A-37 DRAGONFLY | Cessna Light Attack Aircraft | Things You Might Not Know
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- Опубліковано 11 кві 2024
- The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly is an American light attack aircraft. Developed from the T-37 Tweet primary trainer, which earned it the nickname,
“Super Tweet” served with the US Air Force throughout the Vietnam War. The aircraft also saw extensive flight time outside the United States and is currently flown by six air forces in South America.
It was developed during the Vietnam War in response to military interest in new counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft to replace aging types such as the Douglas A-1 Skyraider. A formal United States Air Force (USAF) evaluation of the T-37 Tweet primary trainer for the COIN mission was conducted in late 1962, after which it was concluded that it could be modified to perform the role effectively. The attack-orientated A-37 was directly derived from the T-37, roughly doubling in all-up weight and engine thrust to permit considerable quantities of munitions, along with extended flight endurance and additional mission avionics. The prototype YAT-37D performed its maiden flight in October 1964.
While test results were positive, a production contract was not immediately forthcoming until an uptick in combat intensity and aircraft losses became apparent. An initial batch of 25 A-37As were deployed to Vietnam under the "Combat Dragon" evaluation program in August 1967, flying from Bien Hoa Air Base on various missions, including close air support, helicopter escort, FAC, and night interdiction. The type proved effective in the theater, leading to the USAF issuing a contract to Cessna for an improved Super Tweet, designated the A-37B, in early 1967. It was primarily operated over South Vietnam, as well as in neighboring Laos and Cambodia, typically flying close air support missions in coordination with US ground forces. The A-37 proved to be relatively low-maintenance and accurate and suffered relatively few combat losses.
Following the end of the conflict, the USAF's A-37Bs were transferred from the Tactical Air Command (TAC) to TAC-gained units in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. The type was assigned to the FAC (Forward Air Control) role and given the designation OA-37B. The type was eventually phased out in the 1980s and 1990s, replaced in the FAC mission by the more formidable Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II in American service. Various international operators in many South American countries also operated the A-37; it saw active use during the Salvadoran Civil War. Over 200 aircraft were also supplied to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF), and numerous A-37Bs were captured by North Vietnamese forces near the conflict's end.
General characteristics:
Crew: 2
Length: 28 ft 3+1⁄4 in (8.617 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 10+1⁄2 in (10.935 m) (over tip tanks)
Height: 8 ft 10+1⁄2 in (2.705 m)
Wing area: 183.9 sq ft (17.08 m2)
Aspect ratio: 6.2:1
Airfoil: NACA 2418 (modified) at root, NACA 2412 (modified) at tip
Empty weight: 6,211 lb (2,817 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
Fuel capacity: 507 US gal (422 imp gal; 1,920 L) usable internal fuel (including tip tanks)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J85-GE-17A turbojet, 2,850 lbf (12.7 kN) thrust each
Performance
Maximum speed: 507 mph (816 km/h, 441 kn)
Cruise speed: 489 mph (787 km/h, 425 kn) (max. cruise)
Stall speed: 113 mph (182 km/h, 98 kn) at maximum landing weight, wheels and flaps down
Never exceed speed: 524 mph (843 km/h, 455 kn)
Combat range: 460 mi (740 km, 400 nmi) (with maximum payload)
Ferry range: 1,012 mi (1,629 km, 879 nmi) (with 4× 100 US gal (83 imp gal; 380 L) drop tanks
Service ceiling: 41,765 ft (12,730 m)
Rate of climb: 6,990 ft/min (35.5 m/s)
Armament
Guns:
1 × 7.62 mm (0.300 in) GAU-2B/A minigun in nose with 1500 rounds
Provision for SUU-11/A gun pods under wings
Hardpoints: 8 with a capacity of inner four: 860 lb (390 kg), two intermediate: 600 lb (270 kg), two outer: 500 lb (230 kg)
Rockets: LAU-3/A rocket pods
Missiles: AIM-9 Sidewinder
Bombs:
250 lb (110 kg) Mark 81, 500 lb (230 kg) Mark 82 or 750 lb (340 kg) M117 bombs
BLU-32B or BLU-1C/B fire bombs
CBU-12, CBU-22 or CBU-24 cluster bombs
SUU-14 bomb dispenser
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There was/is? an old bombing range near Boardman, Oregon and late-70's/early-80's we went out there to chase jackrabbits on motorcycles. Some mornings a T-37 or A-37 would wake us up zooming around--morning airshow. They were configured light. You see them loaded-up and just think 'really--that can fly?!' Same thoughts on the A-4 Skyhawk loaded up 'really--that can fly?!' I hope I can make it up for the Moses Lake airshow--it'd be a treat to see one again. I saw an Italian design (Caproni) on static display at an airshow 35-ish years ago that looked very similar...and Lust! All these folks buying ex-Czech L-39's...I hope some will start buying/flying the sweet Tweet.
The dragonfly is still in service with some latin American countries doing counter insurgency and interdiction missions. The FAC (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana) retired them until recently and stay only with Supertucanos for those missions, but they flew the noisy little birds literally until the wings fell off because they love them. Cessna Could re enter in production the Dragonfly with new motors, avionics and targeting systems, it could be probably superior than the T-6 and the Scorpion! 😎
The A-37 is one of my most favorite aircraft. The Michigan Air National Guard had them until transitioning to the A-10. We would be out "in the field" and we would have FACs out there with us to practice CAS.
Thank you mark keep this jet to flynn
Therre's one of these out at Temora, NSW Australia in RVNAF colours. Looks good.
Absolutely AWESOME air craft.
worked on T37s and A37s back in early 70s they were noisey little buggers.
“ Luftwaffe” and “1980’s to the 2000’s” threw me for a loop for a second 😂
I'm from Moses lake...class of 82
To bad the video isnt about the A-37, most is about the Skyraider. Try again.
FTL. you are still missing the shield 🛡️ HZ.
..those little bastards are LOUD!!!
I was hoping for dragonfly content, dont mislead us please....i skipped the early few minutes hoping for full screen documentary for dragonfly but it lied...
but hey i also like skyraider...i bet thats okay....please stop doin that
Wrong airplane brother