THE 456th FIGHTER INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON

THE PROTECTORS OF  S. A. C.

 

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Cessna T-37B

 

The Cessna T-37  &  A-37  "Dragonfly"

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CESSNA T-37B

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Cessna T-37B

The T-37 is a twin-engine primary trainer used for teaching the fundamentals of jet aircraft operation and instrument, formation and night flying. Affectionately known as the "Tweety Bird" or "Tweet," it was the first USAF jet aircraft designed from conception as a trainer (as opposed to a modification such as the T-33). Its flying characteristics helped student pilots prepare to transition to the larger, faster T-38 "Talon" later in the pilot training program. Side-by-side seating in the T-37 makes it easier for the instructor to observe and communicate with the student.

The XT-37 prototype made its initial flight on October 12, 1954, and the preproduction T-37A first flew on September 27, 1955. Following modifications, the T-37A entered operational USAF service in 1957. In 1959, the T-37B joined the USAF. Similar to the -A, it had more powerful engines, a redesigned instrument panel and improved radio communications and navigational equipment. In time, all -As were modified to -B standards.

The T-37C, with provisions for armament and extra fuel, was built for export. Both T-37Bs and -Cs serve the air forces of several Allied nations. In all, nearly 1,300 T-37As, -Bs and -Cs were built before production ended in the late 1970s. In addition, nearly 600 A-37s--attack modifications of the T-37--were built. The T-37B on display was flown to the Museum on October 8, 1991.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 33 ft. 10 in.
Length: 29 ft. 4 in.
Height: 9 ft. 5 in.
Weight: 6,580 lbs. max.
Armament: None
Engines: Two Continental J69-T-25s of 1,025 lbs. thrust ea.
Crew: Two
Cost: $166,000

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 410 mph
Cruising speed: 350 mph.
Range: 650 miles
Service Ceiling: 35,000 ft.

 

Cessna YA-37A "Dragonfly"

 

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Cessna YA-37A

In the early 1960s, the Air Force investigated the conversion of the Cessna T-37 jet-powered primary trainer for counterinsurgency (COIN) missions. The project was intended to provide an inexpensive aircraft for the US export market. In 1962, two T-37B's (S/N 62-5950 and 62-5951) were modified and tested at Eglin AFB, Florida. The aircraft retained the T-37's Continental J69 engines, but since gross weight increased to accommodate the ordnance and attack avionics, the aircraft was underpowered and performed poorly.

In 1963, the Air Force updated the requirement and reissued a contract for two improved aircraft and assigned them the YAT-37D designation. In order to meet contract delivery dates, Cessna used the two original YAT-37 prototypes for the update program. Several major changes were incorporated into the design including new engines. The J69 jet engines were replaced by General Electric J85 turbojets of 2,400 lbs. thrust -- more than double the thrust of the J69's. The wings were strengthened for 6 ordnance (3 per wing) hardpoints and the wingtips were fitted with 95 gallon fuel tanks. Self-sealing fuel tanks were put in the wings and armor plating was installed to protect the pilot. The YAT-37D was upgraded with various avionics upgrades including a target acquisition system. A General Electric GAU-2/A 7.62 mm "mini-gun" with a 1,500 round capacity was mounted in the forward left nose section. A radar ranging gun site for the pilot and a gun camera complemented the GAU-2/A gatling gun. The YAT-37D's first flight was on 22 October 1963. After testing was completed, the YAT-37D's were unneeded and the first prototype was sent to the USAF Musuem in December 1964.

In August 1966, the YAT-37D at the USAF Museum was recalled for additional flight testing. The war in Vietnam highlighted a need for a Close Air Support (CAS) / COunterINsurgency (COIN) to complement and possibly replace the Douglas A-1 "Skyraider". The aircraft was modified with an additional hardpoint on each wing and redesignated YA-37A. The test program was successful and the Air Force ordered the conversion of 39 T-37's to the YA-37A standard for immediate combat testing in Vietnam. These aircraft were designated A-37A's.

The YA-37A was permanently retired to the USAF Museum in July, 1970 and remains on display in the Vietnam Aircraft section of the Air Power Gallery.

TYPE
YA-37A
A-37A
A-37B 		Number Built/Converted
2
39
577 		Remarks
COIN prototype
Attack conversion of T-37B
Improved A-37A

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 35 ft. 10 in.
Length: 29 ft. 4 in.
Height: 8 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 11,700 lbs. max.
Armament: Max. of 3,000 lbs. including one GAU-2/A 7.62mm "Gatling" gun, plus additional gun pods, high-explosive bombs, fire bombs, rockets, grenades, and/or missiles
Engines: Two General Electric J85s of 2,400 lbs. thrust each
 

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 485 mph.
Cruising speed: 425 mph.
Range: 270 miles with 3,000 lb. load
Service Ceiling: 36,000 ft.

 

Cessna YA-37A "Dragonfly" Photo Gallery

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S/N 67-5951 on 23 August 1967

Dynamic taxi testing

During a ground attack rocket firing test.

 

 

Cessna A-37A "Dragonfly"

 

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A-37A "Dragonfly"

On 23 August 1966, the USAF directed the establishment of a program to evaluate the A-37 in a combat environment. The project was named "Combat Dragon" and was designed to test the effectiveness of the A-37 in Close Air Support, Counterinsurgency and escort missions in Vietnam. Besides testing the aircraft operationally, the project was also used to evaluate the maintenance, supply and manpower requirements. The Tactical Fighter Weapons Center directed the program and established a 350-man squadron with 25 A-37A's at England AFB, Louisiana in early 1967. The unit was designated as the 604th Air Commando Squadron (ACS). Initial instructor pilot training began on 29 March 1967, initial operations and combat orientation started on May 1st. Phase I of "Combat Dragon" was done between 19 June and 16 July 1967 at England AFB. Phase I measured data collection and analysis procedures to be used during the actual combat evaluation, train the A-37A pilots, establish a bombing and gunnery baseline, and identify and fix problems with the aircraft.

The 604th ACS was moved to Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam between 17 July and 14 August 1967. Phase II of "Combat Dragon" began on August 15th and ended on September 6th. This phase of the project was used to familiarize the pilots was the operational areas of Vietnam and Laos. The data collection and evaluation system was also refined using forms and methods already in use in Southeast Asia. Phase III of "Combat Dragon" began on September 7th and the first actual ground strike missions were flown. Phase III operations continued until 27 October. Phase IV of "Combat Dragon" was done between October 28th and 30th and tested accelerated (maximum sortie generation) mission scheduling. Phase V began on November 1st and tested the ability of the aircraft to operate from a forward operating location. Seven aircraft were deployed to Pleiku Air Base and flew combat mission through December 2nd. The remaining 18 aircraft remained at Bien Hoa AB and flew normal (Phase III) combat strike missions.

The 604th ACS flew about 5,000 training and combat sorties during the five phases of the "Combat Dragon" project. During Phase III each aircraft averaged between 3 and 4 missions every 2 days. During Phase IV, the maximum sortie rate reached 6.3 missions per day per aircraft. During Phase V, three new missions were flown: Forward Air Control (FAC), armed reconnaissance and night interdiction. In addition to missions with South Vietnam, Phase V missions were flown in southeast Laos. in the Tigerhound areas.

The operational test phases of the "Combat Dragon" project were concluded in early December 1967 and the evaluation team returned to the United States to finish data analysis and make recommendations. During combat operations, "Combat Dragon" A-37A's flew 4,463 sorties and dropped over 19,000 pieces of ordnance during the 107 day evaluation period. The team found the maintenance requirements of the A-37A to be lower than expected. The size of the squadron was acceptable for Phase III sortie rates, but would have to be increased for higher rates (i.e. there weren't enough pilots, crew chiefs and maintenance personnel to support high sortie generation rates). The A-37A was dependable and easy to maintain so logistics and supply issues were not a major concern. The A-37A was judged to be an effective ground attack aircraft in the South Vietnam and Tigerhound areas (combat radius to 240 nm max.). The A-37A was also an adequate Close Air Support aircraft; however, the low wing and limited right aft quadrant visibility when an observer wasn't flying (normally only a pilot flew) in the cockpit's right seat. One major problem identified involved the lack of fuel quantity gauges for the wingtip tanks and external drop tanks carried. For long duration missions, the pilot ran a significant risk of running out of fuel. Overall, the A-37A was judged an effective weapons system and full scale production of the A-37B proceeded based in part on the recommendations of the "Combat Dragon" team.

TYPE
YA-37A
A-37A
A-37B 		Number Built/Converted
2
39
577 		Remarks
COIN prototype
Attack conversion of T-37B
Improved A-37A

    Notes:

  • Serial numbers: (YA-37A) 62-5950 and 62-5951; (A-37A) 67-14503 to 67-14541; (A-37B) 67-14776 to 67-14823; 67-22483 to 67-22491; 68-7911 to 68-7980; 68-10777 to 68-10827; 69-6334 to 69-6446; 70-1277 to 70-1312; 71-790 to 71-854; 71-858 to 71-873; 71-1409 to 71-1416; 73-1056 to 73-1115; 73-1654 to 73-1658; 74-998 to 74-1013; 74-1694 to 74-1723; 75-374 to 75-385; 75-410 to 75-417; 75-424 to 75-441; 75-669 to 75-680

  • First flight of the YAT-37D was on 22 October 1963

  • The first YAT-37D (S/N 62-5951) was retired to the USAF Museum on 14 December 1964

  • In August 1966, the YAT-37D was recalled for further testing as YA-37A

  • The YA-37A was permanently retired to the USAF Museum in July 1970

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 38 ft. 5 in.
Length: 29 ft. 4 in.
Height: 9 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 13,500 lbs. gross weight
Armament: one GAU-2/A 7.62mm "Gatling" gun, plus 6,000 lbs. (800 lbs. on each of the inboard pylons, 600 lbs. on the middle two pylons and 500 lbs. on the outboard pylon) of mixed ordnance on 8 hardpoints including additional gun pods, high-explosive bombs, fire bombs, rockets, grenades, and/or missiles
Engines: Two General Electric J85-GE-17/A axial flow turbojets of 2,400 lbs. thrust each (engines had 2850 lbs. maximum thrust but were derated to 2,400 lbs. thrust for the A-37A)
Crew: 2
 

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 407 knots at 17,000 ft., maximum power
Cruising speed: approximately 300 knots
Range: 1,180 nautical miles with 846.7 gallons of fuel at 301 knots average in 3.96 hours at 12,130 lbs. takeoff weight
Combat radius: 129 nautical miles with 3,646 lb. payload at 258 knots avg. in 1.3 hours
Service Ceiling: 43,980 ft., 500 fpm, combat weight, maximum thrust

 

Cessna A-37A "Dragonfly" Photo Gallery

 

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Cessna A-37B "Dragonfly"

 

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A-37B

The A-37B was an improved version of the A-37A. One improvement was the installation of fully rated J85 jet engines capable of producing 2,850 lbs. of thrust at maximum power. The J85 engines fitted to the -A model "Dragonfly" were derated to 2,400 lbs. thrust maximum. Another major difference was the inclusion of an in flight refueling (IFR) system with the refueling probe fitted to the nose of the aircraft. The A-37B used the probe and drogue method of IFR rather than the boom and receptacle method normally used on USAF fixed wing aircraft. The increased thrust of the engines gave the aircraft a maximum gross takeoff weight of 14,000 lbs. The use of the IFR system allowed the aircraft to fly with a maximum gross weight of 15,000 lbs. -- the aircraft would takeoff with a heavy load of ordnance and limited fuel, conduct an IFR, then proceed on its mission. Other changes included improvements in the gun system: a selectable firing rate of 3,000 or 6,000 rounds per minute, an upgraded optical gun site, a nose mounted gun camera, and a strike camera mounted in the lower center fuselage. The control system also had some improvements: redundant control cables to the rudder and elevators and aileron boost tabs.

Cessna built a total of 577 A-37B's. The aircraft was used for a relatively short period by the USAF; however, many aircraft had long service lives flying for the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard. The United States also supplied many aircraft to foreign countries including South Vietnam during the late 1960's and early 1970's. The 4532nd Combat Crew Training Squadron at England Air Force Base in Louisiana initially trained over 100 South Vietnamese Air Force pilots. Each VNAF student received 112 hours of ground instruction and 85 hours of flight training. After training was completed, the VNAF pilots returned to Vietnam to fly A-37's supplied under the US Military Assistance Program (MAP). South Vietnam had 10 squadrons of A-37's at peak strength during the early 1970's.

TYPE
YA-37A
A-37A
A-37B 		Number Built/Converted
2
39
577 		Remarks
COIN prototype
Attack conversion of T-37B
Improved A-37A

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 38 ft. 5 in.
Length: 29 ft. 4 in. (31 ft. 10 in. including refueling boom)
Height: 9 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 14,000 lbs. gross weight (15,024 lbs. after in flight refueling)
Armament: one GAU-2B/A 7.62mm "Gatling" gun with 1500 rounds of ammunition, plus 6,000 lbs. (800 lbs. on each of the inboard pylons, 600 lbs. on the middle two pylons and 500 lbs. on the outboard pylon) of mixed ordnance on 8 hardpoints including additional gun pods, high-explosive bombs, fire bombs, rockets, grenades, and/or missiles (Note: the aircraft rarely flew with more than 4,000 lbs. of ordnance)
Engines: Two General Electric J85-GE-17/A axial flow turbojets of 2,850 lbs. thrust each
Crew: 2 (usually flown with just a pilot in the left seat)
 

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 416 knots at 15,500 ft., maximum power
Cruising speed: approximately 260 knots
Range: 808 nautical miles with 847 gallons of fuel at 257 knots average in 3.14 hours at 12,736 lbs. takeoff weight
Combat radius: 140 nautical miles with 3,152 lb. payload at 259 knots avg. in 1.38 hours
Service Ceiling: 25,000 ft. operational limit (cockpit not pressurized)

 

 

Cessna A-37B "Dragonfly" Photo Gallery

 

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02/10/2009

 

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