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1980-01-10
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A-7E CORSAIR II
Wingspan: 38 ft., 9 in.
Length: 46 ft., 1.5 in.
Height: 16 ft., 1 in.
Weight: 42,000 lbs.
Engine: One Allison TF41-A-2 turbofan
Engine thrust: 15,000 lbs.
Operating altitude: 37,910 ft.
Top speed: 691 mph
Maximum range: 2,861 miles
Date of service: 1966
The Corsair II was built as a light attack plane to complement the Navy's
A-4 Skyhawk. Vought, which had merged with Ling-Temco in 1961, won the
contract by suggesting a compact, scaled-down aircraft based on the F-8.
Even as A-7 deliveries to the Navy were getting under way, the Air Force
was discovering that it had a need for attack aircraft in Vietnam that
could not be fully met by fighter-bombers. The Air Force decided to join
the Navy program and acquire the A-7s as well.
The Corsair II mission in Vietnam was flown from the USS Ranger in December
1967. The A-7 proved to be a very reliable, stable performer. Out of the
12,928 missions flown in Southeast Asia, only four Corsair IIs were lost.
The Corsair II is a single-seat aircraft, although 60 of them have been con-
verted to two-seat combat-capable trainers. The aircraft's armament consists
of nearly eight tons of bombs, and AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-88 HARM missiles
or AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self-defense. For general all
around use, Corsair IIs carry a 20 millimeter cannon.
Today, Corsair IIs remain the principal component in U.S. Navy carrier-based
light attack squadrons, having replaced the A-4 Skyhawk. On the Air Force
side, A-7s are used by the Air National Guard, which furnishes 70 percent
of the nation's air-defense and ground attack capability. Despite the
Corsair II's age, the A-7's durability will certainly make it a valuable
asset for years to come.