A-7 Corsair II

Ling-Temco-Vought · United States · first flew 1965 · fighter

The A-7 Corsair II is a single-engine subsonic carrier and land-based light attack aircraft known for its accurate bombing and long range.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, swept
E — Engines	1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	14.06 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Stubby rounded nose with chin intake
Short broad swept wing
Single-seat subsonic attacker

Recognise it by its short, stubby fuselage with a blunt rounded nose and a chin intake beneath. The broad, only modestly swept high wing and single fin give it a purposeful, workmanlike appearance.

Specifications

The A-7 Corsair II has a length of 14.06 m (46 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.8 m (39 ft).
Its maximum speed is 1100 km/h (684 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Vought based the Corsair II on its earlier F-8 Crusader but optimised it for the attack role, and it first flew in 1965. The shorter, more rounded airframe traded supersonic speed for greater payload and endurance. It served the US Navy and Air Force through the Vietnam era and beyond.

Variants

The family ran from the A-7A through the much-improved A-7D and A-7E, with two-seat trainer versions. Greece and Portugal operated export models for many years. A supersonic YA-7F derivative was tested but not produced.

Where you'll see it

The Corsair II never served in UK forces, but US examples deployed to Europe during the Cold War. It appears in British aviation reference works and the occasional preserved airframe reaches UK collections. Its role mirrors the close-air-support work later flown by RAF strike aircraft.

Related aircraft

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