The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly was a ground-attack aircraft employed by the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. Since it was a low-cost, light combat airplane, it was used to fight guerrilla armies in low-intensity warfare in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. It was a very maneuverable and reliable aircraft due to its wide wing span and sturdy fuselage, capable of carrying and delivering a heavy bomb-load. It was exported to Latin American countries, such as Peru, Colombia, and Chile.
Most military trainers are usually developed from combat aircraft. However, the case of the A-37 Dragonfly was the other way around, for it was based on a trainer; the Cessna T-37, whose prototype, the XT-37, had made its first flight on October 12, 1954. The combat version prototype (YAT-37D), on the other hand, first flew on October 22, 1963, entering service with the US Air Force in May 1967 as the A-37 Dragonfly, which would be nicknamed the 'Super Tweet'. Having been introduced, it was immediately deployed in Vietnam, where it would fly many combat sorties, providing important fire support to ground troops during search and destroy missions. When the war in Southeast Asia ended in 1975, some were abandoned to the communist forces.
Below, the A-37B version flying over the jungle-covered terrain of Vietnam.
Technical Characteristics
The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly was a two-seat, twin-engine monoplane. It had an all-metal, semi-monocoque fuselage. It was fitted with cantilever low-wing, with straight leading edge and a trailing edge that tapered only slightly. Thus, the wing was rather rectangular in shape. Because of its low drag characteristics, the aircraft featured a hydraulically-operated speed brake located on belly of fuselage. The A-37B version was powered by two General Electric J85-17A turbojet engines, each of which could deliver 2,850 pounds of thrust. To lengthen the combat range, the aircraft was equipped with two wing-tip fuel tanks.
Both trainer and attack aircraft were equipped with two ejection seats and jettisonable canopy. It had a wide-tread landing gear and steerable nose wheel for maximum safety in landing and ground operations. The cockpit was wide and comfortable, with two, side by side seats. To withstand the rigor of combat flying at low altitudes, the A-37 was stressed for 6-G loading and, as such, was a capable dogfighter. The nose of the aircraft housed a gatling-type GAU-2 minigun.
Specifications (A-37B)
Type: two-seat ground-attack aircraft
Length: 8.62 m (28 feet, 3 inches)
Wing Span: 10.93 m (35 feet, 10 inches)
Wing Area: 17.09 m2 (184 sqaure feet)
Height: 2.70 m (8 feet, 10 inches)
Power Plant: two General Electric J85-17A turbojet engines.
Maximum Speed: 816 km/h (507 mph)
Range: 740 km (460 miles), with maximum bomb-load.
Service Ceiling: 12,730 m (41,750 feet)
Armament: one 7.62-mm, GAU-2B minugun; 2,268-kg (5,450-lb) of bombs/rockets.
Crew: two
Below, the T-37B trainer, from which the A-37 would be developed.
A Dragonfly in a combat operation drops two Mk 82 bombs on enemy positions.
Below, the Super Tweet during combat exercises in the 1970s.
Combat footage of a squadron of A-37 Dragonfly aircraft in Vietnam (video)
Below, the nose of a A-37B was opened to expose the GAU-2 minigun.
