The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly is an American light attack aircraft. Developed from the T-37 Tweet primary trainer, which earned it the nickname,
“Super Tweet” served with the US Air Force throughout the Vietnam War. The aircraft also saw extensive flight time outside the United States and is currently flown by six air forces in South America.

It was developed during the Vietnam War in response to military interest in new counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft to replace aging types such as the Douglas A-1 Skyraider. A formal United States Air Force (USAF) evaluation of the T-37 Tweet primary trainer for the COIN mission was conducted in late 1962, after which it was concluded that it could be modified to perform the role effectively. The attack-orientated A-37 was directly derived from the T-37, roughly doubling in all-up weight and engine thrust to permit considerable quantities of munitions, along with extended flight endurance and additional mission avionics. The prototype YAT-37D performed its maiden flight in October 1964.

While test results were positive, a production contract was not immediately forthcoming until an uptick in combat intensity and aircraft losses became apparent. An initial batch of 25 A-37As were deployed to Vietnam under the "Combat Dragon" evaluation program in August 1967, flying from Bien Hoa Air Base on various missions, including close air support, helicopter escort, FAC, and night interdiction. The type proved effective in the theater, leading to the USAF issuing a contract to Cessna for an improved Super Tweet, designated the A-37B, in early 1967. It was primarily operated over South Vietnam, as well as in neighboring Laos and Cambodia, typically flying close air support missions in coordination with US ground forces. The A-37 proved to be relatively low-maintenance and accurate and suffered relatively few combat losses.

Following the end of the conflict, the USAF's A-37Bs were transferred from the Tactical Air Command (TAC) to TAC-gained units in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. The type was assigned to the FAC (Forward Air Control) role and given the designation OA-37B. The type was eventually phased out in the 1980s and 1990s, replaced in the FAC mission by the more formidable Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II in American service. Various international operators in many South American countries also operated the A-37; it saw active use during the Salvadoran Civil War. Over 200 aircraft were also supplied to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF), and numerous A-37Bs were captured by North Vietnamese forces near the conflict's end.

General characteristics:

Crew: 2
Length: 28 ft 3+1⁄4 in (8.617 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 10+1⁄2 in (10.935 m) (over tip tanks)
Height: 8 ft 10+1⁄2 in (2.705 m)
Wing area: 183.9 sq ft (17.08 m2)
Aspect ratio: 6.2:1
Airfoil: NACA 2418 (modified) at root, NACA 2412 (modified) at tip
Empty weight: 6,211 lb (2,817 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
Fuel capacity: 507 US gal (422 imp gal; 1,920 L) usable internal fuel (including tip tanks)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J85-GE-17A turbojet, 2,850 lbf (12.7 kN) thrust each
Performance

Maximum speed: 507 mph (816 km/h, 441 kn)
Cruise speed: 489 mph (787 km/h, 425 kn) (max. cruise)
Stall speed: 113 mph (182 km/h, 98 kn) at maximum landing weight, wheels and flaps down
Never exceed speed: 524 mph (843 km/h, 455 kn)
Combat range: 460 mi (740 km, 400 nmi) (with maximum payload)
Ferry range: 1,012 mi (1,629 km, 879 nmi) (with 4× 100 US gal (83 imp gal; 380 L) drop tanks
Service ceiling: 41,765 ft (12,730 m)
Rate of climb: 6,990 ft/min (35.5 m/s)
Armament
Guns:
1 × 7.62 mm (0.300 in) GAU-2B/A minigun in nose with 1500 rounds
Provision for SUU-11/A gun pods under wings
Hardpoints: 8 with a capacity of inner four: 860 lb (390 kg), two intermediate: 600 lb (270 kg), two outer: 500 lb (230 kg)
Rockets: LAU-3/A rocket pods
Missiles: AIM-9 Sidewinder
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
SUU-14 bomb dispenser

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