Have you ever heard of A-37 Dragonfly?

 

The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, also known as the Super Tweet, is an American light attack aircraft designed and produced by Cessna. It was developed during the Vietnam War to fulfill the military's need for a new counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft. The A-37 was derived from the Cessna T-37 Tweet, a basic trainer aircraft. The T-37 was evaluated by the United States Air Force (USAF) for its suitability in the COIN mission and was found capable of being modified for the role.

The A-37 Dragonfly had a significant increase in weight and engine thrust compared to the T-37. This allowed it to carry a larger payload of munitions and have extended flight endurance. The prototype YAT-37D made its first flight in October 1964.

After positive test results, a production contract was eventually awarded to Cessna. The A-37A variant was deployed to Vietnam under the "Combat Dragon" evaluation program in August 1967. It performed various missions such as close air support, helicopter escort, forward air control (FAC), and night interdiction. The aircraft proved effective and led to the USAF ordering an improved version, designated the A-37B. The A-37B was mainly operated over South Vietnam, as well as in neighboring Laos and Cambodia. It demonstrated reliability, accuracy, and relatively low combat losses.

Following the Vietnam War, the USAF's A-37Bs were transferred to the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. These aircraft were given the designation OA-37B and were primarily used in the forward air control (FAC) role. The A-37B/OA-37B was gradually phased out in the 1980s and 1990s, with the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II replacing it in the FAC mission.

The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly was renowned for its versatility and effectiveness in counterinsurgency operations. It flew over 10,000 missions in its first year of combat duty and gained a reputation for being a hard-hitting and capable aircraft. The South Vietnamese Air Force also operated 25 A-37s until the end of the war in 1975. In total, 577 A-37B aircraft were built, and they were widely deployed as light attack aircraft. Besides the United States, the A-37B was purchased by Turkey and several South American countries, where they remained in service. Some Air National Guard units in the United States still operate the A-37B as a forward air control aircraft. Additionally, a limited number of A-37Bs are in the possession of private collectors.

Here are some specifications of the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly:

Crew: 2

Maximum takeoff weight: 14,000 lb

Wingspan: 35 ft 11 in

Length: 28 ft 3 in

Height: 8 ft 11 in

Maximum speed: 525 mph

Cruise speed: 460 mph

Rate of climb: 7,000 ft/min

Powerplant: 2 x General Electric J85-GE-17A

General Electric J85-GE-17A engine

Cessna A-37A weapon load display

 

Cessna OA-37B Dragonfly cockpit

Then-1st Lt. Cort Durocher poses with an A-37B Dragonfly of the 604th Special Operations Squadron at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Cort Durocher

These variants of the A-37 Dragonfly, the A-37A and A-37B, were extensively used in combat missions during the Vietnam War and continued to serve in various air forces beyond that period. They proved to be effective light attack aircraft with good combat performance and relatively low maintenance requirements.