Cessna® A-37(B) Dragonfly™ - Light Ground Attack Aircraft

About the Cessna® A-37(B) Dragonfly™ - Light Ground Attack Aircraft:

The Cessna® A-37(B) Dragonfly™ is an all-metal, low wing, turbojet-powered aircraft with roots as a trainer—designated the T-37. In the mid 1960s, however, the United States Air Force evaluated two modified T-37 jets for use as a counterinsurgency attack/reconnaissance aircraft. After success in the prototype stage, twenty-five A-37(A) airplanes were sent to Southeast Asia for combat evaluation under codename Combat Dragon. The A models primarily flew close air support, night interdiction, and forward air control missions in Vietnam and Laos.

Due to the success of Combat Dragon, the USAF ordered 577 updated A-37(B) jets. This version had additional cockpit armor, more powerful engines, redundant flight controls, in-flight refueling provisions, and a strengthened airframe. For armament, the A-37(B) carried a single 7.62mm minigun and up to 3,000 lbs. of bombs, rockets, or missiles. While only serving a brief time in the USAF, 254 were provided to the South Vietnamese Air Force to replace the dated A-1 Skyraiders. Interestingly, many A-37(B) planes were used in close air ground support of Australian forces in Vietnam—of which, many were directed by Australian Forward Air Controllers. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, ninety-five A-37(B) aircraft were captured and incorporated into the Vietnamese People’s Air Force.

Specifications:

Crew: 1 (2 during Forward Air Control (FAC) operations)
Armament:
• Guns: 1x 7.62 mm (0.300 in) GAU-2B/A minigun in nose, Provision for SUU-11/A gun pods under wings
• Hardpoints: Inner four: 860 lb (390 kg), two intermediate: 600 lb (270 kg), two outer: 500 lb (230 kg),
• Rockets: LAU-3/A rocket pods
• Bombs: 250 lb (110 kg) Mark 81, 500 lb (230 kg) Mark 82 or 750 lb (340 kg) M117 bombs, BLU-32B or BLU-1C/B fire bombs, CBU-12, CBU-22 or CBU-24 cluster bombs
Speed: 507 mph (816 km/h, 441 kn)
Range: 460 mi (740 km, 400 nmi) (with maximum payload)

Additional information about this Brickmania® custom building kit:

This expertly designed build captures the incredibly unique shape and structure of the A-37(B) Dragonfly™ as well as its fearsome payload. Printed elements include rocket covers, a cannon, fuel caps, stars and bars, drop tank caps, tail markings, nose stripes, and more. Play features include a brick-built payload, opening cockpit, functional landing gear, and a custom minifig. Also featured is a high quality sticker sheet.

Model Statistics:

Designed by Nicholas Kramer
655 and Brickmania® elements
1x custom minifig
Custom printed elements
High-quality sticker sheet
Full-color printed building instructions
1/35th scale to match other Brickmania kits
Intermediate Skill Level (4-6 years building experience recommended)