Cessna A-37 Dragonfly

Cessna · United States · first flew 1963 · fighter

The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly is an American light attack aircraft developed from the T-37 Tweet trainer, fitted with more powerful engines and weapons systems for counter-insurgency and close air support missions. It served extensively in Vietnam.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.62 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Twin-turbofan light attack aircraft derived from T-37 Tweet
Refuelling probe on nose — COIN specialist
Small, nimble jet with underwing hardpoints and wingtip tanks

Resembles the T-37 but with a nose-mounted refuelling probe, eight underwing hardpoints, enlarged wingtip tanks, and uprated General Electric J85 engines.

Specifications

The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly has a length of 8.62 m (28 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.3 m (34 ft).
Its maximum speed is 816 km/h (507 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

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

History

The A-37 was developed in the early 1960s when the USAF sought a combat-capable version of the T-37 for COIN operations. It saw extensive combat in Vietnam with USAF and South Vietnamese Air Force units. Following the war, it was widely exported to Latin American air forces.

Variants

The YAT-37D was the prototype; the A-37A was the initial combat version; the A-37B with more fuel and inflight-refuelling capability was the primary production variant.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the USAF in Vietnam, and subsequently by the air forces of South Vietnam, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, South Korea, Thailand, and Uruguay.

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