Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair

In principle, both the Navy and Marine Corps were to have replaced the Skyhawk with the winner of the VAL contest, designed to requirements issued in May 1963. Vought won this competition with the A-7 Corsair II, early in 1964, the resulting A-7A making its first flight on 27 September 1965. Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-6 turbofan of 11,350 lb (5 147 kg), the A-7A had an empty weight of 14,857 lb (6738 kg), a total of eight weapon pylons, and a design catapult gross weight of 32,500 lb (14 740 kg).
The Corsair II was clearly going to cost far more and require more maintenance effort than the smaller, simpler Skyhawk. In addition, it may well have been that the A-7 provided capabilities that were far in excess of those demanded by the Marines for the short-range close-support mission. The two services therefore went their separate ways, the Navy adopting the Corsair II, while the Marine Corps funded a further stage of Skyhawk development.
Produced to a US Navy specification in the 1960s for a carrier-based light attack aircraft, the Vought A-7 Corsair II was based on the earlier F-8 Crusader interceptor and first flew on 27 September 1965. The designers made the structure simpler, and by rejecting supersonic performance made it possible to use a smaller and more efficient turbofan engine and carry a much heavier load of fuel and weapons. Comprehensive electronics were added for flying and attacking surface targets at night or in bad weather. Required to operate with a larger load of conventional ordnance than the standard naval fighter-bomber of the day the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, it enjoyed a rapid development period, and by December 1967 was in operational service over Vietnam. It can operate from rough airstrips and carry bomb loads up to 6,800kg (15,000 lb). With 12 bombs hung under the wings it can fly at 1040 km/h (646mph.
The first Corsair II version, the A-7A, entered service with the US Navy in 1966. Subsequent versions, most of them with an Allison/Rolls-Royce TF41 engine, have introduced further combat capabilities, including blind precision attack on surface targets and a rapid-fire six-barrel gun. 

LTV A-7B Corsair II

Three naval Corsair variants were produced before the USAF commissioned a new mode, designated A-7D. This was all extensively improved variant with a far more capable nav/attack system, as part of a completely revised avionics fit, and a licence-built Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan providing more power than the Pratt & Whitney TF30 installed in earlier aircraft. Such were the changes that the A-7D had only 25 per cent commonality with the original A-7A, Production of the A-7D totalled 459 between 1968 and 1976, the survivors operated with Air National Guard (ANG) units, some aircraft having seen service in Vietnam during 1972, flying from Thailand. Deliveries of a combat-capable trainer, the A-7K, involved 32 aircraft (31 new and a converted A-7D which acted as prototype) between 1980 and 1983, one being issued to each ANG squadron and the rest to a training group.

Vought flew the first example of the A-7H Corsair II, a land-based version of the A-7E of which 60 had been ordered for service with the Royal Hellenic air force, on 6 May 1975.

Land-based export versions comprised six (five new) TA-7H trainers for Greece; and 44 A-7P plus six TA-7P aircraft for Portugal, The latter variants are TF30-engined A-7As rebuilt with more capable A-7E avionics.

Gallery

A-7A Corsair II
Engine: Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-6 turbofan, 11,350 lb (5 147 kg),
Empty weight: 14,857 lb (6738 kg)
Hardpoints: 8
Catapult gross weight: 32,500 lb (14 740 kg)
Bomb load: 6,800kg (15,000 lb).
Max speed ext. load: 1040 km/h / 646mph.

A-7B Corsair II

A-7D Corsair II
Engine: one 6804-kg (15,000-lb) thrust Allison TF41-A-2 (Rolls-Royce Spey) turbofan.
Wing span 11,80 m (38 ft 9 in)
Length 14.06 m (46 ft 11½ in)
Height 4.90 m (16 ft ¾ in)
Wing area 34,83 sq.m (375 sq ft).
Empty weight: 8676 kg (19,127 lb)
Maximum take-off 19061 kg (42,000 lb)
Maximum speed: 1110 km/h (690 mph) SL
Maximum speed: 1040 km/h (646 mph) at 1525 m (5,000 ft) with 12 227-kg (500-lb) bombs
Ferry range 3670 km (2,280 miles) on internal fuel
Armament: one internal M61A1 20-min rotary cannon (with 1,000 rounds); six under-wing and two fuselage pylons for over 6804 kg (15, 000 lb) of stores, including AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs on fuselage attachments.

A-7E Corsair II
Engine : TF41 (Rolls Royce RB 168-62 Spey), 66747 N / 6804 kp
Length : 46.129 ft / 14.06 m
Height : 16.010 ft / 4.88 m
Wingspan : 38.681 ft / 11.79 m
Wing area : 375.018 sqft / 34.84 sq.m
Max take off weight : 42005.3 lb / 19050.0 kg
Weight empty : 17571.6 lb / 7969.0 kg
Max. speed : 607 kts / 1125 km/h
Wing load : 112.14 lb/sq.ft / 547.00 kg/sq.m
Maximum range : 2411 nm / 4465 km
Range : 2411 nm / 4465 km
Range (max. weight) : 918 nm / 1700 km
Crew : 1
Armament : 1 MK 20mm M61 A1/1000rds, 9072kg ext. 8pts.

A-7H Corsair II

TA-7H

A-7K
Engine: Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-6 turbofan, 11,350 lb (5 147 kg),
Seats: 2.

A-7P
Engine: Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-6 turbofan, 11,350 lb (5 147 kg),