The Most Excellent US Aircraft in the Vietnam War

In the dense and perilous jungles of the Vietnam War, the skies were dominated by powerful, high-flying jets. Amidst these aerial giants, the unassuming Cessna A-37 Dragonfly stood out as an unexpected hero. Weighing in at a mere 14,000 pounds, this compact jet was easily accessible at waist height, a stark contrast to the towering jets that required pilots to scale shaky ladders to reach their cockpits.
As the conflict intensified, the need for close air support grew. Traditional bombers and fighters, while powerful, struggled with the dense terrain and the elusive guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong. The U.S. Air Force, recognizing this gap, decided to transform the humble trainer into a dedicated counterinsurgency aircraft.

[@ColonelBummleigh]

Cool workhorse

[@MrTryAnotherOne]

Stop at 5:33 ... the guy with the tie in the front looks like Richard Nixon.

[@WingedMigh]

ahah mayby )

[@uzuz3003]

Rer Minute?

[@Tencargo]

The A37 was developed because of a low cost.

[@doublel7337]

They were developed to be trainers, not combat jets. I have stood by one as it fired up it's engine, and it didn't take long to put my fingers in my ears. It was a remarkable plane.