And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Grumman A-6A Intruder BuNo 157019. Delivered to the United States Navy 1970. Later upgraded to A-6E. Shown assigned VA-35 circa 1977-1978. Went to the boneyard in 1994 and scrapped in 2015.
So ugly it's uglee - a beautiful bird even if it looks like a pregnant guppy. That it served as an attack aircraft, electronic warfare ship and tanker speaks volumes to Grumman designers. And in attack mode, it had no gun.
Saw one of those parked at an airshow. The size of the main landing gear oleo was impressive. I'll bet it was every bit of 8 inches in diameter. (Take a big, heavy plane, load it up with bombs and/or drop tanks, and operate it from a carrier.)
A-6's Used to fly over my house from Whidbey Island. They were slow enough and low sometimes that I could wave at the pilots and see them wave back. One day I gave the 2nd one a wave of my arms and the next thing I knew they both went straight up after coming back over my back deck. I got my own personal air show! Not kidding..
an "unlimited" plus ?
ReplyDeleteGrumman A-6A Intruder BuNo 157019. Delivered to the United States Navy 1970. Later upgraded to A-6E. Shown assigned VA-35 circa 1977-1978. Went to the boneyard in 1994 and scrapped in 2015.
ReplyDeleteSo ugly it's uglee - a beautiful bird even if it looks like a pregnant guppy. That it served as an attack aircraft, electronic warfare ship and tanker speaks volumes to Grumman designers. And in attack mode, it had no gun.
ReplyDeleteOne of the few designs we didn't sell to other nations.
ReplyDeleteIntruder trying to intrude into Outer Space.
ReplyDeleteIt won't get very far.
Saw one of those parked at an airshow. The size of the main landing gear oleo was impressive. I'll bet it was every bit of 8 inches in diameter. (Take a big, heavy plane, load it up with bombs and/or drop tanks, and operate it from a carrier.)
ReplyDeleteThey were at the Naval Air Station at Dobbins. I believe there is one on static display there.
ReplyDeleteJust a great airplane. Too bad they no longer fly.
ReplyDeleteHad a Prowler come through one time at the base, pretty cool. For a Navy bird.
ReplyDeleteA-6's Used to fly over my house from Whidbey Island. They were slow enough and low sometimes that I could wave at the pilots and see them wave back.
ReplyDeleteOne day I gave the 2nd one a wave of my arms and the next thing I knew they both went straight up after coming back over my back deck. I got my own personal air show! Not kidding..