ Corsair+ II
[40] "A-7 Corsair II/154370." (http:/ / www. midway. org/ Aircraft-Museum) USS Midway Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[41] "A-7 Corsair II/154420." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-154420. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[42] "A-7 Corsair II/154502." (http:/ / www. flightmuseum. com/ exhibits/ aircraft-3/ aircraft-2/ ) Frontiers of Flight Museum. Retrieved: 22
March 2013.
[43] "A-7 Corsair II/154548." (http:/ / usslexington. com/ aircraft/ a-7b-corsair-ii/ ) USS Lexington Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[44] "A-7 Corsair II/156739." (http:/ / www. ewarbirds. org/ a7. html) Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[45] "A-7 Corsair II/156763." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-160122. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[46] "A-7 Corsair II/156782." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-156782. html) New Century Air Center. Retrieved: 22 March
2013.
[47] "A-7 Corsair II/68-8220." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-688220. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[48] "A-7 Corsair II/69-6188." (http:/ / www. marchfield. org/ a7d. htm) March Field Air Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[49] "A-7 Corsair II/69-6190." (http:/ / www. aeromuseum. org/ index. php/ ling-temco-vought-a-7d-corsair-ii) Octave Chanute Airospace
Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[50] "A-7 Corsair II/69-6191." (http:/ / www. joebaugher. com/ usaf_serials/ 1969. html) Joebaugher.com. Retrieved: 24 May 2013.
[51] "A-7 Corsair II/69-6193." (http:/ / www. airliners. net/ search/ photo. search?cx=partner-pub-8297169501225184:a05n2n-tzky&
ie=ISO-8859-1& q=69-6190& sa=Submit& search_active=1& search=& sheadline=& search_field=datedesc& submit=& siteurl=www.
airliners. net/ & ref=& ss=2j4j2. ) airliners.net. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[52] "A-7 Corsair II/69-6197." (http:/ / www. mdairmuseum. org/ flight-line. html) Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 22 March
2013.
[53] "A-7 Corsair II/69-6200." (http:/ / www. wingsofeagles. com/ ?page_id=541) Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. Retrieved: 03 November
2013.
[54] "A-7 Corsair II/69-6201." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-696201. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[55] "A-7 Corsair II/69-6237." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-696237. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[56] Purchased at Auction from the Merle Maine Estate Ontario Oregon
[57] "A-7 Corsair II/70-0966." (http:/ / www. vam. smv. org/ pdfs/ VAMHistoricAircraft. pdf) Virginia Air Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[58] "A-7 Corsair II/70-0970." (http:/ / www. nationalmuseum. af. mil/ factsheets/ factsheet. asp?id=298) National Museum of the United States
Air Force. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[59] "A-7 Corsair II/70-0973." (http:/ / www. pimaair. org/ collection-detail. php?cid=263) Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 22 March
2013.
[60] "A-7 Corsair II/70-0998." (http:/ / www. aerospaceca. org/ vought-a-7d-corsair-ii/ ) McClellan AFB Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[61] "A-7 Corsair II/70-1019." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-701019. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[62] "A-7 Corsair II/71-0334." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-710334. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[63] "A-7 Corsair II/72-0178." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-720178. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[64] "A-7 Corsair II/72-0230." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-720230. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[65] "A-7 Corsair II/72-0261." (http:/ / www. selfridgeairmuseum. org/ A-7DPAGE. htm) Selfridge Military Air Museum and Air Park.
Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[66] "A-7 Corsair II/74-1739." (http:/ / www. sdairandspacemuseum. com/ attractions. htm) South Dakota Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 22
March 2013.
[67] "A-7 Corsair II/74-1756." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-741756. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[68] "A-7 Corsair II/75-0400." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-750400. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[69] "A-7 Corsair II/75-0403." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-750403. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[70] "A-7 Corsair II/75-0408." (http:/ / www. quonsetairmuseum. com/ collection. html) Quonset Air Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[71] "A-7 Corsair II/67-14583." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-6414583. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[72] "A-7 Corsair II/158657." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-158857. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[73] "A-7 Corsair II/156804." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-156804. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[74] "A-7 Corsair II/157452." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-157452. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[75] "A-7 Corsair II/157506." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-157506. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[76] "A-7 Corsair II/158026." (http:/ / www. heritageinflight. org/ gallery. html) Heritage in Flight Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[77] "A-7 Corsair II/159261." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-159261. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[78] "A-7 Corsair II/159268." (https:/ / sites. google. com/ a/ mapsairmuseum. org/ a7e-corsair-ii/ ) MAPS Air Museum. Retrieved: 22 March
2013.
[79] "A-7 Corsair II/159278." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-159278. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.

15

LTV A-7 Corsair II

[80] "A-7 Corsair II/159291." (http:/ / www. patriotspoint. org/ pdf/ aircraft/ a-7e_corsair_ii. pdf) Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.
Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[81] "A-7 Corsair II/159301." (http:/ / oaklandaviationmuseum. org/ aircraft_3. html) Oakland Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[82] "A-7 Corsair II/159971." (http:/ / www. carolinasaviation. org/ military/ vought-a-7-corsair-ii) Carolinas Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 22
March 2013.
[83] "A-7 Corsair II/160613." (http:/ / www. esam. org/ ) Empire State Aerosciences Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[84] "A-7 Corsair II/160713." (http:/ / www. pimaair. org/ collection-detail. php?cid=397) Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 22 March
2013.
[85] "A-7 Corsair II/160714." (http:/ / www. navalaviationmuseum. org/ explore/ exhibits-and-collections/ aircraft-on-display) National Naval
Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[86] "A-7 Corsair II/160715." (http:/ / www. warbirdregistry. org/ jetregistry/ a7-160715. html) Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 22 March 2013.
[87] Donald 1997, p. 899.
[88] Frawley 2002.
[89] Wilson 2000, p.141.
[90] on pylon stations 1,3,6 & 8 which are wet plumbed. Used for ferry flight/extended range/increased loitering time. Often carried a hose and
drogue type Buddy Store in addition to drop tanks for use as a tanker aircraft.

Citations
Bibliography
"A Corsair by any other name: The Story of Sandy, SLUF and the Little Hummers". Air International, Vol. 22,
No.3, March 1982, pp.121125, 143146. ISSN 0306-5634.
"A Corsair by any other name: Sandy, SLUF and the Little Hummers: Part Two". Air International, Vol. 22, No.
4, April 1982, pp.169176, 202203.
Brown, David F. SLUF A-7 Corsair II. Hong Kong: Concord Publications Co., 1997. ISBN 978-962-361-723-9.
Donald, David, ed. "Vought A-7 Corsair II". The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. New York: Barnes &
Noble Books, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
Donald, David and Jon Lake, eds. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996.
ISBN 1-880588-24-2.
Dorr, Robert F. "A Plus for the Corsair". Air International, Vol. 33, No. 2, August 1987, pp.6165, 8487, 93.
Bromley, UK: Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634.
Eden, Paul (editor). The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London: Amber Books, 2004. ISBN
1-904687-84-9.
Frawley, Gerald. "Vought A-7 Corsair II". The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003. Fishwick,
Act: Aerospace Publications, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.
Gunston, Bill. Modern Fighting Aircraft. New York: Random House, 1984.ISBN 0-517-44115-2.
Higham, Robin and Carol Williams. Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF-USAF (Volume 2). Andrews AFB,
Maryland, USA: Air Force Historical Foundation, 1978. ISBN 0-8138-0375-6.
Hobson, Chris. Vietnam Air Losses, USAF/USN/USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia,
19611973. North Branch, Minnesota, USA: Specialty Press, 2001. ISBN 1-85780-115-6.
Holder, Bill and Mike Wallace. Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk: An Illustrated History of the Stealth Fighter. Atglen,
Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2000. ISBN 978-0-76430-067-7.
Mersky, Peter B. "A-7 Corsair II in US Navy Service". International Air Power Review, Volume 10, Autumn/Fall
2003. Norwalk Ct, USA: AIRtime Publishing. ISSN 1473-9917. ISBN 1-880588-58-7.
Munzenmaier, Walter. "'LTV A-7D/K Corsair II: The 'SLUF' in USAF and USANG Service 1968-1993," Famous
Aircraft of the USAF and USAG, Volume 1. Erlangen, Germany: Double Ugly Books/ / AirDOC, 2009. ISBN
978-3-93568-712-6.
NAVAIR 01-45AAA-1, A-7A/B Flight Manual. Washington, D.C., USA: US Navy, 15 August 1973.
NAVAIR 01-45AAE-1, A-7C/E Flight Manual. Washington, D.C., USA: US Navy, 1 March 1973.

16

LTV A-7 Corsair II

Rausa, Rosario (ed.). "Air Warfare; Chapter III: Power Projection, First Hornet Squadron, Greneda and Lebanon."
(http://www.history.navy.mil/download/pistons-jets-09.pdf) Pistons to Jets. Washington DC: Department of
the Navy Naval Historical Center, 1987.
Schrmann, Roman. Helvetische Jger: Dramen und Skandale am Militrhimmel (in German). Zrich:
Rotpunktverlag, 2009. ISBN 978-3-85869-406-5.
Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. Washington, D.C., USA:
Smithsonian Books, 1989. ISBN 0-87474-880-1.
Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911. Annapolis, Maryland,
USA: Naval Institute Press, 1990. ISBN 0-87021-792-5.
Wagner, Ray. American Combat Planes . New York: Doubleday, 3rd edition 1982. ISBN 978-0-38513-120-9.
Wilson, Stewart. Combat Aircraft since 1945. Fyshwick, Australia: Aerospace Publications, 2000. ISBN
1-875671-50-1.

External links
355th Tactical Fighter Wing A-7D Corsair II Era (http://web.archive.org/web/20091027090205/http://www.
geocities.com/pentagon/1979/a7dera.html)
Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II (http://www.joebaugher.com/usattack/newa7.html) on Joebaugher.com
A-7 page (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/a-7.htm) on Globalsecurity.org
Wings of Eagles (http://www.wingsofeagles.com/collection.cfm)

17

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

LTV A-7 Corsair II Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=613803569 Contributors: !Darkfire!6'28'14, 777sms, Abangmanuk, Aerobird, Ahpook, Ahunt, Airportkid, Aisteco,
AlaskaRRguy, Aldis90, Alterrabe, Analayo, Andrewman327, ArgentLA, Arpingstone, Ashley Pomeroy, Attilios, Avmarle, Avriette, BDeDenko, BHenry1969, Baumfreund-FFM, Bbri4570,
Bd18packer, Benguttery, Bennywhite1, BilCat, Blaylockjam10, Bobblewik, Bobo192, Brianhe, BrokenSphere, Brutaldeluxe, Btbeck, Buckboard, Bwmoll3, Bzuk, Camerong, Can't sleep, clown
will eat me, Canglesea, Carolina wren, Chamal N, Chris the speller, Chrisahn, Chromancer, Cl191, Cobatfor, Colibri37, CommonsDelinker, Corsair133693, Courcelles, Cplakidas, D6, Dabarkey,
Dave1185, David Newton, Ddemro, Dervish6, DesmondW, Diako1971, Dieu2005, Dissembly, DocKrin, DoxTxob, Dpaex, Dpenn89, Dricherby, Drilnoth, Dual Freq, Dukefan73, E2a2j, EZ1234,
Edward, Elliott Kefalas, Emt147, Epolk, Ercsman510, Ericg, Fnlayson, Fr8ddy, Fxer, Gaius Cornelius, Galar71, Gene Nygaard, Get It, Goldneck, Gparkes, GraemeLeggett, Grandpa O, Grebon,
Greekweapon, GregorB, Greyengine5, Gsl, H1523702, HJ32, Hanzlikvic, Hcobb, Hrench, I9719953, Iceberg3k, Irondome, Jacobst, Jay8g, JetLover, Jlvfr, Jonashart, Jor70, KConWiki, Karl
Dickman, Khazar2, King nothing, Kiowa warrior, Kiwinanday, Klemen Kocjancic, Koalorka, Kristof vt, Ktr101, Kubanczyk, LWF, LanceBarber, Leandrogfcdutra, Lexterra, Lightmouse,
Los688, Lovetravel86, Maralia, MarathonWriter, Marigold100, Mark Sublette, MarsRover, Marzolian, Masterblooregard, Materialscientist, McSly, Merenta, Merlin48, Minhoto, Mishuletz,
Mogism, Morven, Mztourist, N328KF, NDCompuGeek, Nabokov, NeilsForReading, Nick Number, Nigel Ish, Nighthawke75, Nimbus227, Noisy, Nono64, Notreallydavid, Nuno Tavares,
Octillion88, Onewire, PBP, PINTofCARLING, Paul Richter, Pearle, Petebutt, Pibwl, Pinkpedaller, Piotr Mikoajski, R'n'B, Raoulduke47, Raymondwinn, Redalert2fan, Redjacket3827,
Rich.barlow, Rjwilmsi, Rlandmann, Rogerd, Russavia, SVTStingRay, Saberwyn, SchuminWeb, Serafinamia, SheepNotGoats, Skyraider1, Slogby, SojerPL, Some guy, Sp33dyphil, Sschm1dt4,
Sschm2601, Strongbow, Swbailey97128, Swbrenton, Sylvain Mielot, TGC61780, Tatrgel, Taylor6491, Tec15, Template namespace initialisation script, Tentontunic, Thaabomb, The Bushranger,
Thunderbird2, Tomcat200, Tonster, Trevayne08, Tsiaojian lee, Ulric1313, Uncia, Vivaldi, WPGA2345, Wagnergms, Wiarthurhu, WikiTorch, Woohookitty, YSSYguy, Yaniss, Youngjim, 412
anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:A-7E Corsair II.JPEG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A-7E_Corsair_II.JPEG License: Public Domain Contributors: LCDR JOHN R. LEENHOUTS, USN
File:A-7A mockup NAN9-64.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A-7A_mockup_NAN9-64.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: USN
File:A-7As VA-147 taking off from NAS Lemoore 1967.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A-7As_VA-147_taking_off_from_NAS_Lemoore_1967.jpg License:
Public Domain Contributors: U.S. Navy
File:F4U 7 AND CORSAIR 11.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:F4U_7_AND_CORSAIR_11.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: US Navy
File:A-7B A-4C CVW-16 CVA-14 1968.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A-7B_A-4C_CVW-16_CVA-14_1968.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Chester
O. Morris, USN
File:YA-7D-67-14582-firstUSAF-A7D.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:YA-7D-67-14582-firstUSAF-A7D.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: USAF
File:A-7Ds 354th TFW in flight 1971.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A-7Ds_354th_TFW_in_flight_1971.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: USAF;
Original uploader was Bwmoll3 at en.wikipedia; (original upload date)
File:3d Tactical Fighter Squadron Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D-10-CV Corsair II 71-0309.jpg Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:3d_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_Ling-Temco-Vought_A-7D-10-CV_Corsair_II_71-0309.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: United States
Air Force
File:A-7E Corsair VA-192 1971.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A-7E_Corsair_VA-192_1971.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: USN
File:Ang-a7d-1985.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ang-a7d-1985.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: USAF
File:A7E CV62 1983.JPEG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A7E_CV62_1983.JPEG License: Public Domain Contributors: USN
File:A-7E VA-72 on USS America (CV-66) Apr 1986.JPEG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A-7E_VA-72_on_USS_America_(CV-66)_Apr_1986.JPEG License:
Public Domain Contributors: PHAN David Casper, USN
File:A-7E VA-72 over Saudi Fort 1990.JPEG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A-7E_VA-72_over_Saudi_Fort_1990.JPEG License: Public Domain Contributors: Cdr.
John Leenhouts, U.S. Navy
File:A-7D 4450th TG at Nellis AFB 1984.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A-7D_4450th_TG_at_Nellis_AFB_1984.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors:
USAF; Original uploader was Bwmoll3 at en.wikipedia, (original upload date)
File:A7d-edwards-081992.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A7d-edwards-081992.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: USAF
File:TA-7C VA-174 Dallas 1988.jpeg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:TA-7C_VA-174_Dallas_1988.jpeg License: Public Domain Contributors: Camera Operator:
Wayne Whited, USN
File:EA-7L VAQ-34 1987.jpeg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:EA-7L_VAQ-34_1987.jpeg License: Public Domain Contributors: Camera Operator: Sgt. W. Thornton
File:Corsair.sideview.fairford.arp.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Corsair.sideview.fairford.arp.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alaniaris, Arpingstone,
BLueFiSH.as, Dbenbenn, Denniss, Geraki, LittleWink, Makthorpe, Sv1xv, Yarl, 1 anonymous edits
File:Portuguese A-7P Corsair II in flight c1984.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Portuguese_A-7P_Corsair_II_in_flight_c1984.jpg License: Public Domain
Contributors: U.S. Navy
File:Flag of Greece.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Greece.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: (of code) cs:User:-xfi- (talk)
File:Flag of Portugal.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Portugal.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1910; generic
design); Vtor Lus Rodrigues; Antnio Martins-Tuvlkin (2004; this specific vector set: see sources)
File:Flag of Thailand.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Thailand.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Zscout370
File:Flag of the United States.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_United_States.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie
File:corsair dyaab halls tn.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Corsair_dyaab_halls_tn.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploader was DoxTxob at
en.wikipedia
File:A-7D at Wings over Rockies Museum 2007.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A-7D_at_Wings_over_Rockies_Museum_2007.JPG License: Creative Commons
Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: LanceBarber (talk). Original uploader was LanceBarber at en.wikipedia; (original upload date)

License
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