A-6 Intruder Model

The Grumman A-6 Intruder was a twinjet, mid-wing all-weather attack aircraft used by the United States Navy and Marine Corps from 1963 to 1997. It was designed to replace the piston-engined Douglas A-1 Skyraider as an all-weather medium attack aircraft. The A-6 was eventually retired and its precision strike mission was taken over by the Grumman F-14 Tomcat equipped with a LANTIRN pod. A specialized electronic warfare derivative, the EA-6, was also developed from the A-6. The A-6 was designed to be a highly advanced aircraft for its time, with sophisticated avionics that used multiple computers. Its design team was led by Lawrence Mead Jr., who later played a key role in the design of the Lunar Excursion Module and the F-14 Tomcat. The A-6 was used in various conflicts, including the Vietnam War, and served the Navy in a variety of roles. It was eventually retired in 1997. A handcrafted wooden model of the A-6 can make a unique and meaningful gift for an aviation enthusiast or a veteran who flew this aircraft.