The Vought YA-7F "Strikefighter" is a prototype transonic attack aircraft based on the subsonic A-7 Corsair II. Two prototypes were converted from A-7Ds. The YA-7F was not ordered into production, its intended role being filled by the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
In 1985, the US Air Force requested proposals for a fast strike aircraft because of concerns that A-10 Thunderbolt II was too slow for interdiction. The design called for a new engine, either the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 or General Electric F110-GE-100. LTV responded with the YA-7F, a supersonic version of A-7 powered by an F100-PW-220 with 26,000 lbf (116 kN) thrust. During the development process, Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine reported that, early on, LTV also experimented with adapting the afterburner from an F100-PW-220 to the existing Allison TF41 engine. Because the TF41 had a higher bypass ratio, the addition of the afterburner produced a much higher thrust (26,000lbf) than the F100 could produce (which was 23,770lbf), while retaining the greater fuel economy of the TF41. To accommodate the longer engine, the fuselage was lengthened about 4 ft (1.22 m). New fuselage sections were inserted in both the forward and aft fuselage – a 30 in (76 cm) section in front of the wing and an 18 in (46 cm) section behind the wing. The reasons were three-fold: (1) to accommodate engine length issues, (2) to accommodate aerodynamic issues with shape, and (3) to accommodate weight distribution issues. The increase in internal volume allowed for more fuel and other stores improvements. The wing was strengthened and fitted with new augmented flaps, leading edge extensions and automatic maneuvering flaps.
Both 445th Flight Test Squadron YA-7F Corsair IIs prototypes with an Edwards-based A-7D
The vertical stabilizer height was increased about 10 in (25 cm), the unit horizontal tail was flipped from dihedral to anhedral, and control surfaces were flattened. The end result resembled the supersonic F-8 Crusader from which the original subsonic A-7 was derived. Many of the vehicle systems and mission systems were heavily modified and upgraded with leading edge technology, including a Molecular Sieve Oxygen Generating System and better cockpit displays. Low Altitude Night Attack Systems, an improved HUD and many software enhancements for navigation and weapons delivery were planned and being designed concurrently by Vought Dallas.
The new supersonic A-7 could accelerate with a 17,380 lb (7,880 kg) bomb load from 400 to 550 knots (1,020 km/h) in under 15 seconds and could sustain Mach 1.2 for longer times with the extra fuel.[citation needed] The YA-7F modifications allowed 7-g turn and burn capability that permitted high-speed sustained evasive maneuvers plus great improvements in high angle of attack performance. As a CAS/BAI platform to penetrate into enemy territory and return safely, the "Strikefighter" moniker was most fitting. Two A-7Ds were extensively modified, the first one flying on 29 November 1989, and breaking the sound barrier on its second flight. The second prototype flew on 3 April 1990.
The project was canceled due to improved relations with former adversaries, lower defense budgets, and the Air National Guard, by then the principal US operator of the A-7, generally favoring the in-production F-16 Fighting Falcon.[citation needed]
Variantsedit
YA-7F prototype 71-0344 in 1989 with afterburner in flightYA-7F, S/N 70-1039, at the Hill Aerospace Museum
YA-7F (A-7D Plus / A-7 Strikefighter)
Stretched, supersonic version of A-7 powered by a Pratt & Whitney F100-220 turbofan, optimized for interdiction role, but cancelled after only two were built.
^"YA-7F Strikefighter/70-1039." Hill Aerospace Museum. Retrieved: 26 January 2022.
^"YA-7F Strikefighter/70-1039." Air Force Flight Test Center Museum. Retrieved: 26 January 2022.
^YA-7F Hill Aerospace Museum faxt sheet 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
Bibliographyedit
NAVAIR 01-45AAA-1, A-7A/B Flight Manual. US Navy, 15 August 1973.
NAVAIR 01-45AAE-1, A-7C/E Flight Manual. US Navy, 1 March 1973.
Donald, David and Jon Lake, eds. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996. ISBN1-880588-24-2.
Dorr, Robert F. "A Plus for the Corsair". Air International, August 1987, Vol 33 No. 2. Bromley, UK:Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 61–65, 84–87, 93.
Higham, Robin and Carol Williams. Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF-USAF (Volume 2). Andrews AFB, Maryland: Air Force Historical Foundation, 1978. ISBN0-8138-0375-6.
Hobson, Chris. Vietnam Air Losses, USAF/USN/USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia, 1961–1973. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2001. ISBN1-85780-115-6.
Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books, 1989. ISBN0-87474-880-1.
Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911. London: Putnam, Second edition, 1976. ISBN0-370-10054-9.
Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1990. ISBN0-87021-792-5.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to YA-7F Corsair II.
Joe Baugher's website on the Ling-Temco-Vought YA-7F Corsair II
January 01, 1970
vought, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, this, article, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, dece. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this article Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Vought YA 7F news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this message The Vought YA 7F Strikefighter is a prototype transonic attack aircraft based on the subsonic A 7 Corsair II Two prototypes were converted from A 7Ds The YA 7F was not ordered into production its intended role being filled by the F 16 Fighting Falcon YA 7F Strikefighter YA 7F prototype in 1989 Role Attack aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer Ling Temco Vought Vought First flight November 1989 Status Canceled Primary user United States Air Force Number built 2 Developed from LTV A 7 Corsair II Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Aircraft on display 5 Specifications YA 7F 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development editIn 1985 the US Air Force requested proposals for a fast strike aircraft because of concerns that A 10 Thunderbolt II was too slow for interdiction The design called for a new engine either the Pratt amp Whitney F100 PW 220 or General Electric F110 GE 100 LTV responded with the YA 7F a supersonic version of A 7 powered by an F100 PW 220 with 26 000 lbf 116 kN thrust During the development process Aviation Week amp Space Technology magazine reported that early on LTV also experimented with adapting the afterburner from an F100 PW 220 to the existing Allison TF41 engine Because the TF41 had a higher bypass ratio the addition of the afterburner produced a much higher thrust 26 000lbf than the F100 could produce which was 23 770lbf while retaining the greater fuel economy of the TF41 To accommodate the longer engine the fuselage was lengthened about 4 ft 1 22 m New fuselage sections were inserted in both the forward and aft fuselage a 30 in 76 cm section in front of the wing and an 18 in 46 cm section behind the wing The reasons were three fold 1 to accommodate engine length issues 2 to accommodate aerodynamic issues with shape and 3 to accommodate weight distribution issues The increase in internal volume allowed for more fuel and other stores improvements The wing was strengthened and fitted with new augmented flaps leading edge extensions and automatic maneuvering flaps nbsp Both 445th Flight Test Squadron YA 7F Corsair IIs prototypes with an Edwards based A 7D The vertical stabilizer height was increased about 10 in 25 cm the unit horizontal tail was flipped from dihedral to anhedral and control surfaces were flattened The end result resembled the supersonic F 8 Crusader from which the original subsonic A 7 was derived Many of the vehicle systems and mission systems were heavily modified and upgraded with leading edge technology including a Molecular Sieve Oxygen Generating System and better cockpit displays Low Altitude Night Attack Systems an improved HUD and many software enhancements for navigation and weapons delivery were planned and being designed concurrently by Vought Dallas The new supersonic A 7 could accelerate with a 17 380 lb 7 880 kg bomb load from 400 to 550 knots 1 020 km h in under 15 seconds and could sustain Mach 1 2 for longer times with the extra fuel citation needed The YA 7F modifications allowed 7 g turn and burn capability that permitted high speed sustained evasive maneuvers plus great improvements in high angle of attack performance As a CAS BAI platform to penetrate into enemy territory and return safely the Strikefighter moniker was most fitting Two A 7Ds were extensively modified the first one flying on 29 November 1989 and breaking the sound barrier on its second flight The second prototype flew on 3 April 1990 The project was canceled due to improved relations with former adversaries lower defense budgets and the Air National Guard by then the principal US operator of the A 7 generally favoring the in production F 16 Fighting Falcon citation needed Variants edit nbsp YA 7F prototype 71 0344 in 1989 with afterburner in flight nbsp YA 7F S N 70 1039 at the Hill Aerospace Museum YA 7F A 7D Plus A 7 Strikefighter Stretched supersonic version of A 7 powered by a Pratt amp Whitney F100 220 turbofan optimized for interdiction role but cancelled after only two were built Operators edit nbsp United States United States Air ForceAircraft on display edit70 1039 Hill Aerospace Museum Hill AFB Utah 1 71 0344 Air Force Flight Test Center Museum Edwards AFB California 2 Specifications YA 7F editData from Hill Aerospace Museum fact sheet 3 General characteristicsCrew One pilot Length 50 ft 1 2 in 15 253 m Wingspan 38 ft 9 in 11 81 m Height 16 ft 11 in 5 16 m Empty weight 23 068 lb 10 463 kg Max takeoff weight 46 000 lb 20 865 kg Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney F100 PW 220 turbofan 26 000 lbf 120 kN with afterburner Performance Maximum speed Mach 1 2 Range 2 302 mi 3 705 km 2 000 nmi maximum with four 300 US gallon 1 100 L external tanks Service ceiling 55 000 ft 17 000 m Armament Guns 1 20 mm 0 787 in M61 Vulcan rotary cannon Hardpoints external with a capacity of over 17 000 lb 7 700 kg of ordnanceSee also edit nbsp Aviation portal Related development LTV A 7 Corsair II Vought F 8 Crusader Related lists List of attack aircraft List of military aircraft of the United StatesReferences editNotes edit YA 7F Strikefighter 70 1039 Hill Aerospace Museum Retrieved 26 January 2022 YA 7F Strikefighter 70 1039 Air Force Flight Test Center Museum Retrieved 26 January 2022 YA 7F Hill Aerospace Museum faxt sheet Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine Bibliography edit NAVAIR 01 45AAA 1 A 7A B Flight Manual US Navy 15 August 1973 NAVAIR 01 45AAE 1 A 7C E Flight Manual US Navy 1 March 1973 Donald David and Jon Lake eds Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft London AIRtime Publishing 1996 ISBN 1 880588 24 2 Dorr Robert F A Plus for the Corsair Air International August 1987 Vol 33 No 2 Bromley UK Fine Scroll ISSN 0306 5634 pp 61 65 84 87 93 Higham Robin and Carol Williams Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF USAF Volume 2 Andrews AFB Maryland Air Force Historical Foundation 1978 ISBN 0 8138 0375 6 Hobson Chris Vietnam Air Losses USAF USN USMC Fixed Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia 1961 1973 North Branch Minnesota Specialty Press 2001 ISBN 1 85780 115 6 Swanborough Gordon and Peter M Bowers United States Military Aircraft Since 1909 Washington DC Smithsonian Books 1989 ISBN 0 87474 880 1 Swanborough Gordon and Peter M Bowers United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911 London Putnam Second edition 1976 ISBN 0 370 10054 9 Swanborough Gordon and Peter M Bowers United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press 1990 ISBN 0 87021 792 5 Wings of EaglesExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to YA 7F Corsair II Vought Heritage YA 7F page YA 7F Prototype at Hill AFB Museum Joe Baugher s website on the Ling Temco Vought YA 7F Corsair II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vought YA 7F amp oldid 1186697463, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
