Grumman A-6E Intruder

Grumman A-6E Intruder

About the Aircraft

Grumman A-6E Intruder

The Hickory Aviation Museum’s A-6E Bureau Number 155629 is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It was delivered in October 2021. Coordinated by Kyle and Kregg Kirby.

The Grumman A-6E Intruder was an all-weather attack aircraft for Navy long-range interdiction missions and with STOL (Short Take Off/Landing) capability for Marine close air support. It replaced the piston engine Douglas A-1 Skyraider. Operated by a crew of two in a side-by-side seating configuration, the workload was divided between the pilot and weapons officer (bombardier/navigator (BN). The Intruder had a maximum takeoff weight of 60,400 pounds (empty weight 26,600 pounds) and had a top speed of more than 640 miles per hour.

National Origin United States
Manufacturer Grumman
First flight 19 April 1960
Introduction February 1963
Retired 1997, U.S. Navy, 1993, USMC
Status Retired
Primary users United States Navy, United States Marine Corps
Produced 1962–1992
Number built 693
Propulsion 2 x Pratt-Whitney J52-P8B Turbojets
Unit cost US$26mil (FY80)
Variants A-6A/B/C/E/F, KA-6D Tanker, EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare
Grumman A-6E Intruder BuNo 155629 L

General Characteristics

Characteristics

Crew: Two, Pilot and Bombardier/Navigator
Length: 54 ft 9 in (16.69 m)
Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.15 m)
Height: 16 ft 2 in (4.93 m)
Wing area: 528.9 ft² (49.14 m²)
Empty weight: 26,660 lb (12,093 kg)
Loaded weight: 18,300 lb (8,318 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 60,400 lb (27,397 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P8B turbojet, 9,300 lbf (41 kN)

Performance

Maximum speed: 560 kn (640 mph, 1,040 km/h)
Range: 2,818 nmi (3,243 mi, 5,219 km)
Combat radius: 878 nmi, (1,010 km )
Service ceiling: 42,400 ft (12,900 m)
Rate of climb: 7,620 ft/min (38.7 m/s)
Wing loading: 70.7 lb/ft² (344.4 kg/m²)
G-limit: -2.4 to 6.5 g
Armament Hardpoints: Rockets (Zuni), Missiles (Harpoon, Maverick, Walleye, Harm, Sidewinder), Bombs (MK 82/83/84, GBU/CBU), Mines (MK 60 Captor), Baggage pods, Chaff, Flares, Practice Stores