Military Aircraft

A-7K

Photo By Vought

After a limited but brilliant career in the Vietnam War, where it gained the nickname SLUFF (Short Little Ugly Fat Fella), the A-7D land based version of the US Navy's A-7 Corsair II medium attacker was reallocated by the US Air Force to the US National Guard. Lacking a significant number of pilots qualified foe such a type, the ANG soon felt itself in need of an operational conversion trainer. Vought suggested a simple evolution of the A-7D which added a second and somewhat higher seat under an elongated cockpit canopy in the fuselage stretched by 34 in. Full combat capability was to be retained. A single A-7D conversion was authorized in April 1979, and this first A-7K flew in October 1980. Some 30 production aircraft were authorized, but in the event only 24 aircraft were built for devilry between December 1980 and the end of 1983. Most aircraft have been updated with maneuvering flaps a pave penny laser tracker in the inlet lip, and provision for items such as the GPU-5 cannon pod and the underwing LANA (Low Altitude Night Attack) package with a FLIR sensor feeding data into the pilot's head up display.

Description	Specifications
Manufacturer: Vought	Length: 48 ft. 11.5 in
First Flight: September 1965	Height: 16 ft. 0.75 in
Model: A-7K	Wing Span: 38 ft. 9 in.
Crew: Two	Wing Area: 375.0 sq. in.
Nickname:	Empty Weight:
Basic Role: Operational conversion trainer.	Max. Weight: 42,000 lb.
Other Versions: A-7K Combat capable operational conversion trainer.	Armament: One 20-mm multi barrel cannon, and up to 15,000 lb. of disposable stores.
Principal User: USA	Propulsion
Performance	Power Plant: Allison TF41-A-1 turbofan.
Range: 715 mile radius.	Horsepower: 14,500-lb thrust.
Max. Speed: 691 mph. at sea level.	No. Of Engines: One
Ceiling: 42,000 ft.
Climb Rate: 15,000 ft. per minute.

An A-7H of the Greek air force, which became the Corsair II's first export customer in 1977