Cessna A-37 Dragonfly

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Cessna Model: A-37 Nickname: Dragonfly
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Tactical Jet
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane ME Land
> Engine Description: Twin J-85

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 10/30/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 3
> Number of Times Flown: 2
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: OA-37, T-37, A-37

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 55
> Date First Flown: 5/23/1989
> Location First Flown: Selfridge Air Guard Base, MI
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Air Guard, Kunce

Recollections: While my logbook doesn’t show it (because I wasn’t a licensed pilot at the time), I flew a T-37 in 1976 or 1977 while attending the USAF Academy.  

My next time in this venerable Cessna design was as an IP at USNTPS, on a DT-2 exercise and it was in the “super tweet”, the very powerful A-37.  This may have been my first exposure to the Guard.  I had the opportunity to fly with them in various aircraft (usually related to monitoring a DT-2) over the years and–if I had the chance to be reincarnated–I’d come back as a Guard pilot.  What a deal!

The A-37 is ridiculously overpowered.  J85’s in a light airframe.  I don’t remember much about the flight other than that, which is unfortunate (should’ve taken more notes!)

I flew it a second time and–while I was still on active duty with the Navy–it was stictly a “civilian deal”, flying one with my best friend who had retired from the Navy and was working to help prepare some surplus A-37’s for delivery to an unnamed customer.  Hmmm…  it was fun to fly it again!