VOUGHT A-7 CORSAIR II

TYPE:

Carrier-borne and land-based subsonic single-seat tactical fighter.

PROGRAMME:

On 11 February 1964 the US Navy named the former LTV Aerospace Corporation winner of a design competition for a single-seat light attack aircraft. The requirement was for a subsonic aircraft able to carry a greater load of non-nuclear weapons than the A-4E Skyhawk. To keep costs to a minimum and speed delivery it was stipulated by the USN that the new aircraft should be based on an existing design; the LTV design study was based therefore, on the F-8 Crusader. An initial contract to develop and build three aircraft, under the designation A-7A was made on 27 September 1965.

DESIGN FEATURES:

Cantilever high-wing monoplane. Wing section NACA 65A007. Anhedral 5 degrees. Incidence -1 degree. Wing sweepback at quarter-chord 35 degrees. Outer wing sections fold upward for carrier parking and, in the A-7H, to allow best utilisation of revetments at combat airfields. One-piece all-moving tailplane, swept back 45 degrees at quarter-chord and set at dihedral angle of 5 degrees 25'.

FLYING CONTROLS:

Plain sealed inset aluminium ailerons, outboard of wing fold, are actuated by fully triplicated hydraulic system. Leading-edge flaps. Large single-slotted trailing-edge flaps. Spoiler above each wing forward of flaps. Tailplane is operated by triplicated hydraulic systems, and the rudder powered by two systems.

STRUCTURE:

All-metal multi-spar structure with integrally stiffened aluminium alloy upper and lower skins. The fuselage is an all-metal semi-monocoque structure. Large door-type ventral speed-brake under centre-fuselage. The tail unit consists of a large vertical fin and rudder, swept back 44.28 degrees at quarter-chord.

LANDING GEAR:

Hydraulically retractable tricycle type, with single wheel on each main unit and twin-wheel nose unit. Mainwheels retract forward into fuselage, nosewheels aft. Mainwheels and tyres size 28 x 9-12; nosewheels and tyres size 22 x 5.50. Nose gear launch bar for carrier catapulting. Sting-type arrester hook under rear fuselage for carrier landings, emergency landings or aborted take-offs. Anti-skid brake system.

POWER PLANT:

One Allison TF41-A-2 (Rolls-Royce Spey) non-afterburning turbofan engine, rated at 66.7 kN (15,000 lb st). The A-7E has a pneumatic starter requiring ground air supply; A-7H, TA-7H and A-7K engines have self-start capability through the medium of battery-powered electric motor that actuates a small gas turbine engine (jet fuel starter), which in turn, starts the main engine through the gearbox. The engine has self-contained ignition for start/airstart, automatic relight and selective ignition. Integral fuel in tanks in wings and additional fuselage tanks. Maximum internal fuel 5678 litres (1500 US gallons; 1249 Imp gallons). Maximum external fuel 4542 litres (1200 US gallons; 999 Imp gallons).

ACCOMMODATION:

Pilot on McDonnell Douglas Escapac rocket-powered ejection system. Complete with US Navy life support system on the A-7E/H. Escape system provides a fully inflated parachute three seconds after sequence initiation; positive seat/man separation and stabilisation of the ejected seat and pilot. Boron carbide (HFC) cockpit armour.

AVIONICS: AND EQUIPMENT:

The navigation/weapon delivery system is the heart of the A-7E/H light attack aircraft. It performs continuously the computations needed for greatly increased delivery accuracy, and for manoeuvring freedom during navigation to a target and the attack, weapon release, pull up, and safe return phases of the mission. The system not only provides the pilot with a number of options during the navigation and weapon delivery, but also relieves him of much of his workload. The AN/ASN-91(V) navigation/weapon delivery computer is the primary element of the system, in constant 'conversation' with basic electronic sensors, and computes and displays continuously present position, using computed position and stored data to calculate navigation and weapon delivery solutions, and monitors the reliability of data inputs and outputs. An AN/ASN-90(V) inertial measurement set is the basic three-axis reference system for navigation and weapon delivery. AN/APN-190(V) Doppler measures groundspeed and drift angle. AN/APQ-126(V) forward-looking radar provides pilot with 9 modes of operation; air-to-ground ranging; terrain-following; terrain-avoidance; ground mapping, shaped beam; ground mapping, pencil beam; beacon cross-scan terrain-avoidance; cross-scan ground mapping, pencil; TV; and Shrike integrated display system. AN/AVQ-7(V) HUD receives and displays computed attack, navigation and landing data from the tactical computer; aircraft performance data from flight sensors; and discrete signals from various aircraft systems.

ARMAMENT:

A wide range of stores, to a total weight of more than 6805 kg (15,000 lb), can be carried on six underwing pylons and two fuselage weapon stations, the latter suitable for Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Two outboard pylons on each wing can accommodate a load of 1587 kg (3500 lb). Inboard pylon on each wing can carry 1134 kg (2500 lb). Two fuselage weapon stations, one in each side, can each carry a load of 227 kg (500 lb). Weapons include air-to-air and air-to-ground (anti-tank and anti-radar missiles); electro-optical (TV) and laser-guided weapons; general purpose bombs; bomblet dispensers; rockets; gun pods; and auxiliary fuel tanks. In addition, an M61A-1 Vulcan 20 mm cannon is mounted in the port side of the fuselage. This has a 1000 round ammunition storage and selected firing rates of 4000 or 6000 rds/min. Strike camera in lower rear fuselage for damage assessment.

Weapons at War: Attack Aircraft From daredevil pilots dropping grenades on WWI troops to the devastating "Warthog," trace the history of ground attack aircraft.

Weapons at War: Naval Aviation WEAPONS AT WAR tells the story of the men and machines that give the U.S. Navy unquestioned air superiority.

DIMENSIONS: EXTERNAL:

Wingspan: 11.80 m (38 ft 9 in)

Width, wings folded: 7.24 m (23 ft 9 in)

Wing chord: at root: 4.72 m (15 ft 6 in)

at tip: 1.18 m (3 ft 10 1/4 in)

Wing aspect ratio: 4

Length overall: 14.06 m (46 ft 1 1/2 in)

Height overall: 4.90 m (16 ft 3/4 in)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:

Weight empty: 8668 kg (19,111 lb)

Max T-O weight: 19,050 kg (42,000 lb)

PERFORMANCE:

Max level speed:

at S/L: 600 knots (1112 km/h; 691 mph)

at 1525 m (5000 ft):

with 12 Mk 82 bombs: 562 knots (1040 km/h; 646 mph)

after dropping bombs: 595 knots (1102 km/h; 685 mph)

T-O run at max T-O weight: 830 m (6000 ft)

Ferry range:

max internal fuel: 1981 nm (3671 km; 2281 miles)

max internal and external fuel: 2485 nm

(4604 km; 2861 miles)

LENGTH (m): 14.06

HEIGHT (m): 4.90

WINGSPAN (m): 11.80

MAX T-O WEIGHT (kg): 19,050

MAX LEVEL SPEED (knots): 600

T-O RUN (m): 1830

Data from FAS, Jane's All the World's Aircraft, and Aerospace/Defense Companies.

Back to Top of Page

A-7 Corsair II