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I was watching “Warbirds of WWII” last night on the Discovery Channel (Modern Marvels) and they were talking about the Grumman Hellcat. There was this white haired man (he flew Hellcats in WWII but I tuned-in late and didn’t get his name) talking about his experiences in WWII. On the wall behind him was a drawing (lithograph) of a hybrid aircraft….. a cross between an A-7 and A-10!

I know from my research the A-10 won the AX-project in 1973 but the first of the 6, 1973 models, preproduction aircraft didn’t hit the ramp until early 1975 almost two years later. I have documents which states the A-10, even though it had won the competition, was forced to do a “competitive fly-off” with a modified A-7 during 1974 because of political pressure from a Congressman from Texas, where the A-7 was manufactured.

This is a little known bit of A-10 history and this is the first time I have seen anything (besides the one document I have) which relates to this pices of Hog history. It looked like some of Mr. Hank Caruso’s work and was nicely framed with a silver plaque on the bottom of the fame.

I know I’m “ate-up” with my obsession of A-10 history when something like that jumps out at me from the TV but, I would love to know the history of that print. I guess I will shoot-off an email to the Discovery Channel and MR Caruso to see if either can help me out.

O’well just thought I would post this so you can keep an eye out for it if you happen to watch the program. If you do get the chance to see this segment I’m sure you will spot the print I’m talking about.


HMFIC

I've seen it on a number of occasions, just trying to remember where all at. lol

They say, "To understand a man, you have to walk a mile in his shoes," but his clownshoe proved a most uncomfortable fit.

Someone needs to post a pic.

I'm a big fan of the Jug.

<img src="http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/sigs/snipersig.jpg " border=0>

What do you mean by "it" Horrido? Sniper the pic I saw was on the wall in the show...have no pictures.

HMFIC

The painting, both on TV and advertised in magazines. Also run across it on websites now and then.

They say, "To understand a man, you have to walk a mile in his shoes," but his clownshoe proved a most uncomfortable fit.

If people have any <i>Wings</i> or <i>Airpower</i> magazines, or any other publication where artwork is heavily advertised, check those (going back to about 1980, lol). It's pretty obvious, in the dark lizard camouflage, A-7 fuselage and tail, morphed with the A-10 wings and tail (tripple-tail in the painting).

They say, "To understand a man, you have to walk a mile in his shoes," but his clownshoe proved a most uncomfortable fit.

I JUST CHECKED AGAIN IN THE PETE SMITH BOOK,IT HAS THE STORY ON THE POLITICS AND BS OF THE YA-10 AND THE A-7D FLY OFF IN 1974.

BUT NO A-7/A-10 CROSSED JET PIC.

PRESS TO TEST

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

[quote]
I have documents which states the A-10, even though it had won the competition, was forced to do a “competitive fly-off” with a modified A-7 during 1974 because of political pressure from a Congressman from Texas, where the A-7 was manufactured.

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I recall some Aviation Week articles about a hot rodded up A-7. Think they wanted to add burner, more fuel, and other goodies. Dunno if they ever built one either.

At NAS Dallas during the 70s early 80s. At the factory nearby, they were trucking in old F-8s and overhauling them to sell to the Phillipine Air Force.

Post Nam by 75, we had lots of parked aircraft all over the States. At NAS Corpus Christi, the Army had their Huey and Snake overhaul facility. That place was packed with shotup Hueys. It actually was the largest base employer and did all service branches Huey overhauls.

Jack

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>. Think they wanted to add burner, more fuel, and other goodies. Dunno if they ever built one either.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I suspect that was the A-7F Ezyjack

here it has the normal A-7 tailcone , but you can see the re-heat can of the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 turbofan 26,000 lbs thrust lurking inside
<img src="http://www.ascho.wpafb.af.mil/AFphotos/photos/A-7F-4.jpg" border=0>

here it has a more conventional burner can arrangement, and you might be able to tell it had frames added in front and behind the wing.
<img src="http://www.ascho.wpafb.af.mil/AFphotos/photos/A-7F-9.jpg" border=0>

http://www.vought.com/heritage/products/html/ya-7f.html
http://www.hill.af.mil/museum/photos/coldwar/a-7.htm

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>

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The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

Man, i bet that would've been a damned fine aircraft.

Too bad the Navy didn't come up with that idea instead of that Bug thingy they use.

<img src="http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/sigs/snipersig.jpg " border=0>

We had some A7's on the boat on both of my cruises. They were really hpoing that the upgraded bird would pan out. The specs say it could carry up to 17,000 lbs of iron. If it would have carried that much I cant venture to guess but if it could, theres no doubt it would have been a great battle field asset.

By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a pearage or Westminster Abbey........Nelson

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YGBSM !

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
[quote]. Think they wanted to add burner, more fuel, and other goodies. Dunno if they ever built one either.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I suspect that was the A-7F Ezyjack

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Did build some. Kool, brain cells still working. It really looks close to a F-8 too. Best advice I ever received from an Admiral at some AOM, read Aviation Leak.

A-7 pilots always did like their bird and their mission.

Jack

My source says the fly-off was with an A-7D model, maybe the F would have been the production model but I don't know for sure. <img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle> I know one thing it must have been a strong political power to force this fly-off because the AX-10 had been declared the winner and the funds for the first 6 pre-production A-10s released!

HMFIC

[quote]
My source says the fly-off was with an A-7D model, maybe the F would have been the production model but I don't know for sure. <img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle> I know one thing it must have been a strong political power to force this fly-off because the AX-10 had been declared the winner and the funds for the first 6 pre-production A-10s released!
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Politics are always behind big weapons deals.

Can't recall any of my Navy drivers in the flyoff. Tomcats were coming into the fleet about then.

Jack

The A-7F proposal was later than the competition with the A-10. The A-7F was an attempt to compete with the F/A-16 as well as possible FMS business. It happened about the same time as the F-20 project.

Coach

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
The A-7F proposal was later than the competition with the A-10. The A-7F was an attempt to compete with the F/A-16 as well as possible FMS business. It happened about the same time as the F-20 project.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Coach is correct. The time frame was 1987. The A-10 was out of production and we were struggling to keep the T-46 alive. The Air Force refused to give us the $133 million authorized by Congress and stopped work on the T-46 on March 13, 1987 (Friday the 13th). A short time later Vought got a $133 million contract to develop the A-7F.

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