Interesting footage features an historic A-7 Corsair jet “sling loaded” by a CH-47 Chinook helicopter
Taken on Aug. 15, 2013, the following video shows members of the Iowa Army and Air National Guard “sling loading” a historic U.S. Air Force jet, an A-7K Corsair II, via CH-47F Chinook helicopter.
The A-7, from 185th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) in Sioux City, Iowa, was transported to the Goldstar Museum at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa, where the aircraft sits in permanent display.
As explained in the clip by Col. Scott Plambeck, former A-7 driver and 185th ARW Maintenance Group Commander, this Corsair has been restored by the unit’s personnel to resemble its appearance in the 1980s, during the Cold War. Noteworthy the aircraft sports the names of two deceased 185th ARW members, crew chief Tech. Sgt. Bruce Johnson and pilot Capt. Andy Erickson, who maintained and flew this specific Corsair.
A cool A-7D low-level training attack is also included in the video.
The unit, originally designated the 185th Tactical Fighter Group and later redesignated the 185th Fighter Group and then the 185th Fighter Wing, transitioned from A-7 to F-16 in 1991, before moving to the KC-135 Stratotanker in 2003 and changing its designation again in 185th Air Refueling Wing.
