Jet engines were standard in US fighter/attack aircraft from the 1970s to the 1950s.
Modern jet engines were used to build the F-109 Cougar, F-106 Delta Dagger, and F- 104 Starfighter.
In the early 1970s with Richard Nixon in the White House, NASA astronauts frequently explored the lunar surface, and Robert Redford emerged in Hollywood, one US attack aircraft still relied upon a propeller for thrust.
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was the US's last prop-driven fighter.
The A-1 was first flown in 1945. After entering service the following year, the prop plane began a remarkable service life that would overlap with some of the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world.
The A-1 was easy to operate. The A-1 was designed to replace the Douglas SBD Dauntless and other World War II aircraft.
The A-1 had great flexibility at low speeds. The wings had seven hardpoints and were able to carry 8,000 pounds of ordnance.
The A-1 has a reputation for accuracy. Capable of hitting difficult targets, the A-1 relied on "toss-bombing" or "over-the- shoulder" bombing techniques.
The A-1 was considered to have close air support. The A-1 was useful in supporting troops on the ground due to its high stability and long loitering time.
The A-1 became famous for its ability to keep flying in low-flying roles. Extra armor was put around the cockpit to protect the pilot.
The lynchpin of US efforts in the Korean War was the Skyraider. The Skyraider was used by the US Navy and US Marine Corps as their primary attack aircraft.
The Skyraider's armor was fused to the underside and sides of the aircraft during the Korean War. Over 100 A-1s were lost in battle.
The US had a lot of jet fighters during the Vietnam War. The A-7 Corsair II, the A-4 Skyhawk, and the F-4 Phantom are all related. War planners usually chose the A-1 for demanding missions.
The A-1 shot down two MiG 17s on two separate occasions. Over the course of the war, the A-1 fleets lost nearly 300 aircraft.
The US phased the A-1 out of service in 1973. The A-1 was flown with foreign air forces.
The A-1 is still the design source for a modern attack jet.
The A-10 Warthog is a direct descendant of the A-1. The A 10 has great flexibility at low speeds. The A-10 has a titanium-encased cockpit and additional armor.
The A10 is revered for its ability to protect troops on the ground. The A-10 is too valuable and cost-effective to retire, even though it has become an observable, slow anachronism.
The senior defense editor at 19 Forty Five is Harrison Kass. He was medically discharged from the US Air Force after joining as a pilot. Harrison graduated from Lake Forest College, the University of Oregon, and New York University. In Oregon, he listens to Dokken.
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