SLUF by Bryan David Snuffer

The A-7 Corsair II was a workhorse designed with a singular, unglamorous, but vital mission: to serve as a subsonic "bomb truck" capable of delivering massive payloads with unmatched precision. Developed to replace the A-4 Skyhawk, the A-7 prioritized range, endurance, and weapon capacity over supersonic speed, earning it the affectionate nickname "SLUF" (Short Little Ugly Feller) from its pilots. Its primary role was Close Air Support (CAS) and interdiction, where its ability to loiter over battlefields for hours made it a lifeline for ground troops in conflicts ranging from Vietnam to Operation Desert Storm. The aircraft revolutionized aerial warfare by introducing the first modern Heads-Up Display (HUD) and a digital weapons computer, innovations that allowed pilots to drop munitions with pinpoint accuracy previously equated with "flying artillery." Whether launching from aircraft carriers or land bases, the A-7's mission was defined by its reliability and its capacity to carry up to 15,000 pounds of mixed ordnance—delivering the right weapon, on the right target, every time.