Going by aesthetics, the A-7 Corsair II bears an uncanny resemblance to a drainage pipe with wings. However, the fact that A-7s can still be found serving today with various air forces, despite the technology demonstrators first flight in 1965, is proof that under the aircraft's bulky exterior lurks serious power. Allowing large loads of Air-to-Ground (AG) munitions to be delivered at high speeds, the A-7 Corsair II proved to be one of the most valuable striking tools US Navy (USN) carriers had at their disposal, attacking targets in a variety of theatres, from Vietnam to the 1991 Gulf War. A-7s succeeded Skyhawks and Intruders as carrier strike fighters until they themselves were replaced in USN service by McDonnell Douglas F/A-18s.
In the early 1960s, the USN began to seek a replacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk in the carrier-borne attack role. Despite being coveted by those who flew it, and being relatively simple to fly, the A-4's small size "cursed" it with many limitations, handicapping its ordnance load and range. However, it was an incredibly able attack platform, and especially agile. The USN's request for a replacement was answered in 1964 when Vought submitted their proposed design, an F-8 crusader modified to specialize in the attack role with a considerably more rounded intake and nose. The Navy was pleased with the aircraft, as it possessed capabilities that allow it to serve for a long period of time, and it could carry a large amount of ordnance to wherever it was needed the most. A total of three prototypes, designated YA-7As, were ordered, and first flew in the year 1965. It took two more years for the aircraft to enter service as the A-7A Corsair II, giving the program one of the fastest development periods in the history of post-WWII attack aircraft.
Certain features of the initial Corsair II production variant, the A-7A, were indistinguishable from those found on the prototype. The foremost of these was the large Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-8 turbofan engine delivering 5148 Kg of thrust. The most distinguishable feature on the A-7A (And subsequent variants) was the enormous intake situated under the nose, giving the fuselage a thick, bulky shape. The intake was intentionally huge as the powerful engine required a large amount of airflow, and it allowed the A-7 to attack targets at higher speeds than its contemporaries. To the fore of the fuselage, mounted on the port side and starboard sides of the intake rested the gun exit nozzle, the only evidence of the lethal 20mm cannons lurking within. These were replaced on later variants by a single port-side M61A1 six-barrel 20mm rotary cannon. Over 6000 Kg of ordnance could be carried on six hardpoints, sometimes up to 6804Kg of ordnance on later variants. Bombing missions and rocket strikes were carried out on a regular basis during Vietnam and later in the Gulf war. On the fair number of occasions A-7s were engaged by MiGs over Vietnam, it proved itself to be quite agile despite its role and appearance, and using its M61A1 Vulcan cannon, scored several MiG kills, including MiG-17 Frescos.
The four-part glass canopy as well as the "drooping" nose found on most attack aircraft gave the Corsair II pilot an excellent view of the terrain ahead of and below his aircraft. The Corsair II's cockpit itself was cramped, though not to the extent of the A-4 it replaced, containing an Escapac ejection seat for emergencies. The aircraft carried the strengthened undercarriage and folding-wings characteristic of most naval aircraft, and possessed the ability to taxi with wings folded. A grand total of 199 A-7A Corsair IIs were produced, and mostly served with the USN. The Corsair II was in fact named in honour of Vought's legendary fighter-bomber F4U corsair of the Second World War.
The A-7A Corsair II saw its combat debut in 1967 aboard the USS Ranger, serving with squadron VA-147, also known as the "Argonauts", in Vietnam. Corsairs proved lethal in the Close Air Support (CAS) role supporting US Army troops on various offensive pushes against NVA forces. Several years later the A-7B Corsair II variant was developed, carrying the TF30-P-8 turbofan engine putting out 5534 Kg of thrust, a massive improvement on its predecessor. Throughout its life, a variety of upgraded A-7 variants were developed, which focused mainly on improving the power of the engine, the size of the weapons load, and the technology carried by the aircraft. By the time they ceased to roll off the production line, the total A-7Bs produced numbered 196, slightly less than the original A-7A variant.
The A-7C variant, which followed soon after, was much more potent than its predecessors, but with less than 70 being built, never saw as much action as earlier or later models. Nevertheless, it had an engine even further upgraded than the A-7Bs, a Pratt & Whitney TF309-P-408 turbofan delivering 6078 Kg of thrust. It was the first navy variant with an upgraded weapons load and the M61A1 cannon replacing the dual 20mm cannons. The success of Vought's now famous and much-loved Corsair over Vietnam also attracted the interest of the USAF, who ordered their own variant designated the A-7D of which 459 were constructed. Instead of using another Pratt & Whitney engine, Rolls-Royce Spey engines were built under license producing 499 more Kg of thrust than the TF309. These equipped an M61A1, sensor equipment, and modernized navigation and avionics systems.
The final Corsair II variant, the A-7E, was delivered to the USN on request, and had the greatest performance of all the production-model Corsair IIs. Essentially an A-7C with an upgraded Allison TF41-A-2 engine putting out 6804Kg thrust, the A-7E also featured upgraded infra-red sensor equipment. A total number of 551 were assembled, making this the most numerous variant, and as it was also the most potent Corsair II, many were exported; Nations such as Greece and Portugal still field their Corsair IIs to this day. Corsair II combat losses in the Vietnam war numbered 54, out of the more than 330 serving, but was considered one of the "safer" aircraft of the war despite difficulties with maintenance and engine trouble on the initial models. A YA-7F variant was considered post-war but never entered service. The Corsair IIs combat finale was the 1991 Gulf War, where it undertook many bombing raids alongside A-6 Intruders and KA-6 tankers.
Written by: Pace51