As the aviation industry in the 1950s and 1960s embraced supersonic speeds, defined avionics theory, and toyed with eccentric airframe designs, the A-7 Corsair II stood out as a peculiarly fascinating story.

The Corsair II was a unique-looking warplane that lacked the supersonic capabilities of many aircraft of its time but whose reliability and versatility allowed it to stay in service even when its flashier counterparts were being replaced by more ambitious proposals, and it quickly became a crucial asset for the US Navy.

Developed for the Vietnam War, the Corsair II proved to be a trusty and devastating strike aircraft that traded over-the-top features for a formidable range, increased payload capacity, and an affordable price.

With its iconic oversized air intake and unique airframe, the warplane would be nicknamed the Sluf or ‘short little ugly f***’ by the Navy crews. Still, there was nothing ugly about its performance…

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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.