A-6E Intruder

A-6E Intruder accepted by the U.S. Navy from Grumman Aerospace Corporation on 8 August 1968, and delivered to Attack Squadron (VA) 165 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington, remaining with the "Boomers" until May 1969. It was then delivered to VA-196, and served with "The Main Battery" for the next ten years with only a short interlude with VA-45 and at the Grumman Aerospace Corporation plant in Bethpage, New York, for modification to the A-6E configuration in 1977. VA-196 deployed in the carrier Enterprise (CVAN 65), the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. BuNo 155610 subsequently served with VA-128, the fleet replacement squadron for the A-6 Intruder until joining VA-145, deploying with that squadron in the carrier Ranger (CV 61). After spending two years in Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 5 at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, California, and a period of time in rework at Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda, California. It is currently painted in the markings of VA-196. Object Notes 22 each - MK 82 MOD 1 500 Pound General Purpose Bombs are mounted under both wings - 11per wing. Inert Numbers - ASP 0220; ASP 0221; ASP 0222; ASP 0223; ASP 0259; ASP 0260; ASP 0261; ASP 0262; ASP 0263; ASP 0264; ASP 0289; ASP 0290; ASP 0299; ASP 0300; ASP 0301; ASP 0317; ASP 0319; ASP 0320; ASP 0321; ASP 0322; ASP 0323; ASP 0324. Made safe per CARW-20 LTR 8600 SER N42/451 3 November 1995 Place of Origin Bethpage, New York Notes A new era in naval aviation began with the introduction of the A-6 Intruder to the fleet in February 1963. The world's first all-weather attack aircraft, the aircraft provided the capability to launch low-level strikes against targets at extended ranges without regard to darkness or weather conditions. From the beginning Intruders featured Digital Integrated Attack Navigation Equipment (DIANE), which provided an electronic display of targets and geographical features even in low visibility conditions. Introduced on the A-6E version of the aircraft, the Target Recognition Attack Multisensors (TRAM) system combined Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR)/laser sensors with an onboard computer. Located in a ball turret beneath the nose of the aircraft, TRAM enabled a higher degree of bombing accuracy by locating targets and ascertaining their ranges and allowed the A-6 crew to detect ground undulations as small as a plowed field. Despite initial difficulties in Vietnam, including premature detonation of bombs, the A-6 proved itself in the murky weather conditions over Southeast Asia, oftentimes carrying out single-plane or two-plane nocturnal raids with devastating accuracy that produced disproportionate results, This was dramatically illustrated when two A-6s made a night strike dropping twenty-six 500 lb. bombs against a North Vietnamese power plant. The damage was such that the enemy high command was convinced that B-52 heavy bombers had been at work! The aircraft also represented the aircraft carrier's "big stick" in combat over Lebanon, Libya, and Iraq. During Operation Desert Storm, Navy and Marine Corps A-6s logged more than 4,700 combat sorties, providing close air support, destroying enemy air defenses, attacking Iraqi naval units, and hitting strategic targets. All told, 687 A-6s were delivered to the Navy, the last being retired from front-line service in 1997. Specifications Manufacturer: Grumman Aerospace Corporation Dimensions: Length: 54 ft., 9 in.; Height: 16 ft., 2 in., wing span: 53 ft. Weights: Empty: 26,746 lb., Gross: 60,400 lb. Power Plant: Two 9,300 lb. static thrust Pratt & Whitney 352-P-8A or -8B turbojets Performance: Maximum Speed: 644 M.P.H. at sea level; Service Ceiling: 42,400 ft.; Range (with maximum bomb load): 1,110 miles Armament: 18,000 lb. of ordnance, including laser guided bombs, Harpoon anti-ship missile, High-speed anti-radiation missile (HARM), Stand-off Land Attack Missile (SLAM), and air-dropped mines. Crew: Pilot and Bombardier-Navigator