Description

The A-7D Corsair II is a single-seat, tactical close air support aircraft. Although designed primarily as a ground attack aircraft, it also has limited air-to-air combat capability. It was derived from the basic A-7 originally 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 Dec. 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-7D demonstrated its outstanding capability to attack ground targets while flown by the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat RTAFB, Thailand during the closing months of the war in Southeast Asia. The Corsair II achieved its excellent accuracy with the aid of an automatic electronic navigation and weapon delivery system.