Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II
The Hickory Aviation Museum’s A-7A Bureau Number 154345 is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It arrived in March of 2009. We have a number of local pilots that flew the A-7. Coordinated by Kyle & Kregg Kirby.
In 1962, the United States Navy began preliminary work on VAX (Heavier-than-air, Attack, Experimental), a replacement for the A-4 Skyhawk with greater range and payload. Particular emphasis was placed on accurate delivery of weapons to reduce the cost per target. The requirements were finalized in 1963, announcing the VAL (Heavier-than-air, Attack, Light) competition. To minimize costs, all proposals had to be based on existing designs. Vought, Douglas Aircraft, Grumman and North American Aviation responded. The Vought proposal was based on the successful Vought F-8 Crusader fighter, having a similar configuration, but shorter and more-stubby, with a rounded nose. It was selected as the winner in 1964, the company received a contract for the initial batch of aircraft, designated A-7. In 1965, the aircraft received the popular name Corsair II, after Vought's highly successful Vought F4U Corsair of World War II. (There was also a Vought O2U Corsair biplane scout and observation aircraft in the 1920s.)
National origin | United States of America |
Manufacturer | Ling-Temco-Vought |
First flight | 26-Sep-65 |
Introduction | Feb-67 |
Retired | 1991 (USAF, USN); 1993 (ANG), 1999 (Portuguese Air Force), 2014 (Hellenic Air Force) |
Status | Retired |
Primary users | United States Navy, United States Air Force, Portuguese & Hellenic Air Force |
Produced | 1965–1984 |
Number built | 1,569 |
Propulsion | Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-6; later Allison TF41-A-2 turbofan. |
Unit cost | US$2.86 million (1998) |

Crew: 1
Length: 46 ft 2 in (14.06 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 9 in (11.8 m)
Width: 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) wings folded
Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m)
Wing area: 374.9 sq ft (34.83 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 65A007 root and tip
Empty weight: 19,127 lb (8,676 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 41,998 lb overload condition.
Fuel capacity: 1,338 US gal
Powerplant: 1 x PW TF-30-P-6; later 1 x Allison TF41-A-2 non-afterburning turbofan engine, 15,000 lbf
Maximum speed: 600 kn (690 mph at Sea level
Range: 1,070 nmi; 1,231 mi maximum internal fuel
Ferry range: 1,342 nmi; 1,544 mi (2,485 km) with maximum internal and external fuel
Service ceiling: 42,000
Wing loading: 77.4 lb/sq ft (378 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.50
Armament:
- Guns: 1× M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm (0.787 in) rotary cannon with 1,030 rounds
- Hardpoints: 6× under-wing: Missiles, Bombs, Rockets, HARM, Fuel/Refueling