Century Wings 1:72 Wings of Heroes 001653
Vought A-7D Corsair II Diecast Model
USAF 354th TFW, #70-0970, Colin Clarke, North Vietnam, SAR Mission, November 1972 | |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Vought A-7D Corsair II | | 7.75" | | 6.5" |
PLEASE NOTE: This item is not currently in stock and has a planned arrival date of March 2026.- Orders may not ship until complete. If you wish to receive in-stock items prior to pre-ordered items, you must place separate orders.
- Arrival dates are subject to change. Consider them to be estimates as manufacturers frequently revise them.
- Credit Cards are not billed until time of shipment. PayPal payment (not recommended) is required at time of order.
On November 18, 1972, Maj. Colin A. "Arnie" Clarke of the 354th TFW led a flight of three Search and Rescue A-7Ds as part of a massive effort near Thanh Hoa, North Vietnam, where a downed F-105 crew awaited pickup. Clarke repeatedly descended through treacherous weather and heavy AAA, using his projected map display to guide Jolly Green helicopters. He suppressed enemy gun positions - including one dangerously close to a survivor - while other A-7s laid smoke. Despite being hit by enemy fire, Clarke shielded the Jollys during extraction and nursed his damaged A-7 to safety after nine hours airborne. For his valor, he received the Air Force Cross.
Clarke's A-7D #70-0970 is preserved and currently on display at the National Museum of the USAF at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.
Designed as a longer-range, higher-payload replacement for the A-4 Skyhawk, the A-7 Corsair II was first flown on September 27th, 1965. This aircraft entered service during the Vietnam war and later became one of only a few US Navy aircraft to serve with the US Air Force. It possessed cutting edge technologies; it was one of the first aircraft to use a turbofan engine, an internal navigation system and a "head-up" display. Late in its career, A-7s were used for pilot training and were parked outside of hangars in order to draw the attention of Soviet spy satellites away from the fledgling F-117. © Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Century Wings' 1:72 scale A-7 series includes the Navy A-7E and the Air Force A-7D. The most notable features of this model are its large and cavernous chin scoop and engine exhaust detail at the rear. The canopy is hinged and locks against the tinted bulletproof windscreen, and a pair of a non-breakable rubberized pitot tubes are installed just below. The cockpit interior is packed with more instrumentation and switch detail than just about any other model in 1:72 scale. A complete set of ordnance mounts to the keyed wing pylons and snaps in place for easy reconfiguration. The solid metal horizontal stabilizers are movable and rotate in unison.
© Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Century Wings "1:72 Wings of Heroes" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft.
Century Wings 1:72 diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Opening canopies, revealing detailed cockpit interiors.
- Selected moveable control surfaces.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Detailed removable pilot and crew figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
© Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
