Near Hickory in Burke County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 "Corsair" II

Photographed by Mark Parker, November 14, 2025

1. Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 "Corsair" II Marker

Inscription. The Hickory Aviation Museum's A-7A Bureau Number 154345 is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It arrived in March of 2009.

Role Attack Aircraft
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Ling-Temco-Vought
First flight 26 September 1965
Introduction February 1967
Retired 1991 (USAF, USN); 1993 (ANG); 1999 (Portuguese Air Force) 2014; (Hellenic Air Force)
Status Retired
Primary users United States Navy, United States Air Force Portuguese & Hellenic Air Forces
Produced: 1965-1984
Number built 1,569
Propulsion Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-6: later Allison TF41-A-2 turbofan.
Unit cost US$2.86 million (1998)

In 1962, the United States Navy began preliminary work on VAX (Heavier-than-air, Attack, Experimental), a replacement for the A-4 Skyhawk with greater range and payload. Particular emphasis was placed on accurate delivery of weapons to reduce the cost per target. The requirements were finalized in 1963, announcing the VAL (Heavier-than-air, Attack, Light) competition. To minimize costs, all proposals had to be based on existing designs. Vought, Douglas Aircraft, Grumman and North

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American Aviation responded. The Vought proposal was based on the successful Vought F-8 Crusader fighter, having a similar configuration, but shorter and more-stubby nose. It was selected as the winner in 1964, the company received a contract for the initial batch of aircraft, designated A-7.[1] In 1965, the aircraft received the popular name Corsair II, after Vought's highly successful Vought F4U Corsair of World War II. (There was also a Vought O2U Corsair biplane scout and observation aircraft in the 1920s.)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 46 ft 2 in (14.06 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 9 in (11.8 m)
Width: 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) wings folded
Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m)
Wing area: 374.9 ft² (34.83 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 65A007 root and tip
Empty weight: 19,127 lb (8,676 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 41,998 lb overload condition
Fuel capacity: 1,338 US gal
Powerplant: 1 x PW TF-30-P-6; later 1 x Allison TF41- A-2 non-afterburning turbofan engine, 15,000 lbf

Performance
Maximum speed:600 kn (690 pmh at sea level)
Range: 1,070 nmi; 1,231 mi maximum internal fuel
Ferry range: 1,342 nmi; 1,544 mi (2,485 km) with maximum internal and external fuel
Service ceiling: 42,000
Wing loading: 77.4 lb/sq ft (378 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.50

Armament
Guns: 1 x M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm (0.787 in) rotary cannon with 1,030 rounds.
Hardpoints: 6 x under-wing: Missiles, Bombs, Rockets, HARM, Tacts, Fuel/Refueling

Erected by Hickory

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 "Corsair" II and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, November 14, 2025

2. Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 "Corsair" II and Marker

Aviation Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military. A significant historical date for this entry is September 26, 1965.

Location. 35° 44.483′ N, 81° 23.361′ W. Marker is near Hickory, North Carolina, in Burke County. It is on 9th Avenue Drive Northwest 0.6 miles west of 24th Street Northwest, on the left when traveling west. The marker and aircraft display are part of the Hickory Aviation Museum located at Hickory Regional Airport. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3101 9th Ave Dr NW, Hickory NC 28601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 "Corsair" II Cockpit image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, November 14, 2025

3. Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 "Corsair" II Cockpit

LCDR Scotty Greiling, whose name is beneath the cockpit, was shot down in his Vought Attack Aircraft Corsair II while on a mission over Mui Ron, North Vietnam on 7/24/1968.

markers are within walking distance of this marker: Curtiss XF15C-1 "Stingeree" (here, next to this marker); Northrop F-5 "Tiger II" (here, next to this marker); Grumann F-9 "Cougar" (a few steps from this marker); North American FJ-3 "Fury" (a few steps from this marker); Republic F-105 "Thunderchief" (a few steps from this marker); Grumman F-14D "Tomcat" (within shouting distance of this marker); Lockheed T-33 "Shooting Star" (within shouting distance of this marker); Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hickory.

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 "Corsair" II Tail section image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, November 14, 2025

4. Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 "Corsair" II Tail section

Serial number #154345, as stated in the marker. USS America is the supercarrier on which this aircraft was stationed.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 62 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 22, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.