A-6 Intruder
The A-6 Intruder is a twin-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. In service between 1963 and 1997, the Intruder was designed as an all-weather replacement for the piston-engined A-1 Skyraider medium attack aircraft. A specialized electronic warfare derivative, the EA-6B Prowler, remains in service as of 2007. As the A-6 was slated for retirement, its precision strike mission was taken over by the now retired F-14 Tomcat equipped with LANTIRN, which has subsequently passed on the role to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Signifigance
The A-6, particularly the first production variant, the A-6A, is of particular signifigance to REDdimension Wiki Circle members Kevin McNulty and his father James McNulty. Jim designed the track radar ground support equipment for the A-6A, and attended sea trials aboard USS Kitty Hawk as the aircraft was tested. He also instructed Navy aircrews in the poper use if the equipment.
Having been fascinated by planes from a young age, Kevin was enthralled by his father's stories about his work on the A-6A and his trip on the Kitty Hawk. As a young adult, Kevin built a scale model of the A-6A with markings of the squadron from the Kitty Hawk trials as a birthday gift for his father. In 2006, Kevin got a tattoo of the A-6 in honor of his father's work and patriotism.
