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In the years following the Korean War, the A-6 was designed as a tough and versatile all-weather bomber to replace the Douglas Skyraider in U.S. Navy and Marine Corps attack squadrons. Grumman's design proposal won the Navy contract in February 1958, and first flight occurred in April 1960. The Intruder's complex integrated avionics were a major development challenge.
The A-6A entered training squadrons in June 1963. The A-6E upgrade incorporated an improved digital computer and a multi-mode radar, with first flight of the new model taking place in February 1970. Subsequent improvements in avionics, structure (including new wings), and weapons systems made the Intruder a valued Navy and Marine workhorse for over 30 years, from Vietnam to beyond Desert Storm. Grumman produced a total of 693 A-6 Intruders, of which 181 were manufactured as A-6Es and another 240 upgraded to the A-6E standard from A-6A and other early variants.
The Museum's A-6E entered service in August 1973. It has flown with nine Navy squadrons, including the VA-52 "Knight Riders" based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Its service includes bombing missions over Iraq during the first Gulf War. Before its retirement, VA-52 repainted the aircraft as A-6A 502, call sign "Viceroy 502" from the USS Kitty Hawk, in honor of Lieutenant Commander Roderick "Rog" Lester and Lieutenant Harry Mossman; both men and their Intruder were lost over Vietnam in August 1972. The A-6E was delivered to The Museum of Flight in March 1995.
This aircraft is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.
In the years following the Korean War, the A-6 was designed as a tough and versatile all-weather bomber to replace the Douglas Skyraider in U.S. Navy and Marine Corps attack squadrons. Grumman's design proposal won the Navy contract in February 1958, and first flight occurred in April 1960. The Intruder's complex integrated avionics were a major development challenge.
The A-6A entered training squadrons in June 1963. The A-6E upgrade incorporated an improved digital computer and a multi-mode radar, with first flight of the new model taking place in February 1970. Subsequent improvements in avionics, structure (including new wings), and weapons systems made the Intruder a valued Navy and Marine workhorse for over 30 years, from Vietnam to beyond Desert Storm. Grumman produced a total of 693 A-6 Intruders, of which 181 were manufactured as A-6Es and another 240 upgraded to the A-6E standard from A-6A and other early variants.
The Museum's A-6E entered service in August 1973. It has flown with nine Navy squadrons, including the VA-52 "Knight Riders" based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Its service includes bombing missions over Iraq during the first Gulf War. Before its retirement, VA-52 repainted the aircraft as A-6A 502, call sign "Viceroy 502" from the USS Kitty Hawk, in honor of Lieutenant Commander Roderick "Rog" Lester and Lieutenant Harry Mossman; both men and their Intruder were lost over Vietnam in August 1972. The A-6E was delivered to The Museum of Flight in March 1995.
This aircraft is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.
