End of the SLUF

[ORAC]

:sad::sad: Though I always preferred it's prettier twin, the Crusader, already gone.

Ares: A Greek Tragedy (http://aviationweek.com/blog/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.

http://aviationweek.com/site-files/aviationweek.com/files/uploads/2014/07/A7Img02.jpg

http://aviationweek.com/site-files/aviationweek.com/files/uploads/2014/07/A7Img01.jpg

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.

http://aviationweek.com/site-files/aviationweek.com/files/uploads/2014/07/A7Img03.jpg

[Pontius Navigator]

And unlike former WPC aircraft it does not look like a crumpled tin can.

[TBM-Legend]

The "black" A-7 looks great. Could be painted up for transfer to ISIL!!!!:ouch:

[Hempy]

I always thought SLUF was a bit rough when you compare it to the A-6. Now that thing IS ugly!

http://www.topedge.com/alley/images/a6/a6e165c.jpg

[sandiego89]

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.

[XV410]

Remember the ANG bringing the to Wittering in '81 after been refuelled across with the KC10 which went on to the Paris Air show

[27mm]

IIRC, the SLUF had a distinguished last cruise in GW1.

[mr fish]

read somewhere many moons back that SLUF was a particularly bad 'maneater' onboard the carriers....literally!!!


any truth??






fish.

[ShotOne]

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!

[Stuff]

The famous video is of an A-6 Intruder.

5jxcSY1AwrM

With that intake I wouldn't put it past the A-7 to be just as unforgiving.

[ShotOne]

The pics (not vid) I'm on about def of an A7, was in (I think) air clues mid eighties. Must have been a bit forgiving because as I said, somehow he survived.

[Flugplatz]

Heard his crash-hat came off and blocked the intake as it gets narrower, before he ended up going through the rotating bits!

[mr fish]

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.

[Rwy in Sight]

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

[Brian Abraham]

before he ended up going through the rotating bitsActually the guy survived.

[melmothtw]

With that intake I wouldn't put it past the A-7 to be just as unforgiving.

Not for no reason was it nicknamed 'the sailor inhaler'.

[skippedonce]

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.

Only because their economy and Defence Planning is so screwed that they can't provide anything else!