The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly is an American light attack aircraft. Derived from the T-37 Tweet basic trainer, which affectionately earned it the moniker, “Super Tweet,” it dutifully served with the US Air Force in Vietnam. Beyond American shores, the aircraft accrued considerable flight hours, and it’s presently in service with six air forces in South America.
Development of the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
In the early 1960s, as the US became more involved in Vietnam, the need arose for a counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft. COIN operations included forward air control (FAC), reconnaissance, air escort and ground support missions.
In 1962, the Air Force’s Special Air Warfare Center looked at the T-37C as the aircraft to fill this role. Seen as a promising fit with the necessary modifications, the service contracted Cessna for two prototypes. The YAT-37D was produced with shorter wings (three pylons on each), larger wingtip fuel tanks, a General Electric minigun, improved avionics and a more robust landing gear. The first prototype flew in October 1964.
Despite positive results, the program was stopped as interest faded. The decision seemed definite, with one of the prototypes being sent to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio for public display (which it would do after being retired for a second and final time in 1970).
Continued escalation in Vietnam saw the increased loss of Douglas A-1 Skyraiders, renewing the need for a COIN aircraft. The Air Force, again, contracted Cessna for 39 AT-37Ds, which were later re-designated as A-37As, for testing. In 1967, to fast track the aircraft’s development, the A-37 was sent to Vietnam for combat evaluations.
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly specs
Despite its small stature, the A-37 Dragonfly carried an impressive amount of armament. Located in the right side of the aircraft’s nose was a single 7.62 mm General Electric GAU-2B/A minigun. Other munitions included bombs, napalm, the SUU-11/A minigun pod and rocket packs. With eight pylons – three under each wing and two beneath the main airframe – the A-37 could carry up to 3,000 pounds of bombs, rockets and missiles.
At the tip of both wings were fitted fuel tanks, and the aircraft was powered by two General Electric J85-GE-17A turbojets. Each produced 2,400 pounds of thrust, allowing for a top speed of between 485-507 MPH.
Baptism by fire
The first A-37A Dragonflies were sent to Vietnam in August 1967 as part of the Combat Dragon evaluation program, during which they flew close air support, FAC, helicopter escort and night interdiction missions.
This baptism by fire was unusual. As Lon Holtz, who piloted A-37s, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons, stated in an interview with Smithsonian Magazine, “No other aircraft had ever gone into combat that hadn’t been tested previously. Other fighters were proven here in the States […] That’s not the case with the A-37. This aircraft went over to prove itself in combat.”
At the conclusion of Combat Dragon in December 1967, the A-37A had flown 3,000 missions and not a single aircraft had been downed by enemy fire. The only two lost were due to landing accidents. The A-37 Dragonfly had proven itself.
That being said, some issues were realized, mainly around the A-37’s lack of range and endurance. These and other problems were taken into consideration, leading Cessna to develop the A-37B. Purpose built, unlike the “A” variant, it featured larger fuel tanks, a refueling probe on the nose, a heavier fuselage and a stronger engine.
Service during the Vietnam War
In combat, the A-37 Dragonfly enjoyed pinpoint accuracy that others did not. Unlike swept wing aircraft that flew at high speeds, it was able to slow attack runs to only 100 MPH. This resulted in an average hitting range within a 45 foot radius of a target. As one forward air controller remarked, “Thank God, now I have somebody who can actually hit the d**n target.”
During the Vietnam War, A-37s were used by the Republic of Vietnam Air Force, as well as the US Air Force. In total, the aircraft flew 68,471 missions between 1967-74 (some sources say more than 160,000 combat sorties), focused on regions in South Vietnam. Despite valiantly taking part in the air war, the A-37 has been largely overlooked in favor of Vietnam’s “Heavy Metal,” including the F-4 Phantom II, the North American F-100 Super Sabre and the Republic F-105 Thunderchief.
After the conflict, the A-37 continued to serve with the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, before being replaced by the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly in Central and South America
Beyond its service in Vietnam, the A-37D found – and still finds – substantial usage in Central and South America. Exported to numerous nations during the 1970s, the aircraft proved to be an ideal match for the requirements of Latin American air forces, primarily in the context of counter-insurgency and counter-narcotics operations.
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In 1983, the Salvadoran Air Force acquired a fleet of 21 A-37Bs and nine OA-37Bs to replace their aging Dassault Ouragans. These played a crucial role in the Salvadoran Civil War, although only nine remained operational at the conflict’s conclusion. Presently, the A-37 is actively utilized by six different air forces: Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and Uruguay.