Cessna will always be known as a general aviation company. But Cessna has in fact crafted a formidable and proven wartime fighter in the A-37 Dragonfly.
Cessna is known as a dominant force in general aviation—perhaps the world’s preeminent manufacturer of two- and four-seaters, the aircraft of choice for student pilots and weekend warriors thanks to easy maintenance, simple systems, and great fuel economy. Many pilots, commercial, military, and otherwise, began their foray into aviation aboard a Cessna, this author included. But Cessna is not exclusively a manufacturer of general aviation aircraft; Cessna has ventured into military aviation, albeit in modest forms. Examples include the T-41 Mescalero, a militarized version of the famed Cessna 172; the U-3 “Blue Canoe,” a militarized version of the Cessna 310; the O-2 Skymaster, a militarized version of the Cessna 337; and the lone jet-powered aircraft in the group, the A-37 Dragonfly.
The A-37 is arguably the “purest” military aircraft to roll off Cessna’s assembly lines, in the sense that the jet was derived from a military-specific jet-trainer, the T-37 Tweet. Naturally, the A-37 came to be known as the “Super Tweet,” and served in a light attack role during the Vietnam War.
Introducing the A-37 Dragonfly
As the U.S. became increasingly embroiled in what would become the Vietnam War, U.S. war planners recognized the need for a counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft. Nothing in the U.S. inventory was fully suited for the job. So, creatively, the U.S. looked inward to its training fleet for a solution. The Cessna T-37 Tweet was, at the time, a widespread jet trainer. Could the trainer aircraft be adapted for COIN operations abroad? Yes, the Air Force decided—with the proper modifications, namely, increased range and payload, and improved short-field performance.
The need for increased range and payload predicated an increase in weight, which in turn predicated a more powerful engine. Accordingly, the T-37’s Continental J-69 engines were replaced with the General Electric J-85 turbojet engine, each with 2.400 pounds of thrust. Further modifications included strengthened wings, wingtip fuel tanks, improved avionics to enhance battlefield communications, and reinforced landing gear capable of handling rough-field operations.
And—most notably—a GAU-2B/A 7.62-mm Gatling-style minigun was added into the nose, a unique feature for a Cessna. The minigun was capable of firing 3,000 rounds per minute. To supplement the gun, each wing was modified to feature three pylons each that were compatible with a wide range of munitions. The finished product came to be known as the A-37 Dragonfly, or, the “Super Tweet.”
As the Vietnam War escalated, the A-37 was deployed to the region. Flying from Bien Hoa Air Base, the A-37 provided close air support, helicopter escort, forward air control, and night interdiction. For wartime operations, it carried everything from bombs to rockets to napalm.
In total, the A-37 flew over 160,000 sorties during the war, losing only 22 airframes. When Saigon fell, the North Vietnamese captured 33 intact A-37s, which were then used in further attacks against the South Vietnamese.
Cessna will always be known as a general aviation company. But Cessna has in fact crafted a formidable and proven wartime fighter in the A-37 Dragonfly.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
Image: Shutterstock / A Periam Photography.
