A-6 Intruder - Recognition Guide 2

The A-6 Intruder is a classic aircraft and next up in the Recognition Guide Series!
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- Sources
Robert F Dorr, Grumman A-6 Intruder,
Mark & Rick Morgan, Intruder:: The Operational History of Grumman's A-6
Rick Morgan, A-6 Intruder Units of the Vietnam War
DoD, OPNAVNOTE 03110, A-6b Aircraft, 1965
DoD, NAVAIRNOTE 13100, A-6E Aircraft, 1969
Tailspintopics blogspot com
NAVAIR 00-110AA6-1
NAVAIR 00-110AA6-4
NAVAIR 00-110AA6-5
NAVAIR 01-85ADF-1
- Visuals
USNI Photo Archive
Department of Defense
USN
- Disclaimer
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and United States Naval Institute (USNI) visual information in this video does not imply or constitute DoD / USNI endorsement."
-Audio
Music and Sfx from Epidemic Sound

[@thomasjoyce7910]

While the Intruder and Prowler filled important roles for the Navy, neither the Burglar nor the Home-Invader made it off the drawing board.

[@andyronayne7947]

Classic! You win the internet today :)

[@bentilbury2002]

And the less said about the Voyeur the better...

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Of course, they were all based on the British post-war early jet-engined CH1K Stalker, which itself was inspired by the 1930s carrier-borne reconnaissance biplane, the Fairey K1D Fiddler.

[@frankbarnwell____]

the peeping Tom was the recon mod

[@jameseast7966]

@@Ingens_Scherz naw, the A6-a was not a copy of anything.

[@patring620]

Funny you mention the relief tubes. We would tell new airmen that they were sound-powered aft bay ICS speaker phones and if they talked into them real loud, they could talk to the maintenance crews working in the aft bay compartment. Those airmen would put their mouths right in the tube and start yelling. Thirty-some years later, I feel bad about that. The TRAM model FLIR was always fun to test and seemed like really modern technology to me at the time. And I still remember testing the computer system on the B/N side and punching in the coordinates for NAS Ocean: N036490 W076020. My back is 100% shot from lifting the counterweight into the tail. IIRC, it was about 150 pounds - maybe more, but it was just two steel plates, dense and heavy, and I once smashed my thumb between the weights and the access hole edge (the hole was about 6' off the deck). I thought overall the A6 was easier to work on than the A7 I had worked on previously, as it seemed the electronics equipment, and much of the wiring and waveguides, had been replaced. I'm proud now that I had the opportunity to work on and support the aircraft. I was actually in the Navy when Flight of the Intruder came out, so there was some local fanfare about the aircraft. I'd read the book some years before the movie, not knowing at the time that I would eventually be working on the aircraft.

[@conorhughes6018]

What an honour

[@tossedsaladandscrambledegg8576]

I was a USMC avionics tech for the A-6E TRAM. Best Navy/Marine attack plane ever.

[@BeingFireRetardant]

Guy I met flew one of these loaded with HARMs into the Lybian strike in the 80's, found his targets. The SAM site were no longer operational. Said his favorite pilots were Weasels. YGBSM...

[@jameseast7966]

Semper Fi Marine. I was a com/nav tech in Vma aw 225 and in Vmcj-2. Later avionics chief in VMA(aw) 533. I retired in 87 when we returned from a med cruise on USS Kennedy.

[@KB4QAA]

*"It takes a lot of noise to push that much ugly!"* (Old navy saying about A-6's and their noisy engines). Great plane!

[@kilianortmann9979]

Oh boy, the Intruder, flying tadpole one of my all time favorite planes. AFAIK it's airfoil and landing gear heavily influenced the late F-14, another one of the great Grumman Ironworks designs. Early designs had it with swivel nozzles, to shorten takeoff distance. `To North Vietnam and back again´ is a worthwhile read, to get the perspective of the bombardier/navigators workload in this aircraft.

[@andrewtaylor940]

It didn’t just influence the F-14. The F-14 was quite literally designed by pretty much the same people that had designed the A-6’s. There was shockingly little turnover in the Grumman Bethpage teams from the start of the Cold War until the F-14 entered operational service/Apollo program was cancelled. Which is really when the layoffs began. I know my Dad started as an obscure design team member and worked on pieces of the A-6, the C-2 the F-14 and a small bit on the LEM. He and most of his friends were laid off after the Tomcat. His group designed the explosive bolt release systems used for things like the ejector seats and canopies. Or for example the wire radio antennae on the C-2 that stretched from just above the cockpit diagonally up to the top of the tail. Which needed to be jettisoned before the pilot ejection seats could be triggered. So they got passed around a number of planes and projects. I assume the Landing Gear team was similar.

[@ilejovcevski79]

I think the F-14 wings were essentially the A-6 wings as well.

[@sirbader1]

Best Flight of the Intruder quotes: "Fighter pilots make movies. Bomber pilots make history" -Jake Grafton "I saw the whole thing, skipper. These men were victimized." - Virgil Cole

[@genehakman9422]

$hi++er posted a strike, said he’s gonna piss. That doubles his capabilities.

[@sirbader1]

@@genehakman9422 Somebody's getting keelholed for this.

[@devinrivers5808]

Yeah buddy ...I loved that scene 👍🏿

[@octaviocuesta1155]

To be fair, the movie bombed. This led to another saying: "Fighter pilots make movies. Bomber pilots make bad movies."

[@billtimmons7071]

@@octaviocuesta1155 " .. the movie bombed." I saw what you did there.

[@jackbonnette4289]

I was a B/N in that flying tank back in the day and I can tell you it was an awesome ride.

[@luislealsantos]

Flight of the Intruder starring Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe, and Brad Johnson. Good flight scenes of great plane. Thanks Bismarck.

[@pvtjohntowle4081]

Was this the same plane in BAT-21 movie?

[@FallenPhoenix86]

@@pvtjohntowle4081 Nah, BAT21 started with Gene Hackman punching out of a EB-66 and then had Danny Glover flying an O-2. Flight of the Intruder is pretty much all A-6's, with one or two scenes featuring A-1's.

[@pvtjohntowle4081]

FallenPhoenix will have to see it then download from my favourite torrent site LOL

[@MyBlueZed]

One of my favourite aeroplanes after reading the novel (FoTI). I got to see one flying when my ship docked at Subic Bay in 1987.

[@MyBlueZed]

pencilpauli Some more flying movies I’d recommend are: Always (1989), Flight of the Phoenix (1965) & No Highway in the Sky (1951). 👍🏻

[@skyflier8955]

This is like a Forgotten Weapons video but for planes I absolutely love it this is perfect!

[@landrum3893]

I worked on A-6E SWIP and KA-6D Intruders from 87 to 89 and served with VA-75 on board the Kennedy. These planes hold a special place in my heart. Thanks for the fun video.

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Thanks for sharing!

[@JimFortune]

It was nice to see tail art from VMCJ-2, my first squadron. It did kind of set me up to expect to see an EA-6A or two in the video.

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Soon :)

[@JimFortune]

@Ross Cox Legend has it that in the late 60s or early 70s, on one of those low level passes the RIO accidentally blew chaff over a turkey farm. The turkeys, being turkeys, ate the chaff. The USMC ended up buying a farm full of poisoned turkeys. And, of course, "This is no shit!"

[@JimFortune]

@Ross Cox Maybe some collusion on the part of the farmer? "I just put them out of their misery."

[@fire304]

Semper fi brother, I was VMAQ2 and thought the same thing!

[@RCAvhstape]

Q2 in later days.

[@tacoenvy]

Oh hell yes, the A-6 is my favorite plane of all time, so awesome you doing a video on it 👊

[@MrAWG9]

Loudest damn jet on deck, when at military power and under tension. It would rattle your tooth fillings loose. I miss them and the Tomcat. All the sexy jets are gone now and replaced by lawn darts.

[@burningpotato9447]

F15 still here and the super hornet is still pretty sexy along with the raptor

[@MrAWG9]

F-15 & F-22 are both Air Force. The F/A-18 Hornet is a Lawn Dart and the Super Hornet is a glorified Lawn Dart. An old Tomcat driver once told me that the Hornet was great to have around; if the crap ever got too bad and you had to bug out, they were significantly slower and were effectively 40,000 lbs of chaff in the Cat’s jet wash. 😉

[@burningpotato9447]

MrAWG9 well it is multi roll and the super hornet is a different plane than the reg hornet

[@burningpotato9447]

MrAWG9 air Force planes are prob the best for the time in terms of air to air with the f15 having 104 kills and no air to air losses while the tomcat is a really good plane it's expensive and the f18 super hornet is prob the best multirole in existence which is what the Navy thought they wanted

[@MrAWG9]

dwiggins01 late 90’s? I bet we have sweat in some of the same time zones. I was a Tomcat AT2 (electronics tech), so I will always remain unapologetically biased against anything not Grumman. And Lawn Dart is funny, regardless.

[@kenunderwood4266]

I was a member of the ordnance shop of VMA(aw) 533 & VMA(aw) 332. Fantastic aircraft and squadron mates. Semper Fi!

[@jameseast7966]

Semper Fi Marine. I did two hitches with 533. In sept 69 when 533 left Chu Lai for Iwakuni Japan,I was transfered from 225 in Danang to 533. I was in 533 again in 85 to 87, on the USS kennedy as Avionics Chief.. I retired when we got back stateside.

[@NeuKrofta]

Thank you so much for this! The A-6 Intruder needs more love. My all time favorite jet powered aircraft. There is NOTHING like standing on deck with this beast of an airplane in front of you

[@ilejovcevski79]

If there was one attack plane i would love to fly in DCS (aside from the Buccaneer), with me being mostly an A-A guy, it's this plane. The sheer amount of systems, both nav and sensor/WCS, would make it a pure joy to learn!

[@rhysgoodman7628]

And being able to accurately hit targets in bad weather all the way from the carrier to the target. That would be super hard, but so satisfying to pull off.

[@wkelly3053]

Really great. Thank you for the great research. Besides general knowledge, this sort of presentation is also great for those of us who build scale models. Every model builder is also an amateur historian. Looking forward to more of these.

[@DrydockDreamsGames]

very good point!

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mmouseav8r402]

Nice video, my dad was in an A-6 squadron, VA-128, I’ve always been fond of the Intruder.

[@mdbizzarri]

A-6's were also the preferred snow removal on flight decks if needed, though i never heard of anyone who saw it. The reason is because the exhaust pointer downward. They are also the loudest aircraft on the flight deck, well, the Prowler is a tad louder. Source: I worked in naval aviation for 6 years on Hawkeyes and Tomcats, working with the Intruder and Prowler shops in the Seat Shop as Tomcats, Intruders, and Prowlers share the same ejection seat.

[@joespeciale5875]

As always, so detailed, so well-researched and so fascinating. Thank you for being an excellent source of correct information about military aviation history.

[@davecasler]

I like the videos in which we see you explaining things much more than just the narrated ones.

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Thanks for the feedback, David!

[@stevedrake1861]

I worked on the TIAS system back in 1968 - 1970. It was a difficult design to do because of the lack of today's integrated and high-tech components. Still, from what I understand, it performed well in the field.

[@johnslaughter5475]

In 1968, all of the electronics in the nose cost $5,000,000. That would be over $37,000,000 in 2020. We had a squadron on my ship both of my cruises. I always thought they looked like pregnant guppies. With a payload of 18,000 pounds that is only 2,000 less that the B-29 could carry. It was definitely an impressive site to watch a fully loaded A-6 launch from the waist cats. That way you could be below them.

[@Zajuts149]

For those interested in watching cool A-6 Intruder flight scenes, the film "Flight of the Intruder" has quite a few. It's based off the novel by the same name by Stephen Coonts, who was an Intruder pilot. What really stuck with me watching the film, was the staggered attachment of Mark 82 and 83 bombs on the Multiple Ejector Racks(MER). This was done to reduce extra drag the was found to assert itself when you filled the low-drag bomb racks fully with bombs.

[@nitehawk86]

One of my favorite military movies.

[@sirbader1]

"You know something I don't?"

[@Zajuts149]

@@sirbader1 That entire scene...

[@GCJT1949]

The cockpit of an A-6 is NOT THAT HIGH. Geoff Who has been around awhile.

[@sirbader1]

@@Zajuts149 "Maybe. Maybe not."

[@andrewtaylor940]

It’s worth noting that the KA-6D was the last variant still in regular front line service. It remained the main carrier based refuel platform until pretty recently. The replacement system of “Buddy stores” on a regular F/A-18F always seems a crude halfway measure with nowhere near the capacity of the KA-6D’s. At least until they get their drone tanker system operational. You can understand why they didn’t want anymore A-6 variants sitting on the Carriers in small numbers, after the maintenance mess they created in the 80’s. For fun fire up the semi classic and decidedly weird scifi’ish Navy movie The Final Countdown. It’s great for Kirk Douglas and a young Martin Sheen. But it is also a wonderful tour of US Carrier operations aboard the Nimitz circa 1980-82’ish. Count how many different planes you see. How many older onesies-twosies oddballs repurposed into specialty roles. Like 2 Crusaders just for photo recon. It became a maintenance nightmare, carrying engines and spare parts for so many different aircraft. Not to mention each type needing specialist maintenance crews.

[@rainsilent]

This massive difference in parts is part of what the A-6F was deliberately designed to address. The A-6F internally used as many parts from other, newer aircraft then being introduced into service. For example the engines were non afterburning versions of the same engines on the then new F/A-18. These new engines not only provided increased thrust but also increased the range due to the engines being more fuel efficient. The more powerful engines also increased payload capacity.

[@patring620]

I heard from a recently-retired MCPO that the S3 largely took over the tanker duties of the KA-6D.

[@andrewtaylor940]

Pat Ring I think you might be right. I forgot they were using the S-3’s as tankers. Although I don’t think they lasted that long in that role. They were great long range/long flight time aircraft for it, but were very expensive to maintain for that role. I’m pretty sure they were all retired or sold to South Korea back in the 00’s?

[@patring620]

@@andrewtaylor940 As I get older, "recent" becomes relative. So I realize now that my buddy's retirement was about 10 years ago. He was a maintenance chief in an S3 squadron, so that may very well be the case that they were gone by the time of his retirement.

[@andrewtaylor940]

Pat Ring Same. Looking back My friend the A-6 Squadron Crew Chief walked off the Roosevelt at least 25 years ago.

[@fire304]

Interesting design note: as originally built the Internet had tilting exhaust nozzles designed to help takeoff performance. If you search for pictures of the YA2F-1 prototype (there's a picture in Wiki) you can see the pipes deployed. This was deleted from the final design, but the aircraft retained the long twisted exhaust pipe (and I have to wonder what performance penally this design brought with it).

[@thomasjoyce7910]

"The Intruder is a series of tubes" - Senator Ted Stevens, probably...

[@larryhoover2965]

I had the opportunity to work on these before they decommissioned. I know we had a few they were converted to night vision use. All the lighting was green instead of red

[@bender7565]

A-6 is one of the few A/C (US) never sold or given to a foreign govt. It was fun to get the new sailor to talk into the relief tube. Good times.

[@samgeorge4798]

Love the recognition videos please do more. Especially on more "unknown" planes. You can find tons of stuff on f-15 and f-16 but nothing on less produced planes like the a-5 vigilante

[@davephipps1719]

Missed the A-6E SWIP (Systems Weapons Improvement Program) Upgraded the TRAM with new electronics, a new fuel quantity system, Advanced weapons capability and HARM capable. Introduced in 1987. VA-75 was the first Fleet Squadron to deploy with the SWIP.

[@Starphot]

I worked on the AN/APQ 92 (DIANE) search and track radar from 1972. Then my Squadron got the A-6Es in 1974 and I worked on the early AN/APQ 148 components.

[@bigslice8526]

these videos are amazing!! I need more like this. was not aware of your channel until YT recommended this video to me. but I will definitely stay tuned for more like this.

[@johnaitken7430]

Love the aircraft..and your coverage

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Thanks John

[@jameseast7966]

Listening to your presentation, brings back terms and systems i remember. Thanks.

[@PaddyPatrone]

Klasse Video und wieder sehr informativ. Die Geschwindigkeit deines Audiokommentars ist perfekt!

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Danke!

[@Chris-Theodore]

Thanks for not forgetting to make another episode! Keep up the good work!

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Thanks, will do!

[@ovk-ih1zp]

An Exceptionally versatile airframe & a fantastic strike platform. Thanks for the video Bismark.

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Thanks, my pleasure

[@zoots15]

One of my favorites, cheers BIZ

[@brucer81]

Another exceptional video. Extremely detailed as always. Keep up the good work.

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Thank you

[@luciusvorenus9445]

This is a fantastic video. Well done.

[@gregqualtieri609]

My last tour in the Navy I worked on both models. Great aircraft watch one come in on a bomb run at Fallon and then due a 7 g pull off, great plane.

[@andreasleonardo6793]

Too nice video about A-10 intruder aircrafts with clearly explaining of several versions of it thanks for sending

[@ladydeath4437]

More of this please!😃

[@briancooper2112]

Good job!

[@t5ruxlee210]

Very interesting episode.

[@an_asian_guy]

Thanks for a video of my favorite carrer born bomber

[@traveler582]

Great video, I wasn't aware the fuselage speed brakes were deactivated, thx!

[@georgemcmillan9172]

The trim system was designed to track the heat signature of vehicle distributors. The A6 platform was and is one of the best aircraft in the U.S. arsenal, much like the A10 Warthog. As a recon- bomber, it's win/loss numbers are difficult to match.

[@michaelmondary2564]

The EA6A was still known as a intruder,not a prowler. It never had wingtip speed brakes. We used the fuselage speed brakes.

[@cbooc]

Thank you

[@skull3374]

Is amazing and fun to know the Intruder!

[@johnclayton1026]

On the Coral Sea I worked in Ships Inertial Navigation System which programmed the A6 system

[@Hardline1225]

wow only 49 views in the first 3 minutes? A truly underrated channel

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

You can change this and for free, by sharing the videos ;)

[@Hardline1225]

Military Aviation History ig since I’m so generous

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

\o/

[@sirbader1]

There's comments from 3 weeks ago?

[@jcorbett9620]

@@sirbader1 One of the perks of being a patreon. You get early access to Bismarks videos :-)

[@squishy024]

Normally one of the Navy requirements is that the aircraft looks cool. They made an exception for this girthy boi

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

I used to call them the Bug. I tell you one thing-you knew when one of them were getting ready on the cat...you could "feel" them, and I'm talking on 2nd and 3rd deck. Those things were LOUD. loved em.

[@bobharvey6957]

Great video, would love to see a video about the mirage 3!!!

[@chuckdargy5031]

Work on A6'As for 8 years as an AQ, 69 to 77. Learned more abut the "B" bird in 5 minutes here than I ever heard before. As I was leaving, A6E's were coming. Saw all the rest including the C bird.

[@richardstansbury9788]

I came to love that aircraft despite it's appearance. It was a solid honest airframe.

[@KitKabinet]

"This is a US-American plane, so get ready for a lot of acronyms." 😄 I'm now imagining what Germans acronyms in WW2 would have looked like with all those sub types, variants and experimental versions..

[@ik2254]

*Laughs in Soviet* "You're like a baby, watch this: ЦК РСДРП; ЦК РСДРП(б); ЦК ВКП(б)" Really tho, Soviets used to plug acronyms literally everywhere possible. And even sometimes where it's impossible...

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

I can spot an Intruder a mile away. Beyond that, I need binoculars. I expect to spot it in War Thunder soon. I am assuming that it's advanced electronics and fancy bombsight is causing the delay.

[@FallenPhoenix86]

With the recently implemented CCIP/CCRP mechanics they could add an A-6 whenever they liked. Don't think it would do well in the game though, would just be Phantom food, same goes for the Buccaneer. Think I'd rather see an A-6 in DCS as its so systems heavy, Warthunder just couldn't do it justice. The A-7 might be a better fit for WT, still relatively slow but at least it has a gun and a pair of Sidewinders, an A-6 would only have dirty looks and harsh language to defend itself.

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

@@FallenPhoenix86 Of course it and the Buccaneer would be Phantom food. That's why they both should be 8.0 and have flairs.

[@FallenPhoenix86]

@@Lord.Kiltridge Phantoms are all 10.3, max BR spread = 1 and theres a hard cap at 9.7... they would be fine at 9.0-9.7, at 8.0 they'd both be overpowered.

[@majkmajers2325]

@@FallenPhoenix86 there isn't a br cap anymore, 9.0-9.7 players probably weren't losing enough money

[@FallenPhoenix86]

@@majkmajers2325 Yeah found that out last night after I'd posted here... Gaijin philosophy: "if it ain't broke fix it until it is"

[@travisgoff99]

I like how you do every of aircraft in most countries in the world

[@geoffreyreeks2422]

Thank you. Regards, Geoff. Reeks

[@57thStIncident]

Sexy is as sexy does. Love the A-6.

[@skyback1249]

Would love to see a video on the F111 Aardvark

[@cliffthelightning]

Please consider making a video on the S3 viking or the A5 Vigilante!

[@AsbestosMuffins]

the tanker variant of this was a superior plane to taking an f18 and turning that into a tanker. Its perplexing that the navy canceled their drone tanker program though as that seemed to give all the benefits of a long range dedicated tanker with the speed benefits of being able to keep up with f18s

[@arbitercs]

When is the next aircraft recognition episode??? I like these videos

[@MrGs500f]

Is this to identify one or to service one haha. Love it!

[@w6krg]

The A-6, A-7, and E-2 were the first aircraft to use the "Nose Tow" launching system eliminating the need for a bridle which was still used by our C-1, F-4s, and RA-5Cs along with the occasional A-3D. USS Constellation WESTPAC 974. One problem with the A-6 is the thrust of it's engines blows out and down making life in the catwalk VERY interesting...

[@Steamrunner]

The exhaust direction made them a hundred times more tolerable flying over the house than the EA-18 Growlers that rattle things off the shelves. I miss the Intruder and Prowlers and once the last reserve Orion takes its final flight, I'll miss them too. Admittedly, the Poseidon isn't too obnoxious but doesn't have the same sound I've grown up with. There's an allure in hearing four turboprop engines gliding across the sky.

[@w6krg]

@@Steamrunner Sounds like you live, or grew up, in Oak Harbor Wahington! I was stationed there for a brief period in 1976. The Hornets are REALLY loud, even not when afterburner!

[@beefy1212]

@@w6krg I was thinking Lemoore, CA

[@w6krg]

@@beefy1212 I could be wrong, not ever have been at Lemoore, but I don't believe they ever had P-3s or P-8s stationed there. Also, NAS Whidbey Island was where the replacement squadron for A-6s was located. NAS Lemoore hosted the A-7 squadrons.

[@beefy1212]

Jason Knox not sure either, I know Lemoore is home of the hornet... when he spoke of the nearby base transitioning to hornets it was the first base that came to mind for me. I was never in the Navy, but I used to service high pressure breathing air compressors for among many clients the Air Force, Navy, and Army in California, Oregon and a certain not an air base, base in southern Nevada. My favorite was the maintenance support unit for the KC tankers at Travis will also never forget the first time seeing a c3/5 on the ground. I always knew they were big but seeing a uhaul sized truck pull up to the front landing gear really put things on perspective. My second favorite was Beale, seeing the u2 and sr-71 taxi by on the ground was a special sight for me. I got to see a lot of cool stuff civilians rarely see on flight lines. Including accidentally causing the main gate to Travis to shut down just after 9/11 back before they rebuilt it. I will always remember seeing like 7 humvees come out of no where with 50cals pointed at me and the guard telling me to go ahead and turn to the left... Slowly.

[@RCAvhstape]

Hard to believe there is a US Navy and Marines with no Intruders anymore. There were a lot of incidents in safety films and magazines involving this type. If you search youtube you can see the film of the guy on the flight deck getting sucked into the engine intake (he lived; stopped by a vane before he reached the spinny killy parts). There was also a nasty incident where an A-6 crew were flying low through a valley hotdogging and cut the cable of a sky tram, killing a bunch of people. Also, there is a film of an A-6 who's crew ejected after a cold catapult shot and the airplane decided it wanted to keep flying, so off it went over the sea, a ghost ship that had to be chased and shot down. A typically Navy aircraft, picked for its abilities and the looks be damned; it seems ugly at first but when you see what it can do and how well it did it, it starts to look pretty good. Best shipborne bomber/attack aircraft ever, retired way too soon with no real replacement.

[@A6Bnito]

The cable for the sky tram was cut by an EA-6B - Marine Corps if I am not mistaken..., As a former BN I do not recall any A-6 where both crew ejected and the aircraft flew... I do know this happened at least twice with F/!-18's I personally observed one of the events, a Carrier Qualification event with a Prospective F/A-18 XO (former A-7 bubba).

[@Garhunt05]

The a-sucks intruder, my mom hated this airplane because she was in charge of the parts for this airplane and the engines always got something in them that needed to be replaced.

[@aaronseet2738]

"... it is no fighter jock or reconn puke who is doing this thing; it is an A-6 driver because no one else on this ship can hit the XO's ashtray."

[@geneard639]

uh, I gotta say it. The EA-6A was named 'The Electric Intruder', and in later years they were in 'non-recap' and 'recap' configurations. Also the EA-6A airbrakes were NEVER disabled... The A-6A's that were depot'ed into A-6E's had their fuslage mounted airbrakes disabled, but not the EA-6A. (VAQ-33, AMU-2, 1990-1993). ...and, the KA-6D is only 'unknown' outside of the Air Navy, inside the Air Navy during its life it WAS known by everyone who held a throttle and had a thirsty bird. As for the EA-6A being some sort of off shoot, Methusela (airframe number 2, ya got a few of his baby picutures in that spread) was in fact the Daddy to every A-6 ever built. Had to be, Number 1 airframe crashed on its initial flight at Pax River like every other long legged Grumman aircraft ever did.

[@delta1404]

Please do a video on the Flanker series!

[@420BulletSponge]

I hated the EA6-B working on the flight deck. They were the loudest of all the aircraft we dealt with

[@jaybee9269]

Hey Chris, I know this is an old video now…but the Essex carriers as refitted for jets operated steam catapults, not hydraulic.😬

[@Activated_Complex]

Recognition Guide: “That plane that just caught your tent in its arrester hook, while climbing, and flew off with it like a war trophy? That was an A-6 Intruder.”

[@mikegillihan4546]

The US Navy loves acronyms. There are so many that a Naval Abbreviation book exists. It has it's own acronym NAVABDIC.

[@chrisoleary9876]

I served on U.S.S. MIDWAY We had a bunch of A-6s, but mostly F-4s.

[@slartybartfarst55]

Now I need to reread (listen to) flight of the intruder

[@adamdubin1276]

There is a reason that the Navy has such a close relationship with Northrop Grumman... Grumman gave them many shiny and reliable toys...

[@marseldagistani1989]

Like the tiger?

[@adamdubin1276]

@@marseldagistani1989 We are not counting maneuvers that resulted in collision with ones own weapons...

[@marseldagistani1989]

@@adamdubin1276 I was referring to the Tiger aircraft that the USN dumbed in Favor of the F3H demon

[@beefy1212]

Not just planes either...

[@Zajuts149]

It is kinda sad that the A-6F was never produced. The US Navy was so set on the A-12 that they feared the A-6F would jeopardize that program. In the end they (mis)managed to jeopardize the entire program itself. Even the less-ambitious A-6G never got anywhere. I wonder if the US Navy will ever get a long-range capability aircraft again.

[@razor1uk610]

..just as the MiG-31 is the child of the MiG-25, hopefully the A6's are to be a good basis of inspiriation to build upon, from, with more modern and advanced/improved materials, & production methods & techniques, and installed engines, fuel, avionics & electronic and other system fits are. Perhaps in a dream, as a slightly more muscular stance of its lines, perhaps an A6F/G's wing outline, adapted akin towards that of the F16-XL?..

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Drones more likely will fill the role.

[@marseldagistani1989]

Is the a 12 the flying wing aircraft?

[@Zajuts149]

@@marseldagistani1989 Yes. It sadly never flew.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@marseldagistani1989 It was a proposed stealthy flying wing design.

[@terryyocumiii9645]

I went to a civilian school after the marines to get my A&P certificate. The school had an A-6E along with training boards for systems of these aircrafts. Story goes that the US was going to give aircraft to Pakistan after they were phased out, and they would send the mechanics to this school for training. This didn't happen, and the aircraft and equipment were left with the school. So we got to play with them instead. We even got to fire up the engines.

[@p.d8423]

That plane was LOUD.

[@FlightSimHistorian]

Forget the A-10C upgrade. I want this for DCS.

[@gansior4744]

My fav US jet, thats just something in it

[@dutchbrotherfan1284]

The Castle Air Museum is getting one I think in January 21 it’s the last CAG bird to be catapulted into retirement

[@rodrigodepierola]

This is my favorite US plane.

[@Anastunsia]

Ooooooooooo I *really* like this plane

[@richardmollberg3096]

The friendly looking aircraft, hey!

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

What were the planes being refueled at 11:00?

[@57thStIncident]

Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard

[@hankw69]

How to identify the A-6? Well my dad was a National Guard F-4 crew chief, and he described it as ugly enough to break your camera.

[@luguicalaca]

My favourite plane. One question: does it take something from the F3D Skynight ? They are very similar.

[@GCJT1949]

Only the lay out is common, side by side seating, so the driver can appreciate what the important part of the team is doing to others. The A-6 could carry a relatively massive weapons load for a carrier strike aircraft of it's day. Geoff Who didn't learn about this aircraft until he saw one, then it was a beeline to Janes.

[@luguicalaca]

@@GCJT1949 thank you.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Not similar at all.

[@prowlus]

Skyknight was basically a Ad Skyraider enlarged, with twin jet engines and a side-by-side cockpit

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@prowlus Your comparisons are bad. Other than seating, they don't have anything in common.

[@fermitupoupon1754]

If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to need a KA-6D converted for civilian use. But leave the tail hook. What better way to diss some bloke's new private jet than pointing out the fact that yours is able to take off and land on a carrier.

[@silenthunteruk]

Feeling fly like an A-6...

[@davidmcintyre8145]

The aircraft was almost never put in service the USN also evaluated and tested what proved to be the best low level strike aircraft naval or otherwise(right up until the 1990s)the Blackburn Buccaneer but preferred a US made product even if it was inferior

[@blitzkriegsebastian]

Planes that look good is better than the ugly ones. But this one is an exception or I am the only one that thinks it is ugly.

[@rodrigodepierola]

Ugly, but it stole my heart. :)

[@GCJT1949]

Ugly like an anvil, the center of work. Geoff Who notes an A-6 attack was once reported by the North Vietnamese as a B-52 strike.

[@slowturtle6745]

@@GCJT1949 They carried a load no doubt.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Ugly? Nah. Fairey Gannet? That was ugly...

[@martijn9568]

@@WALTERBROADDUS Ever heard of the pregnant MiG-21, which was called the Lightning??

[@craigseymour1099]

Not the Ka-6D tanker version?

[@craigseymour1099]

Oh duh...I Didn't wait long enough...lol😅

[@martincotterill823]

What about the 4 seater?

[@tianshili6040]

So this is the plane in Ra2