Cessna A-37 Dragonfly (Super Tweet)

History of the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly (big tweet)

The United States Air Force (USAF) already used the straight-wing jet-powered Cessna T-37 "Tweet" as its primary trainer during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). Introduced in 1957, the aircraft remained in operation until 2009, with approximately 1,269 built. As the U.S. invested more in the war, so did its needs, including a stable light ground attack platform, for which two T-37C variants were evaluated. This spawned a revised version of the Tweet series, named "A-37", nicknamed "Dragonfly", which eventually produced/modified over 600 types under the Cessna brand label.

These are used by countries such as the US Air Force, the South Vietnamese Armed Forces, Chile and Peru.

Compared to the T-37, the A-37 has several significant modifications in the light attack role. The landing gear and wings have been strengthened, and the fuel tanks on the wingtips have been enlarged to facilitate better dwell time and operating envelope.

The fuselage also houses an internal GE Minigun Gatling system for melee attacks. The cockpit has been updated to accommodate the USAF's modern weapons support, navigation and communications equipment.

Each wing was initially granted the use of three hardpoints and licenses to carry various types of ordnance in the USAF inventory. Two staff members kept the original tweet and sat side by side, completing the original tweet's dual control scheme.

Visibility is excellent thanks to the lightweight framed hood. The aircraft is powered by 2 General Electric J85-J2/5 turbojets, each producing approximately 2,400 pounds of thrust.

This revision resulted in the "YAT-37D" prototype, which was used to demonstrate the platform's feasibility to the US Air Force authorities. The first flight was recorded in October 1964, after a period of growing disinterest in the delayed aircraft and mounting losses of other close support systems, forcing the USAF to refocus its attention on the A-37 program . A second prototype was added during testing, and this model included a pair of extra turrets for better ammo support.

The YAT-37D subsequently transitioned from its test role to the "AT-37D", which subsequently evolved into the final designation "A-37A" and the subsequent production model.

Upon completion, the A-37 received a broad, squat forward fuselage, which tapers to the tail. The wings are designed to be straight and covered with wingtip fuel tanks. The underwing pylons stay well outside the fuselage.

The twin-engine assembly is buried in the fuselage and drawn in from two small air intakes on the sides of the plane. The tail consists of a vertical tail with a horizontal plane in the middle. The landing gear is fully retractable and short, resulting in a very low profile at rest.

Thirty-nine modifications of the T-37 aircraft formed the first A-37A production models. It was followed by the final Type 577 "A-37B" with upgraded General Electric J85-GE-17A turbojets, each producing 2,850 pounds of thrust.

The aircraft also feature mid-air refueling capabilities, as well as enhanced internal fuel storage to compensate for the aircraft's inherent limited range. The fuselage has been further strengthened to withstand the rigors of low-altitude flight and attack.

The last Dragonfly model to appear was the reconnaissance aircraft OA-37B, which evolved from the A-37B model and served an armed reconnaissance mission.

In August 1967, more than two dozen A-37As were delivered to Southeast Asia for active duty service by the USAF. These primarily serve in close air support (CAS), forward air control (FAC), night attack, armed escort and armed reconnaissance roles. With a robust ammunition arsenal, the Little Dragonfly proved invaluable, capable of firing at targets with machine guns and cannons, dropping conventional ordnance, and firing unguided rockets from pods.

Although not lost in the early stages, this period demonstrates some of the limitations of the system - namely in terms of its range of operation. This led to a longer-lived model known as the A-37B, which arrived as a prototype in September 1967. Unlike the previously modified A-37A models, the A-37B platforms are all Cessna "new build" airframes.

Before the end of the Vietnam War, American A-37s were handed over to the South Vietnamese Air Force, which in turn resulted in them being captured by the victorious North following the American withdrawal.

In addition to the Vietnam conflict, other notable combat operations involving A-37s were recorded during the El Salvador Civil War, with the El Salvador Air Force using A-37Bs supplied by the US stockpile against rebels.

Overall, the A-37 has proven to be operated by numerous operators, many of which have been delivered to customers in Central and South America - Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and Uruguay. Operators in Southeast Asia include South Korea, South Vietnam, Thailand and Vietnam native (captive specimens).

Many A-37s now exist as museum exhibits, while an amazing 50 or so are still operating on the front lines (mainly in Central and South America).

Performance specs include (A-37B) a top speed of 505 mph, a cruising speed of nearly 490 mph, and a ferry range of up to 920 miles. It has a combat radius of 460 miles, and the aircraft can reach altitudes of nearly 42,000 feet. The climb rate is approximately 7,000 feet per minute.

Vietnamese-era American pilots affectionately called their dragonflies "super tweeters" in honor of their origins.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes