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Kit Bashing, Technology

F-15 50th Anniversary: The A-Sat, with some visual tips for the kit builder

Video

ASat=Anti Satellite

Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) ASM (Anti Satellite Missile)-135A: Two solid-rocket stages (first stage made by Boeing), third rocket stage with telescopic heat seeker known as the Miniature Homing Vehicle, speed of 15-thousand miles per hour.

McDonnell-Douglas F-15A Eagle: F-15 EAGLE NOW 50 YEARS OLD, a quick visual history

Boeing promotional photo dated August 1982. Note, the F-15A in the background is not the F-15A used in the ‘Capture Carry’ part of the ASat testing program.

First ‘capture carry’ flights of F-15A Eagle #76-0086 armed with ASat were in December 1982.

F-15A Eagle armed with the ASM-135A, 21DEC1982. U.S. Air Force photo by H.L. Wilson.

Over Edwards Air Force Base, California, 21DEC1982. U.S. Air Force photo by Al Chang.

Over Edwards AFB, California. Boeing photo released in January 1983.

Model kit builders take note, the ‘fin flash’ on 76-0086 is changed sometime between 1983 and 1985.

ASat equipped Eagle over Vandenberg AFB, California, 03APR1985.
USAF photo by Paul E. Reynolds.

The actual launch of the ASM-135A was done in September 1985, by F-15A #76-0084 first seen in the photo from August 1982.  Model kit builders note that back in August 1982, 76-0084 did not have the fin flash. 

F-15 launches an ASat, somewhere off California’s Pacific Coast. USAF photo by Paul E. Reynolds, 13SEP1985.

In September 1985, a Solwind P78-1 satellite was destroyed by the ASM-135A ASat, launched by F-15A Eagle 76-0084.

Major Wilbert ‘Doug’ Pearson successfully launched the ASM-135A. USAF photo by Paul E. Reynolds, 13SEP1985.

The successful ASat program was canceled in 1988, due to U.S. public concern over the possibility of war in space.  However, that concern seems to have disappeared as the U.S. now has a dedicate military Space Force, co-chaired by the British empire.

Father gives his son some pointers about flying ‘his’ Celestial Eagle. USAF photo by Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer, 13SEP2007.

In September 2007, an anniversary flight of 76-0084 was arranged, with Major General (retired) Doug Pearson’s son, Captain Todd Pearson (and for those of use in Idaho, this is the Idaho connection), at the controls.  It was then that 76-0084 was dubbed ‘Celestial Eagle’.  Model builders note that it was not named Celestial Eagle at the time of the launch.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer, 13SEP2007.

08MAR2015, USAF Space Systems Command releases this video about the only launch of ASM-135A:

Computer generated scenario of resulting debris field created by an ASat strike.  As you will see by the date code on the video, it was made in 2014, yet the U.S. Air Force didn’t publicly release the video until November 2021:

F-15 50th Anniversary: LAST HURRAH FOR OREGON’S 173RD FW?

SANDMAN’S SWAN SONG?

EAGLE GETS CANNIBALIZED, LEFTOVERS SENT TO THE BONEYARD, NO MORE OREGON EAGLES?

DESERT STORM FIRST BLOOD FOR USAF F-15s, THE NEVER ENDING TAR BABY CALLED IRAQ!

F-15A POLE DANCER, OR WHATEVER HAPPENED TO 72-0113?

Terminator, October 2022: SPACE FORCE JOINS N-A-S-C-A-R!

Technology

Cold War Aggressor: EA-7L the ‘electric’ TA-7C Corsair-2

Image

At least six U.S. Navy TA-7C Corsair-2 training aircraft were sent to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron VAQ-34 and converted to EA-7L electronic ‘aggressor’ aircraft.  Apparently they were still marked as TA-7Cs?

In this photo you can see that these VAQ-34 EA-7Ls(?) are still marked as TA-7Cs on the fuselage sides. VAQ-34 also flew ‘pure’ TA-7Cs, but both these aircraft are carrying black nosed Radar Signal Simulator (RSS) pods.

VAQ-34 was created in 1983, and based at Point Magu in California.  Point Magu is also the home of the Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC).

A view of a TA-7C ‘pre-EA-7L’ Corsair II aircraft fitted with a pod carrying a Radar Signal Simulator (RSS), parked in front of Building 351 at the Pacific Missile Test Center, California. USN photo by M. Washington, 27JUN1982.

The EA-7L was the result of Radar Signal Simulator (RSS) testing, also at the PMTC, in 1982.

Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, EA-7L/TA-7C fitted with Radar Signal Simulator (RSS) pod. USN photo by M. Washington, 27JUN1982.

Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, EA-7L/TA-7C fitted with a red RSS pod. USN photo by M. Washington, 27JUN1982.

Pacific Missile Test Center, Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, TA-7C/EA-7L fitted with a red Radar Signal Simulator (RSS) pod. USN photo by M. Washington, 27JUN1982.

Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, EA-7L/TA-7C fitted with a white RSS pod. USN photo by M. Washington, 27JUN1982.

EA-7L Aggressor during the U.S. 3rd Fleet North Pacific Exercise at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. U.S. Air Force photo by Sergeant W. Thornton, 08NOV1987.

Carrying a black nosed RSS pod. U.S. Air Force photo by Sergeant W. Thornton, 08NOV1987.

U.S. Air Force photo by Sergeant W. Thornton, 08NOV1987.

About to be retired, EA-7L Corsair II of the Pacific Missile Test Center, 30DEC1991. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Second Class Bruce Trombecky.

Photo by Aeroprints.

One EA-7L crashed in 1990, another EA-7L was sold to Greece, two appear to be missing and the rest of the EA-7Ls were retired in 1991, apparently now rotting away at The Bone Yard that is Davis Monthan Air Force Base.

Photo by Aeroprints.

VAQ-34 was disbanded by the end of 1993, due to ‘aggressor’ duties being transferred to U.S. Naval Reserve units.

USAF A-7D: COLD WAR MAINTENANCE WALK AROUND

Kit Bashing, Technology

A-7D Corsair-2, Cold War maintenance walk around

Image

Photos recorded during the last decade of the unofficial/undeclared Cold War:

An Airman with the 355th Aircraft Generation Squadron inspects avionics equipment on a A-7D Corsair II, Hurlburt Field, Florida. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Frank J. Garzelnick Junior, 11FEB1979.

Inspecting an A-7D Corsair II during Gunsmoke ’81, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Paul Hayashi.

Puerto Rico Air National Guard A-7D, during exercise Bold Eagle. Puerto Rico National Guard photo by Ernest H. Sealing, 19OCT1981.

A ground crewman inspects the fuselage of an A-7D Corsair II during Exercise Gallant Eagle, on the U.S. Navy’s China Lake, California. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Bob Marshall, 01APR1982.

An A-7D Corsair II aircraft pilot reads maintenance forms during Exercise Gallant Eagle. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Bob Marshall, 01APR1982.

180th Tactical Fighter Group A-7D during Exercise Kindle Liberty, Howard AFB, Panama. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant R. Bandy, 01DEC1982.

Two A-7D Corsair II aircraft inside the maintenance hangar during Exercise Checkered Flag/Coronet Castle, RAF Sculthorpe, United Kingdom. U.S. Air force photo by Technical Sergeant Jose Lopez, 31MAR1983.

U.S. Air force photo by Technical Sergeant Jose Lopez, 31MAR1983.

156th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron performs maintenance on an A-7D Corsair II during Operation Ocean Venture. Puerto Rico Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Ken Hammond, 20APR1984.

Puerto Rico Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Ken Hammond, 20APR1984.

Loading an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile on an A-7D Corsair II during Operation Ocean Venture. Puerto Rico Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Ken Hammond, 20APR1984.

An A-7D Corsair II of the 124th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Iowa Air National Guard, being prepped for deployment to Japan, for Exercise Cope North. Iowa Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Jeffrey J. Aubin, 24MAY1988.

Inspecting the cooling system of an Iowa National Guard A-7D. Iowa Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Jeffrey J. Aubin, 24MAY1988.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Jeffrey J. Aubin, 24MAY1988.

Changing the tail light bulb. Iowa Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Jeffrey J. Aubin, 24MAY1988.

Adjusting weapons pylon screws on a New Mexico Air National Guard A-7D, taking part in Amalgam Warrior, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. USAF photo by Sergeant Rose Gruben, 31MAY1988.

Chitose Air Base, Japan, an Iowa A-7D driver signals his satisfaction. Iowa Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant J. Ferguson, 17JUN1988.

Post Cold War: USAF A-7 CORSAIRS, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO?

1/72 REVISED COMPARISON A-7 CORSAIR-2: FUJIMI, ESCI, AIRFIX, HASEGAWA, MATCHBOX, REVELL & HOBBY BOSS. MORE REASON NOT TO TRUST SCALE DRAWINGS?

Technology

USAF A-7 Corsairs, whatever happened to?

Video

Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, George W. Bush Air Park video history tour of the A-7D, 21JUN2020:

Ling-Tempco-Vaught A-7D Corsair-2, April 1982, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Photo via Tinker Air Force Base History Office.

LTV A-7D Corsair II, isochronical maintenance at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1982.

Apparently the USAF version of the A-7 Corsair-2 is one of the most loved ground attack aircraft, especially by the folks in Oklahoma; from November 1966, when Tinker AFB’s Oklahoma City Air Materiel Area was assigned all logistics management responsibility for the A-7D, to its final days with the Oklahoma Air National Guard in 1993 (to be replaced by the F-16).

125th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 138th Tactical Fighter Group, Oklahoma Air National Guard in 1992. Photo via Greg L. Davis.

Oklahoma ANG A-7D ‘Tulsa’, during training in 1992.

Oklahoma Air National Guard A-7D on display in the Charles B. Hall Memorial Air Park, 2017. U.S. Air Force photo by Greg L. Davis.

Oklahoma isn’t the only National Guard unit to fly the A-7 during its official last days, and even some National Guard units are still using their A-7s for other training.

198th Fighter Squadron, 156th Fighter Group, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, 1992. Photo via Greg L. Davis.

Four A-7D Corsair IIs of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, over the Caribbean in 1992. Puerto Rico’s Air National Guard used A-7Ds up-till 1993.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot.

Three happy Iowa National Guard pilots pose in front of an A-7D ‘gate guard’, 17MAR2017.  Mike Maier, Jim Walker and Larry Christensen were the last of Iowa’s A-7 pilots that, as of 2017, were still serving with Iowa Air National Guard.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 17MAR2017.

Freshly painted gate guard, A-7D ‘Sioux City’ of the Iowa Air National Guard.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot.

In 2013 the Iowa Air and Army National Guard decided to sling-load a two seat A-7 gate guard with a CH-47F Chinook.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot.

At the beginning of the video is a boring press conference, then the sling load, and then somehow some old film of an A-7 (BAT 12) strafing a tank on a USAF bombing range:

Wisconsin Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Meghan Skrepenski, 13JUN2017.

The Wisconsin Air National Guard used this ‘gate guard’ to practice ‘downed aircraft recovery’ in June 2017.  Note that the recovery vehicle is an old John Deere 4020 that (according to the press info) is three years older than the 1969 issue A-7.  Apparently the scenario involved a military aircraft that crashed in Wausau: “Planning this movement took approximately two years from initial concept to movement completion. This movement provided a chance to deal with something that we wouldn’t normally be able to do…”-Master Sergeant Michael J. Schmidt, 115th Fighter Wing

Wisconsin Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Meghan Skrepenski, 13JUN2017.

Note the U.S. Navy refuel probe on the nose of the A-7 painted in USAF/National Guard colors.  Apparently the only USAF A-7 that had the USN refueling probe was the prototype YA-7D, which served at Edwards Air Force Base until retired to AMARC in 1992.  So is this a USN A-7 acquired for Air National Guard gate guard duty, or is it one of two YA-7D prototypes?    

New Jersey Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Nicholas Young.

In March 2017, New Jersey Air National Guard TACPs (Tactical Air Control Party )used a shot-up A-7 during a training event with Maryland Air Guard’s A-10 Thunderbolt-2s, at Warren Grove Gunnery Range.

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano.

In May 2017, Wyoming Air National Guard conducted aircraft recovery training with this shot-up A-7D that was literally ‘down in the mud’.

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano, 11MAY2017.

They had to use airbags to raise the SLUF and use PSP/Martson Mat style steel plank to get it rolling out of the mud: “This was the first time for me doing recovery training. My job was to help set up air bags and operate the manifold. My normal job always has some sort of data and you are going to follow the book. When a plane crashes or runs off the runway into mud, you don’t always respond in the same way.”-Senior Airman Dakota Difrancesco, 153rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano, 11MAY2017.

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano, 11MAY2017.

I believe the U.S. taxpayers got their money’s worth out of the A-7.

1/48 SCALE COMPARISON A-7 CORSAIR-2: AURORA, REVELL-MONOGRAM, ESCI, HASEGAWA & HOBBY BOSS.

1/72 REVISED COMPARISON A-7 CORSAIR-2: FUJIMI, ESCI, AIRFIX, HASEGAWA, MATCHBOX, REVELL & HOBBY BOSS. MORE REASON NOT TO TRUST SCALE DRAWINGS?