A-7 Corsair II Specifications
Primary Function: Attack
Contractor: Ling-Temco-Vought (Prime, now Northrop Grumman Corp.)
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $2,860,000 (A-7D)
Powerplant
Single Allison/Rolls Royce TF41-A-400 non-afterburning turbofan engine with a static thrust rating of 15,000 pounds
The A-7 Corsair II was one of a few US Navy aircraft to be operated by the US Air Force. It was created in response to the US Navy's 1963 light attack aircraft specification, which required light attack aircraft to replace the A-4 Skyhawk and with about twice the payload. 35 production A-7A's were ordered on March 19, 1964, powered by a non afterburning 12,200lb Pratt & Whitney TF-30-P-8 turbofan engine. It first flight occurred on September 27, 1965, and in 1966, the USAF ordered the A-7D (airforce version) with the Allison TF41 turbofan engine. The US Navy later developed the A-7E with TF41 engines also. The A-7 was used widely during the Vietnam War and the US Navy used them during the Gulf War as well. The A-7 was later replaced by the F/A-18 Hornet.