A-7K

The A-7K was a two seat version of the A-7D for use by the Air National Guard. The first flight of an A-7K was October 29, 1980. The final delivery was in September 1983.

The vast majority of the A-7Ks were operated by the 162TFTG Arizona Air National Guard at Tucson, AZ for pilot training. In addition to the Arizona aircraft, each ANG A-7D squadron had at least one A-7K assigned after the production run had finished. 
Assigned serial numbers were: 79-0460/0471, 80-0284/0295, 81-0072/0077

Here are a few of the Air National Guard A-7K aircraft I shot over the years.

YA-7H 156801 Test Flight Photos

A-7C 156801 was converted into the YA-7H the first of the two seat version of the A-7 Corsair II. These photos were taken early in the testing of the aircraft at NAS Dallas.

Two seat versions of the F-8 Crusader and A-7 Corsair II on the Vought flight line.

Only one F-8 was converted where a number of A-7s were converted or new built in the case of the A-7K.

01-0154-01-0007-72-YA-7H-156801-Landing-with-Drag-Chute-Gold-Tail-[Vought]

01-0154-01-0006-72-YA-7H-156801-Right-Side-Gold-Tail-Taxi-[Vought]

FLIR and LST Aerodynamic Testing on the A-7E

As a further addition to this posting concerning FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) and LST (Laser Spot Tracker) installation on a YA-7D. Here is A-7E 156802 in February 1972 with FLIR/LST simulated fairings installed under the air intake. The testing would later lead to pod mounted FLIR and a chin mounted LST on the A-7D/K series only. The A-7D trials would actually start around a year later. For some images of that testing please visit my previous post here: FLIR/IRST Tests on YA-7D 67-14582

LTV-09643U-A-7E-156802-Front-View-FLIR-LST-19720214

LTV-09639U-A-7E-156802-RH-Side-View-FLIR-LST-19720214

LTV-09640U-A-7E-156802-LH-Side-View-FLIR-LST-19720214

LTV-09644U-A-7E-156802-Close-Up-LH-Side-View-FLIR-LST-19720214

LTV-09641U-A-7E-156802-Close-Up-Front-View-FLIR-LST-19720214

LTV-09642U-A-7E-156802-Close-Up-RH-Side-View-FLIR-LST-19720214

A-7H and BGM-34A

     Three view drawing of a two place A-7H with a Ryan BGM-34A carried under the left wing. This was drawn in February 1972 not long after the first successful tests of launching AGM-65A Maverick missiles from the BGM-34A platform. Given the mounting arrangement for the AGM-65 on the BGM-34 there would have been little ground clearance of the missile fins upon aircraft rotation. It also can be easily imagined that a fuel tank or inert bomb would have to be carried on the right side to help balance the aircraft until drone launch.

Courtesy VAHF

Courtesy VAHF

Courtesy VAHF

     Just for visual representation of the Ryan AQM/BQM-34 family, a BQM-34S photographed in 2004 is presented below.

BQM-34S-NAS-Point-Mugu-BillSpidle-20040812

    Later on in the Corsair II's life the EA-7L was given the capability to carry and launch BQM-74C target drones to simulate aggressor aircraft or missiles. The EA-7L was only able to start the engine and launch the drone. The crew could not change the pre-programmed flight profile for the target. Below is a BQM-74E representative of the BQM-74 series.

BQM-74E NAS Point Mugu BillSpidle 20040812

FLIR/LST Tests on YA-7D 67-14582 In July 1973

VSD-10173U-A-7D-67-14582-Front-View-Mockup-FLIR-LST-19730716

   
     This series of images shows one of the configurations tested on YA-7D 67-14582 during the summer of 1973 for incorporating the FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) and LST (Laser Spot Tracker) onto the existing Corsair II air-frame.

VSD-10177U-A-7D-67-14582-Right-Side-View-Mockup-FLIR-LST-19730716

     It appears that the chin mounted configuration was associated with the Hughes FLIR system that was canceled which led to the development of the Texas Instruments pod mounted FLIR system. The LST  known as Pave Penny was later incorporated onto the bottom of the engine air inlet of Air Force A-7D/K aircraft.

VSD-10176U-A-7D-67-14582-Left-Front-View-Mockup-FLIR-LST-19730716

     This particular configuration was labeled 4J and the pictures taken prior to flight number 330. Yet to be discovered are the engineering reports that would capture the data and testing results for this and obviously other similar configurations tested on 67-14582. It is also interesting to note that 582 had accumulated 332 flights since its maiden voyage on April 5, 1968

VSD-10175U-A-7D-67-14582-Left-Side-View-Mockup-FLIR-LST-19730716

     All photos from the Vought Aircraft Historical Archives.

A-7 Mock Up

     There was a request recently for photos of the A-7 mock up other than those already posted of the various weapons fits. I came across these images in the collection previously and had miss-filed them. Here are a few images of the A-7 mock up that was used for inspection and weapons fit testing.

     Ease of maintenance access was an important feature of the V-463 design. Accessing compartments using both a minimum of fasteners and tools along without using a ladder or other external stand was preferred. Lessons long learned from the F7U Cutlass and applied to the F8U Crusader design.

     One of the great maintenance improvements in the A-7 (V-463) was in the area of engine maintenance and repair. The A-7 had a unique design which allowed the engine to be serviced through access panels on the sides and bottom of the fuselage. With the removal of the access panels and tail code the engine could be removed and replaced with out the penalty of having to split the fuselage to remove the tail section as had been done on the F8U Crusader. This eliminated some of the space hogging and special equipment needed for engine changes on board ship.

PR-5435 Left Side View of the A-7 (V-463) Mock Up VAHF Collection

PR-5433 Left Had Rear View Of the V-463 Mock Up. VAHF Collection

PR-5412 Technician Illustrating Access To Cannon, LOX and Avionics Bay. VAHF Collection

PR-5413 Technician Showing Ease Of Access To The V-463's Engine Compartment. VAHF Collection

A-7A Mock Up Weapons Loading 1964 Part Five and Final!

     For this fifth and final installment illustrating some of the various loads tested on the A-7A Mock up go from the mundane (slicks and snakes) to the ALDS. Enjoy!

Here are MK-81 slicks and Snakeyes along with MK-82 Snakeyes sharing the wing of the mock up.

LTV-65500U-A-7A-Mockup-MK-82-MK82-Snakeye-MK-81-Snakeye-19640623 (VAHF Collection)

     Next up the deadly combination of the AGM-45 Shrike and the MK-57 (Later designated B57) and MK-43 (Later designated B43) nuclear bombs.

CVC-65412U-A-7A-Mock-up-Shrike-MK-57-MK-43-19640612 (VAHF Collection)

     This load is a MK-20 Smoke Tank and MK-116 Weteye chemical bombs.

LTV-65530U-A-7A-Mock-up-MK-12-Smoke-Tank-and-Weteyes-19640625 (VAHF Collection)

     Finally, the series will end with a bit of a mystery. This store is listed as the AERO-18A ALSD. Searching the ole interwebs for AERO-18A ALSD brings up Aero L-39, lots of drug references (LSD) but nothing that looks like a combination ECM pod and external fuel tank, If anyone out there can add something, please do!

CVC-65421U-A-7A-Mock-up-AERO-18A-ALSD-19640616 (VAHF Collection)

     That concludes this five part series on external loads hung on the A-7A full scale mock up, Maybe there was something new or of interest to you.

A-7A Mock Up Weapons Loading 1964 Part Four

     As this series on the A-7A Mock up weapons loading continues the focus shifts to how to load all that hardware on the jet. These images show the mock up of the integral pylon hoist mock up and the bomb farm that supported all the different configurations that were loaded on the A-7A mock up.

LTV-66501U A-7A Mock up Integral Pylon Hoist Mock Up Utilizing a Mechanics
Speed Handle Socket Wrench 19641201 (VAHF Archives)

LTV-66503U A-7A Integral Pylon Hoist Mock-up Utilizing Milwaukee half-inch drill and 10 volt EverReady
Nickel-Cadmium Belt 19641201 (VAHF Collection)

LTC-66502U A-7A Mock up Integral Pylon Hoist Utilizing 12 volt battery powered Half-inch
electric drill by Milwaukee Electric 19541201 (VAHF Collection)

     Look at that cordless drill and battery pack, and you thought your's was heavy!.

LTV-66505U A-7A Integral pylon Hoist Mock up Milwaukee and Black and Decker Half-inch
Drills with Batteries and Chargers 19641201 (VAHF Collection)

     Here is one view of the stores array to support the A-7A mock up trials. Rocket pods, drop tanks, Snakeyes, and refueling stores are visible in this image.

LTV-65537U A-7A Mock up Stores Array 19640625 (VAHF Collection)

     In this second view of the stores array mines, cluster bombs, tactical nuclear weapons shapes, and Walleyes are visible.

LTV-65538U A-7A Mock up Stores Array 19640625 (VAHF Collection)

A-7A Mock Up Weapons Loading 1964 Part Three

    The Navy A-7 aircraft was a well known, long serving "Buddy Tanker". This ability was illustrated in the mock up fitting trials at Grand Prairie. Here are a few photos of the Beechcraft Model 385 refueling store and the D-704 refueling store. VAHF photos.

CVC-65425U-A-7A-Mock-up-Model-385-Refueling-Store-19640616

CVC-65426U-A-7A-Mock-up-Model-385-Refueling-Store-19640616

LTV-65408U-A-7A-Mock-up-D-704-Refueling-Store-19640612

LTV-65409U-A-7A-Mock-up-D-704-Refueling-Store-19640612

LTV-65534U-A-7A-Mock-up-D-704-Refueling-Store-19640625

LTV-65535U-A-7A-Mock-up-D-704-Refueling-Store-19640625

LTV-65536U-A-7A-Mock-up-D-704-Refueling-Store-19640625

A-7A Mock up Weapons Loading 1964 Part Two

     For this post the focus will be on the MK12 20mm cannon and ammunition installation in the A-7A Mock up. The AERO 33-D truck and platform is in use for ammunition loading.

LTV- 65763U A-7A Mock up Ammo Loading 19640708 VAHF Archives

LTV-65764U A-7A Mock up loading ammunition using an Aero 33-D truck and platform 19640708 VAHF Archives

LTV-65765U A-7A Mock up ammunition loading different angle 19640708 VAHF Archives

LTV-65619U A-7A Mock up ammunition compartment 19640630 VAHF Archives

LTV-65575U A-7A Mock up MK12 20mm Gun Installation LH Side 19640630 VAHF Archives