MBot Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 The A-7E Corsair II is among my favorite aircraft, so I have been looking for some footage lately. Between 1984 and 1991, the A-7 has been replaced by the F/A-18 in the US Navy's service. During Desert Shield/Desert Storm 1990/91, the two sole remaining A-7 squadrons, VA-46 Clansmen and VA-72, both deployed aboard USS John F. Kennedy for their final combat combat operations. Some interesting trivia. During Desert Storm the A-7 carried comparatively light loadouts for the type. 2 of the 6 hardpoints were removed on most aircraft (either stations 2/6 or 3/7) in order to decrease drag. Despite operating from the Red Sea, some 500-700 NM from their targets, Corsairs only rarely carried drop tanks. Ironically, many think that during Desert Storm, the A-7 has been the superior attack aircraft compared to its successor the F/A-18, being able to carry more payload further and dropping it with equal precision. A truly amazing strike aircraft for its time. Here are some excellent photo pages of VA-46 and VA-72: http://www.seaforces.org/usnair/VA/Attack-Squadron-46.htm http://www.seaforces.org/usnair/VA/Attack-Squadron-72.htm Some highlights from Desert Storm: A loadout of either 4 Mk-83 or Mk-84. 8 Mk-82 was another standard load. 6 or 8 Mk-20 Rockeye were also common. 3 or 4 AGM-88 HARM. I have read reports of 4 HARMs being loaded, but the few pictures with both sides visible show 3 missiles. 6 missiles would have been possible technically. Tactical Air Launched Decoys TALD. 8 Mk-82 Snakeye. This pictures shows nicely how pylons were removed asymmetrically (center pylon on one side and inboard pylon on the other side). Probably Mk-84 and AGM-88 in the background. AGM-62 Walleye II. Bomb-truck. And some older pictures: AGM-45 Shrike and Mk-20 Rockey during Libya 1986. AGM-88 HARM and Mk-20 Rockeye during Libya 1986. AN/AAR-45 FLIR for navigation/attack at night. Training with Mk-82. Naval mines. More mines. Corsairs dropped LGBs in Vietnam and carried them occasionally later (lasing by A-6 Intruders), but didn't use any during Desert Storm. In Vietnam, Corsairs frequently carried bombs on Multiple Ejector Racks MER. That is probably an airshow loadout though. According to the A-7D manual, maximum loadout is 24 Mk-82 on 4 MER (with two empty stations) and reduced internal fuel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBot Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share Posted March 6, 2016 This is some rare and interesting footage from VA-72 Blue Hawks' cruise during desert Storm: [ame] [/ame] 27:13: A Corsair makes a barrier landing with apparently live ammunition. Immediately after landing, a crewmen rushes to remove the fuse from a bomb. [ame] [/ame] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knock-Knock Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 (edited) Well, guess Im the only one agreeing with you, albeit a very late reply :). I love the A-7 too, and is right at the top of my want list. A honest no bullshit made for a single job unique looking 60's era carrier jet. Whats not to like. Edited January 13, 2019 by Knock-Knock - Jack of many DCS modules, master of none. - Personal wishlist: F-15A, F-4S Phantom II, JAS 39A Gripen, SAAB 35 Draken, F-104 Starfighter, Panavia Tornado IDS. | Windows 11 | i5-12400 | 64Gb DDR4 | RTX 3080 | 2x M.2 | 27" 1440p | Rift CV1 | Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS | MFG Crosswind pedals | Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knock-Knock Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Oh, and a nice 360 A-7D cockpit, so we can pretend :) http://www.nmusafvirtualtour.com/cockpits/SEAW_tour/SEAW-2.html - Jack of many DCS modules, master of none. - Personal wishlist: F-15A, F-4S Phantom II, JAS 39A Gripen, SAAB 35 Draken, F-104 Starfighter, Panavia Tornado IDS. | Windows 11 | i5-12400 | 64Gb DDR4 | RTX 3080 | 2x M.2 | 27" 1440p | Rift CV1 | Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS | MFG Crosswind pedals | Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santus Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 +1 - Livery Catalog - Youtube channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emu Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Some stuff from Desert Storm at 27:12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterH Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Definitely worth necroing. I would love this thing in DCS. If possible both E and D, but if just one version, E would be sweet. Wishlist: F-4E Block 53 +, MiG-27K, Su-17M3 or M4, AH-1F or W circa 80s or early 90s, J35 Draken, Kfir C7, Mirage III/V DCS-Dismounts Script Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizard_03 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 I want the F-8 but I'd settle for an A-7 DCS F/A-18C :sorcerer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emu Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 I want the F-8 but I'd settle for an A-7 Yes, the F-8 had the highest kill ratio in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knock-Knock Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 - Jack of many DCS modules, master of none. - Personal wishlist: F-15A, F-4S Phantom II, JAS 39A Gripen, SAAB 35 Draken, F-104 Starfighter, Panavia Tornado IDS. | Windows 11 | i5-12400 | 64Gb DDR4 | RTX 3080 | 2x M.2 | 27" 1440p | Rift CV1 | Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS | MFG Crosswind pedals | Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumbik Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 My avatar is ready for this beauty. Razbam, hurry up! :D Do, or do not, there is no try. -------------------------------------------------------- Sapphire Nitro+ Rx Vega 64, i7 4790K ... etc. etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmy Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Those SLUFF drivers could seriously rock & roll in the weeds. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] http://www.476vfightergroup.com/content.php High Quality Aviation Photography For Personal Enjoyment And Editorial Use. www.crosswindimages.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tflash Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Didn't read the thread yet but I can be short: YES to the SLUFF in DCS! [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiG21bisFishbedL Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Reformers hate him! This one weird trick found by a bush pilot will make gunfighter obsessed old farts angry at your multi-role carrier deck line up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBot Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 sTs8lAbA1FE YB13EFKX6fs That second video is fascinating. These are apparently some very late software modifications from 1986. A lot of the attack mode transitions shown near the end are very reminiscent of the Hornet (AUTO->CCIP transition). A difference I spot is that when an attack is made with CCIPD (=CCIP WPDSG in the Hornet) but no release is made when the solution cue hits the flight path marker, the system automatically switches to normal CCIP. Lateral toss bombing looks pretty funky :) Interestingly but not unexpectedly for the era, low level operations seems to be pretty much the center of attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 I just loved to fly this in Strike Fighters 2. Really wish to have it on DCS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrike88 Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 Wasnt there a mod out there making a flyable A-7E to hold us over in the meantime ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRLWBIVvoZs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozon Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Very cool images. For some reason the A7 is better looking than the F-8. Maybe the relatively shorter fuselage has proportions that are better pleasing to the eye. What does this mean? 39 camels destroyed? Ironically, many think that during Desert Storm, the A-7 has been the superior attack aircraft compared to its successor the F/A-18, being able to carry more payload further and dropping it with equal precision. I am going to catch some flak for this, but I think the above says more about the F/A-18 as a modern carrier attack plane than it does about the A-7. “Mosquitoes fly, but flies don’t Mosquito” :pilotfly: - Geoffrey de Havilland. ... well, he could have said it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanRL Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 39 camels destroyed? The camel silhouettes on the port side of the fuselage designate the 39 missions flown in the Gulf War. The joke being that bombs hit desert and in the desert there are camels IIRC. Source: My callsign is Shooter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elchacal Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Great plane! Can't wait to fly it on DCS! [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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