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The first A-7 Corsair, the A-7A, entered service with the
US Navy in the late 1960s. Fourth A-7 Corsair variant to enter
US Navy service was the A-7E. 535 a/c were built, the first
entered service in May 1970 operating with VA-146 and VA-147
aboard the USS America in South-east Asia. The A-7E is a carrier
based medium attack aircraft used on US carriers, with 24
aircraft deployed on each carrier. A slightly upgraded A-7
carried a FLIR pod on the inner right wing hardpoint, and
one of the two squadrons on a carrier flew this aircraft.
The F/A-18A and later F/A-18C started replacing the A-7E from
mid 1980s onwards. On 13 May 1991, the last A-7E was withdrawn
from service after 21 years, when VA-46 and VA-72 were disestablished
at Cecil Field, Florida, USA.
The A-7 was so successful in the Vietnam War that the USAF
built their own variant of the Corsair, the A-7D. The A-7D
first flew in 1968 and a total of 459 aircraft were built.
But it had a short career in the USAF front line. From 1977
onwards the A-7Ds transferred to Air National Guard units,
giving the way to the A-10 Thunderbolt II in the early 1980s.
The A-7D has now been retired form US service. The A-7D was
fitted with the TF41-A-1 engine. From the late 1970s the A-7D
were retrofitted with the Pave Penny TISL laser designator
and a M61A1 nose cannon was also fitted. The A-7 Corsair have
proven itself in combat over Vietnam, Grenada, Lebanon, Libya
and most recent in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, flying from
USN carriers. The two seat A-7K Corsair never entered service
with the USAF but went directly to the US ANG. The final A-7K
was the 1545th and last A-7 Corsair to be built and was delivered
in 1984. Two A-7Ks were provided to each ANG squadron primarily
for training, but the two-seater is fully combat-capable.
The last A-7K left the USAF inventory in mid 1993. The last
unit to operate the A-7D/K was the 125th FS of the ANG at
Tulsa IAP, Oklahoma, USA. This unit transferred to the F-16C/D.
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