The very advanced navigation and attack equipment required a lot of development and changes had to be made to correct aerodynamic deficiencies and remove unwanted features. The test program required to develop the aircraft took a long time. The first prototype YA2F-1, lacking radar and the navigational and attack avionics, made its first flight on 19 April 1960, with the second prototype flying on 28 July 1960. This design experience was taken into consideration by NASA in their November 1962 decision to choose Grumman over other companies like General Dynamics-Convair (the F-111 had computerized avionics capabilities comparable to the A-6, but did not fly until 1964) to build the Lunar Excursion Module, which was a small-sized spacecraft with two onboard computers. In the early 1960s, it was novel for a fighter-sized aircraft to have sophisticated avionics that used multiple computers. The A2F-1 design incorporated several cutting-edge features for the era. During September 1959, the design was approved by the Mock-Up Review Board. The team was spread between two sites, the company's manufacturing plant at Bethpage and the testing facilities at Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Calverton. Mead later played a lead role in the design of the Lunar Excursion Module and the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. Grumman's design team was led by Robert Nafis and Lawrence Mead, Jr. YA2F-1 showing the original tilting tailpipes The company was awarded a contract for the development of their submission, which had been re-designated A2F-1, in February 1958. Navy announced the selection of Grumman on 2 January 1958. Following evaluation of the bids, the U.S. Grumman's submission was internally designated as the Type G-128. In response to the RFP, a total of eleven design proposals were submitted by eight different companies, including Bell, Boeing, Douglas, Grumman, Lockheed, Martin, North American, and Vought. Aviation authors Bill Gunston and Peter Gilchrist observe that this specification was shaped by the service's Korean War experiences, during which air support had been frequently unavailable unless fair weather conditions were present. This request called for a 'close air support attack bomber capable of hitting the enemy at any time'. It released a request for proposals (RFP) in February 1957. Navy published an operational requirement document for it in October 1956. Thus, when the A-6E was scheduled for retirement, its precision strike mission was initially taken over by the Grumman F-14 Tomcat equipped with a LANTIRN pod.Īs a result of the fair-weather limitation of the propeller-driven Skyraider in the Korean War and the advent of turbine engines, the United States Navy issued preliminary requirements in 1955 for an all-weather carrier-based attack aircraft. The A-6 was intended to be superseded by the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II, but this program was ultimately canceled due to cost overruns. It was deployed during various overseas conflicts, including the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. Two of the more successful variants developed were the EA-6B Prowler, a specialized electronic warfare derivative, and the KA-6D tanker version. The A-6 was in service with the United States Navy and Marine Corps between 19, during which time multiple variants were prototyped and produced. On 19 April 1960, the first prototype made its maiden flight. In addition to conventional munitions, it could also carry nuclear weapons, which would be delivered using toss bombing techniques. Operated by a crew of two in a side-by-side seating configuration, the workload was divided between the pilot and weapons officer (bombardier/navigator (BN)). The Intruder was the first Navy aircraft with an integrated airframe and weapons system. The winning proposal from Grumman used two Pratt & Whitney J52 turbojet engines. The requirement allowed one or two engines, either turbojet or turboprop. It was to replace the piston-engined Douglas A-1 Skyraider. It was designed in response to a 1957 requirement issued by the Bureau of Aeronautics for an all-weather attack aircraft for Navy long-range interdiction missions and with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability for Marine close air support. The Grumman A-6 Intruder is an American twinjet all-weather attack aircraft developed and manufactured by American aircraft company Grumman Aerospace and operated by the U.S.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |