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 |
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)
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
