Iowa ANG commemorates Aviation History Month part 5: LTV A-7D Corsair II

  • Published
  • By Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot
  • 185th Air Refueling Wing

The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D Corsair II on display at the Iowa Air National Guard in Sioux City, Iowa, tail number  is 75-0406. The Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Tactical Fighter Group flew Corsairs from from March 1977 to December 1991.

According to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the A-7D is a single-seat, tactical close air support aircraft derived from the U.S. Navy's A-7. The first A-7D made its initial flight in April 1968, and deliveries of production models began in December 1968. When A-7D production ended in 1976, LTV had delivered 459 to the U.S. Air Force. 

In 1973 the USAF began assigning A-7Ds to the Air National Guard, and by 1987 they were being flown by ANG units in 10 states and Puerto Rico. The last A-7Ds were retired in the early 1990s.

The plaque in front of the aircraft in Sioux City reads:

The A-7D is a single-seat, tactical close air-support aircraft. Although designed primarily as a ground attack aircraft, it also has limited air-to all combat capability. It was derived from the basic A-7originally developed by LTV for the U.S. Navy. The first A-7D made its initial flight on April 5, 1968 and deliveries of production models began on December 23, 1968. When A-7D production ended in 1976, 459 had been delivered to the USAF. In 1973, the USAF began assigning A-7Ds to the Air National Guard (ANG) and by 1987 they were being flown by ANG units in ten states and Puerto Rico. The A-7 was used extensively in Vietnam. The Corsair II achieved its excellent accuracy with the aid of an automatic electronic navigation and weapon delivery system. The last aircraft to drop a bomb during conflict was an A-7D later assigned to the 185th. The 185th Tactical Fighter Group flew the A-7D from 1977 until 1991.

TECHNICAL NOTES:
Armament: One M61A1 20mm rapid-fire cannon plus 15,000 lbs. of mixed ordnance
Engine: One Allison TF41 turbofan engine of 14,250 lbs. thrust
Maximum speed: 663 mph
Cruising speed: 545 mph
Range: 3,044 miles
Ceiling: 33,500 ft.
Span: 38 ft. 8 in.
Length: 46 ft. 1 in.
Height: 16 ft. 1 in.
Weight: 39,325 lbs. loaded

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the 185th Air Refueling Wing, the Iowa Air National Guard, the United States Air Force or the Department of Defense of the external website, or information, products, or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Services/Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Air Force does not exercise editorial control over the information users may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of the website.