LTV A-7D Corsair II
This single-seat tactical close air support aircraft was derived from the U.S. Navy’s A-7 and was used in Southeast Asia and later by Air National Guard units into the 1990s. The Museum’s Corsair II was last flown by the Virginia Air National Guard and was received through the Army Material Command after landing at Martin State Airport and receiving structural damage in 1994.
A-7D Corsair II ….. Fast Facts
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The A-7 Corsair II was light attack bomber developed for the Navy by Ling-Temco-Vought Inc. in 1963 as a replacement for the A-4 Skyhawk. The single seat, single engine A-7 had a longer range and carried a larger bomb load than the A-4.
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The A-7D is the Air Force version of the Corsair II. It was adopted by the Air Force at the urging of the US Army, whose troops receive close air support from the Air Force. The Army wanted its troops supported by a subsonic plane for this mission, rather than the supersonic fighter-bombers such as the F-100 Super Sabre and F-4 Phantom, favored by the Air Force.
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It was named after the Vought F-4U Corsair, one of the best fighter planes of WW II.
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The A-7 was a highly innovative aircraft, incorporating the latest in avionics including data link capabilities that provided fully “hands-off” carrier landing capability when used in conjunction with its “auto throttle.” It was the first aircraft to have a modern “head-up display” which displayed such information as dive angle, airspeed, altitude, drift and aiming reticle. Its integrated navigation system allowed for a projected map display which displayed accurately the aircraft’s position on two map scales.
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During the Vietnam conflict, A-7s operating from aircraft carriers were successfully employed by the Navy in just about every conceivable attack role. The Air Force operated A-7Ds from bases in Thailand, but by time they arrived in Southeast Asia, most of the American ground troops had been withdrawn. The Navy lost sixty-six A-7s in combat and another thirty-four to other causes. The Air Force lost four in combat and two to other causes.
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The last combat missions for A-7s were flown by the Navy in Desert Storm in 1991. By that time the Air Force had replaced its A-7Ds with the Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II.
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A total of 1569 A-7s were built between 1965 and 1984.
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After service with the Air Force, many A-7Ds were transferred to National Guard units. The museum’s A-7D (Serial No. 69-6197) had been assigned to the Virginia Air National Guard but it also bears an emblem from the 125th Fighter Squadron, a unit of the Oklahoma Air National Guard.
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This aircraft was acquired by the museum from Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1994 and transported to Martin State Airport by a Chinook helicopter. The tail number is fictitious.