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CONTACT CITY STAFFA-7B-2-CV CORSAIR II
Aircraft at the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42
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Click for larger photo
| A/C SN | 154449 |
| Date Acquired: | June 1999 |
| Acquired From: | USN (Loan) |
| Displayed: | August 2004 |
History
This aircraft never saw battle or probably another base. She arrived at China Lake in 1968 as 1 of 212 {#561-573} A-7B models. The 'B' was the transitional period from basic weapons systems to a more sophisticated weapons defense system presently used on the A7-E, which is also now computerized.It is believed the '2' was the more thrust power that was added to the engines. The Weapons Survivability Lab utilized this aircraft until 1995 when it was retired.
After retirement, the aircraft resided at Ridgecrest Museum until it closed and was returned to China Lake. In 1999 it was put on loan to the Plant 42 Heritage Air Park in Palmdale.
The A-7 Corsair II was designed as a light attack aircraft that could replace the A-4 Skyhawk. Portions of the design were based on the successful Vought F-8 Crusader aircraft, though certain features such as the afterburner and variable-incidence wing were not incorporated. The aircraft structure was strengthened to carry up to 15,000 lb of external ordnance, accommodating virtually every weapon or store in the Navy's airborne armory when the A-7 was designed. It was calculated that more than 200 combinations of different stores were possible. The first A-7 flew in 1965, and saw combat over Vietnam for the first time in December 1967.
(Source: United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 by Gordon Swanborough and Peter Bowers)
General Information
| MANUFACTURER: | Ling-Temco-Vought Aerospace Corp. |
| PRODUCTION PERIOD: | 1964 to 1984 |
| NUMBER PRODUCED: | 1,545 |
| PRODUCTION SERIES: |
USN: A-7A, B, C, & E single-seat A/C, TA-7C two-seat A/C USAF: A-7D single-seat, A-7K two-seat A/C |
| ROLES: | Originally designed as a carrier-based fair-weather light attack-bomber for the US Navy; later developed into a carrier and land-based all-weather multi-mission aircraft for the US Navy and US Air Force, capable of close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, long-range strike, fleet and coastal defense, reconnaissance, and search-and-rescue |
Performance and Specifications
(Figures given are for the A-7E model)| MAXIMUM SPEED: | 693 mph (Mach 0.94) |
| SERVICE CEILING: | 47,000 feet above sea level |
| RANGE: | 2,861 miles |
| WEAPONS: | AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-12 Bullpup, AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-88 HARM missiles, M61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon and assorted unguided and guided bombs and rockets |
| CREW: | Pilot |
| LENGTH: | 46 feet, 1.5 inches |
| WINGSPAN: | 38 feet, 9 inches |
| HEIGHT: | 16 feet, 2 inches |
| MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGHT: | 42,000 lbs. |
| POWERPLANT: | Allison/Rolls-Royce TF41-A-2 turbofan engine providing 15,000 lbs. of thrust |
| ACHIEVEMENTS: | The A-7 series of A/C are considered to be one of the most versatile attack aircraft of its period |
