End of the SLUF
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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End of the SLUF
Though I always preferred it's prettier twin, the Crusader, already gone.Ares: A Greek Tragedy
While the Royal International Air Tattoo should have been the venue for the international debut of the F-35 Lightning II, it was also the final swansong for a stalwart of the skies. Greece is home to the world’s last operational Vought/LTV A-7 Corsairs, but not for much longer. This October the aircraft will retire almost 50 years after its first flight.
Better known as the SLUF –- short for the Short Little Ugly Fella (ruder versions of the name are also available) -– the A-7 was once the backbone of the U.S. Navy carrier strike groups and also the United States Air Force, but the type was never really a huge export success. Former U.S. examples made it to Greece, Portugal and Thailand.
But now only Greece is left with a single squadron, 336 Mira based at Araxos Airbase, where the unit flies a mix of single-seat A-7Es and twin-seat TA-7s.
Quite often, European air arms shy away from showing off the older types in their inventory, and are keener to show of their latest buys. Fortunately Greece is one nation that is more than happy to bring those aging types to shows and is clearly proud to still be operating the A-7. The type’s appearance at RAF Fairford on July 11-13 attracted huge interest, with the unit’s specially painted aircraft in a black color scheme, winning the show’s best paint scheme award.
Really would have thought the A-7 would have been the perfect plane for many South and Central American air forces after retirement by the USA. Many went to the boneyeard with decent life left in them. Rugged, good air to ground capability, enough of a "fighter" for self defence and to conduct air space or counter smuggling patrols, but not a world beater fighter to upset the balence down south.
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Nice picture of the Greek Air Force one. Hope they didn't arrest you for taking it so you're posting from a Greek prison!
Mr Fish, there was certainly an awful series of photos ending with a pair of feet sticking out of the intake -and I understand the chap actually survived!
Mr Fish, there was certainly an awful series of photos ending with a pair of feet sticking out of the intake -and I understand the chap actually survived!
Last edited by ShotOne; 17th Jul 2014 at 19:42. Reason: Additional info
The famous video is of an A-6 Intruder.
With that intake I wouldn't put it past the A-7 to be just as unforgiving.
With that intake I wouldn't put it past the A-7 to be just as unforgiving.
Last edited by Stuff; 17th Jul 2014 at 19:46. Reason: Edited: Linking to youtube isn't as obvious as it looks!
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bloody hell...thanks STUFF
I had a flameout like that a couple of weeks back after a particularly nasty night on newky brown and jalfrezi.
the last scene in the vid sums up how I felt sunday morning!!!
fish.
I had a flameout like that a couple of weeks back after a particularly nasty night on newky brown and jalfrezi.
the last scene in the vid sums up how I felt sunday morning!!!
fish.
ShotOne,
Pics of the Greek Air Force is just a matter of being at the right place at the right time. I have several dozens of them and I am typing this from my living room.
Rwy in Sight
Pics of the Greek Air Force is just a matter of being at the right place at the right time. I have several dozens of them and I am typing this from my living room.
Rwy in Sight
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Fortunately Greece is one nation that is more than happy to bring those aging types to shows and is clearly proud to still be operating the A-7.
