The initial contract, N0w-0363f, specified a total of 199 airplanes to be designated the A-7A.  Design work began immediately and first flight took place in September 1965, only 18 months after the winner was announced.  This is a record unequaled by any other modern military jet aircraft program.  To add to its fine performance in the design program, LTV delivered the first A-7A to an operational Navy squadron in September 1966, only 12 months after first flight, another record which has never been equaled and is not likely to be.

Powered by the Navy-chosen Pratt & Whitney TF-30P6 non-afterburning engine which delivered 11,350 pounds thrust an weighed a mere 14,857 pounds, this sturdy little "bomb truck" could carry as much as 10,200 of pounds of fuel, which would allow it to stay in the air for over 12 hours! The normal weapon load was around 15,000 pounds, which was carried on eight store stations, but the A-7A demonstrated the capability to carry 20,000 pounds of ordnance. An incredible mix of weapons and fuel loading produced varying radius-of-action  capabilities within its 42,000-pound gross weight limit.

A-7:

Genesis of the Navy Attack Bomber, Light (VA(L))
In Comat
Farewell Proud Bird
Aircraft Performance Perspective