Vought A-7 Corsair II

I was with VA-15 (1981-1984), and VA-83 (1987-1990) During my time with VA-83, they transitioned to Hornets. I was an AME, and although the aircond /press system on the Corsair II could be persnickety at times, it was a great aircraft to work on. About the only task I used to dread was changing the canopy glass. That was a bear. I miss the times at NAS Cecil Field. Great base. Nice place to work.

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Flew the AF (D model) for 4 years at DM and Alex. As squadron Co we developed and trained the tactics to use it to help in SAR. Also trained Guard crews. It was a great AC and should have been kept instead of the A-10.

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Hey Fields Richardson, you may be the only military pilot to fly all models - but one, the YA-7F :) I flew them all at one time or another while a Vought test pilot.

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I flew the A-7E out of Cecil Field from 1972 to 1975 coming from the T-2B /C as an instructor pilot. The transition was quite easy - my first flight in the "E" version was a joy - great aircraft to fly and use but a bit tough around the boat.

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THE A-7 WAS,AND STILL IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE JET.THE "CORSAIR 2" HAD THE RIGHT SPEED, THE "CORSAIR 2" HAD THE RIGHT ORDINANCE HOLDING CAPACITY,AND THE A-7 HAD DECENT RANGE AS WELL.I SAW TWO A-7s SWOOSH RIGHT OVER THE PORT SIDE OF THE USS JOUETT AT MAYBE,300 FEET ABOVE THE WATER'S SURFACE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.THIS WAS WHEN I WAS ON ACTIVE DUTY U.S. NAVY DURING "OPERATION DESERT SHIELD"

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I was an AT and worked on the Avionics of the A7-A. It was one of the best A /C I ever worked on. All the Avionics were contained in 2 bays and were very accessible. The only draw back to the Avionic was the ECM gear "Shoehorned" in the Turtle back. I cussed NARF every time I or one of my men had to pull the gear.

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Sol Love, Project Director, J. Russell Clark, Project Engineer.

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I am writing a short article for AF Magazine "Classic" section on the A-7. I need the names of pilots who distinguished themselves in the aircraft or in other pursuits. Also would like to learn the name of the lead designer /project engineer. Thanks. Walter Boyne

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I flew the A-7A,B and E models, making a 10 month WestPac deployment in the A-7A aboard the USS Saratoga in April 1972. The planes we flew were old but did a great job of delivering tons of ordinance to targets into North Vietnam. Of all the systems it had, I am probably most thankful to its ejection seat. After having my left wing blown off by a
SA-2 SAM, I ejected safely from less than 2000 MSL with 2 just two swings in the chute before landing in the rice paddies of NVN...

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As far as I know I am the only pilot to have flown all models of the A-7. I bagan training in the A-7A and flew all subsequent production models - B C, D (USAF), E, H (Greek), P(Portugese)and both versions of the "T" two seater; one from "re-cycled" B models and one from the C model. This was possible since I was the GFR at Vought for a shore duty tour. I also think I am the high time "guy" with 4513 hours. Great airplane but needed more engine - a familiar lament among all USN aviators!

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This is a well built aircraft, that was reliable and very capable. Because of its high-bypass turbo-fan engine, the engine response wasn't very rapid - and required pilots to be very careful about making many changes to the power on approach to an aircraft carrier. I flew this aircraft for nearly 4 years and liked it very much.

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The aircrafts shown are A-7C or A-7E if Navy & A7-D if Airforce, no tail hook. The aircraft shown is a single seater ie one canopy. I was trained as a member of the fire control team & worked on all navy versons of the A-7 in the late 196o's & thru the 1970's. I spent time in VA-174 & VA-86 at Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Fl. While with VA-86, I made a WestPac cruse on the USS Coral Sea CVA-43 & A Med cruse on the USS America CVA-66.

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The aircraft you have in the drawings are A-7's which had TF-41 engines. The aircraft in the picture is a 2 seater. Thats a TA-7C that had a TF-30 engine

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