The A-7 Corsair II was developed in the early 1960s by Ling‑Temco‑Vought (LTV) to serve as a carrier-based light attack aircraft for the U.S. Navy, replacing the older Douglas A‑4 Skyhawk. Drawing design inspiration from the Navy’s supersonic F‑8 Crusader fighter, the A‑7 used a similar layout but was optimized for subsonic attack missions with heavier bomb loads, longer range, and more modern avionics rather than top speed. The maiden flight of the YA‑7 prototype took place on September 27, 1965. The aircraft entered operational service with the U.S. Navy in February 1967. Over the course of its production run (from 1965 through the early 1980s), approximately 1,500 examples were built. The A‑7 saw its baptism of fire during the Vietnam War, flying from aircraft carriers and engaging in ground-attack missions, delivering ordnance with improved accuracy thanks to its advanced navigation and weapons systems. Beyond Vietnam, the aircraft also participated in later conflicts and operations including the U.S. invasion of Panama (Operation Just Cause, 1989) and played a significant role in Operation Desert Storm (1991). During Desert Storm, A‑7E aircraft flew hundreds of combat sorties—around 700–725 missions—without a single one lost to enemy action during that conflict. The U.S. Navy retired its last A‑7Es in May 1991. The U.S. Air Force versions (A‑7D) had already transitioned to Air National Guard units by the late 1980s. Beyond U.S. service, A‑7s continued to fly abroad; for example, they remained active in the Hellenic Air Force until 2014. Although not a supersonic aircraft, the A‑7 Corsair II stood out for its precision-attack capability, advanced avionics for its time (including a heads-up display and inertial navigation system), and its effectiveness in the attack role. It bridged the gap in carrier-based strike capability for decades, making it an important piece of aviation and naval-aviation history.

The Museum’s A-7 Corsair ll participated in the invasion of the island nation of Grenada by United States armed forces in 1983. That same year, in December, the airplane also participated in the raid on Lebanon, attacking Syrian ammunition depots. And in 1991, the A-7 flew 39 missions over enemy territory in Iraq in the first Gulf War. The camel silhouettes on the left-hand fuselage evidence this. The cockpit markings also indicate that the aircraft dropped 64 general-purpose bombs, 105 cluster bomb three walleye glide bombs, and launched 10 HARMS missiles.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type Light Attack Aircraft

Weight 9,490 empty; 42,000 lbs. Max

Wingspan 38 ft. 9 in.

Length 46 ft. 2 in.

Height 16 ft. 1 in.

Power One 15,000 lbs. thrust Allison TF-41Turbofan engine

Armament One 20 mm cannon; 15,000 lbs. of mixed ordnance

Manufacturer LTV Aerospace Corp.

PERFORMANCE

Maximum Speed                      693 mph

Cruising Speed                         373 mph

Range                                           2,300 miles

Service Ceiling                          42,000 ft.