{"id":1072,"date":"2026-09-23T17:46:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T17:46:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christophermreed.net\/aviation\/?page_id=1072"},"modified":"2026-09-23T18:22:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T18:22:46","slug":"a-7e-walkaround","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/christophermreed.net\/aviation\/a-7e-walkaround\/","title":{"rendered":"A-7E Corsair II walk around"},"content":{"rendered":"

The last of a long line of Vought aircraft to serve with the US Navy, the A-7 was the result of an early 1960s effort to replace the A-4 Skyhawk<\/a>. Although the A-4 was to prove an effective “bomb truck” over Southeast Asia, it had been conceived of as a nuclear bomber that would be small enough to operate from even the WWII-era escort carriers if necessary. With the inactive CVEs no longer factoring into planning, and with increasing attention being paid to fighting non-nuclear conflicts, a larger light attack type with an increased conventional warload was called for.<\/span><\/p>\n

To meet the USN’s VAL requirement, four companies submitted derivatives of existing types for the light attack mission. Douglas’ design was based on the A-4, while Grumman offered a single-seat A-6 and North American proposed an outgrowth of the FJ-4 Fury. The Vought entrant, which was ultimately selected, was based on the F8U, but with a TF30 engine and a fixed-incidence wing.<\/p>\n

\"Front
A-7E at MAPS Museum, Canton, Ohio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A-7E
A-7E nose gear, from front.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A-7E
A-7 Corsair main gear bay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A-7E
A-7E Corsair II wing fold mechanism<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A-7 Bibliography<\/h2>\n

Some of the books and other items listed below contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support the site at no extra cost to you.<\/p>\n

Erwin J. Bulban\u00a0 “Total A-7A Order Exceeds $200 Million”\u00a0\u00a0 Aviation Week & Space Technology<\/span> November 8, 1965\u00a0 p.30-32<\/p>\n

“Navy\/LTV A-7A Designed for Equipment Accessibility and Short Turn-Around Time”\u00a0\u00a0 Aviation Week & Space Technology<\/span>\u00a0 November 22, 1965\u00a0 p.62-63\u00a0 Includes photos of an early aircraft with panels opened and engine removed.<\/p>\n

Photo: “First A-7A Delivered to Training Squadron”\u00a0\u00a0Aviation Week & Space Technology<\/span>\u00a0 November 21, 1966\u00a0 p.37\u00a0\u00a0 BuNo 152664<\/p>\n

Photo: Test A-7A with boom on nose and full load of bombs\u00a0\u00a0 Pratt & Whitney ad\u00a0 Aviation Week & Space Technology<\/span>\u00a0 December 12, 1966\u00a0 p.2<\/p>\n

Photo: A-7A BuNo 153221 of VA-147\u00a0\u00a0 Aviation Week & Space Technology<\/span>\u00a0 November 11, 1968\u00a0 front cover<\/p>\n

Peter B. Mersky\u00a0 “Warplane Classic: A-7 Corsair II in US Navy Service”\u00a0\u00a0 International Air Power Review<\/span> Volume 10\u00a0\u00a0 Includes a large fold-out A-7E cutaway drawing, and a color 3-view of a VA-192 aircraft.<\/p>\n

Photo: A-7A on a bow cat of USS America<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Naval Aviation News<\/span>\u00a0 February 1967\u00a0 front cover<\/p>\n

Photo: A-7A BuNo 153221 of VA-147 aboard USS Ranger<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Aviation Week & Space Technology<\/span>\u00a0 November 11, 1968\u00a0 front cover<\/p>\n

“A-7E Corsair II Praised for Accuracy in Combat”\u00a0\u00a0 Naval Aviation News<\/span>\u00a0 August 1970\u00a0 p.35<\/p>\n

Codell Summers\u00a0 “Deadly Sidewinder”\u00a0\u00a0 Scale Modeler<\/span> February 1973\u00a0\u00a0 Building the Airfix 1\/72 A-7E model kit as an aircraft of VA-86 aboard USSAmerica<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo: An A-7C from China Lake launching a Harpoon test missile.\u00a0\u00a0 Aviation Week & Space Technology<\/span>\u00a0 April 5, 1976\u00a0 front cover<\/p>\n

United Technologies ad, with artwork depicting an A-7 launching a ramjet-powered missile.\u00a0\u00a0 Aviation Week & Space Technology<\/span>\u00a0 October 16, 1978\u00a0 p.40<\/p>\n

“A Corsair by any other name…Sandy, SLUF and Little Hummers”\u00a0\u00a0 Air International<\/span>\u00a0 April 1982\u00a0 Includes a photo of the V-519 trainer prototype, A-7E 3-view, A-7A, TA-7C, and A-7E side-view drawings.<\/p>\n

Photo: TA-7C in Portuguese markings\u00a0\u00a0 Air International<\/span>\u00a0 January 1988\u00a0 p.41<\/p>\n

David Francis\u00a0 “Supersize SLUF”\u00a0\u00a0 Scale Aviation Modeller International<\/span>\u00a0 July 2006\u00a0 building the 1\/32 Trumpeter A-7E<\/a> (Amazon affiliate link) kit as an aircraft of VA-72. Includes several pages of Corsair II color profiles<\/p>\n

Jezz Coleman\u00a0 “Sidewinders SLUF”\u00a0 Model Aircraft July 2017\u00a0 The HobbyBoss 1\/48 A-7E<\/a>\u00a0 (Amazon affiliate link) (as an aircraft of VA-86\/USS Nimitz.<\/p>\n