McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

1954

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McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

Designed originally to provide the US Navy and Marine Corps with a simple low-cost lightweight attack and ground support aircraft, the Skyhawk was based on experience gained during the Korean War. Since the initial requirement called for operation by the US Navy, special design consideration was given to providing low-speed control and stability during take-off and landing, added strength for catapult launch and arrested landings, and dimensions that would permit it to negotiate standard aircraft carrier lifts without the complexity of folding wings.

Construction of the XA-4A (originally XA4D-1) prototype Skyhawk began in September 1953 and the first flight of this aircraft, powered by a Wright J65-W-2 engine (32 kN), took place 22 June 1954. A total of 2,960 A-4 Skyhawks was built. The last one was built in 1979.

A4D-1 Skyhawk (1956)

Specification 
 CREW1
 ENGINE1 x P+W J-52-P-8A, 41.4kN
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight11110 kg24493 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan8.4 m28 ft 7 in
  Length12.6 m41 ft 4 in
  Height4.6 m15 ft 1 in
  Wing area24.2 m2260.49 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed1100 km/h684 mph
  Range w/max.fuel3200 km1988 miles
 ARMAMENT2 x 20mm machine-guns, bombs, missiles, torpedos

3-View 
McDonnell Douglas A-4 SkyhawkA three-view drawing (1000 x 474)

Comments1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120
Steve Fisher, e-mail, 05.10.2010 18:04

After a short career in AV-8As, in early 1986 I was lucky enough to get in a reserve squadron at Cecil (VMA-142 Gators) flying the A-4F. What a great airplane! From there, I did a short stint with VMA-131 flying A-4Es our of Willow Grove. The little birds were definitely showing their age through up through 1987. Semper Fi everyone!!!

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Jerry T. Baxter, e-mail, 30.09.2010 22:42

VA-12 CECIL FIELD-JACKSONVILLE,FLA.1962-1964 AMS MECHANIC,USS F.D.R. A very easy plane to work on and keep flying. Anyone out there remember those days. Where did everyone go.

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Milt Jines, e-mail, 25.09.2010 00:09

I was in the first A4 squadron (VA-72, Oceana, VA, 1957) when the first fleet A4s were "issued." I was the first to achieve 1,000 hours in the little bird (I was presented a nice mahogany plaque from McDonnell-Douglas acknowledging this. I sent the plaque to the Museum in Pensacola (their request) and on my next visit there I asked about it's whereabouts and was told it was "misplaced." The museum also gave credit to VA-83 (JAX) for being "first" and even had a (retired) model (in VA-83 "dress") hanging in the lobby declaring them Number-1. Someone suggested "good ole boy" politics was involved. So much for that museum's credibility! I haven't visited since. I made two full-length cruises (Randolph and Independence) and accumulated over 300 traps. It was a great little aircraft.

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Don Ward, e-mail, 22.09.2010 11:22

Anyone here from AOC class 44-61 or 45-61? Don Ward Pattaya, Thailand ps last aircraft I flew was a P51-D WOW!!!!

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Joan Heinemann, e-mail, 09.09.2010 05:47

"Heinemann's Hotrod", a great plane indeed! I also was designed by Ed Heinemann and he was a Great Father as well.

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Stan Hockett, e-mail, 28.06.2010 06:44

I'm a retired USAF Technical Sergeant; thats SSGT pay grade to Marines and PO1 to sailors. I saw many A-4s at NS Roosevelt Roads during counterdrug AWACS deployments. I always wanted to get up close, never did. Unlike the nuke sub on the way to retirement. Kewl a /c!

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Ken Langford, e-mail, 10.08.2010 02:40

I flew the A-4B, C, E, M, TA-4F, and J, with two Combat Cruises in the C and E and feel that this aircraft was as good as it gets for forward close air support. When 12.7 is whistling by your canopy, 20MM silences it mighty quick. It was as worthy as the F-8 Crusaders, and the F-4 Phantoms I flew, but my all time favorite combo, air to air /air to ground was the FJ-4. Air to air only was the greatest engine to airframe mate of my lifetime, the F-4. Unfortunately the F-4S was too late as I am sure it would have been the greatest of them all.

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Pete Meyer, e-mail, 10.08.2010 21:51

Who doesn't love the Scooter!! 2500 hrs of great memories in the A-4E /M, TA-4F /J and OA-4M. Miss those days.

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Ken Ehrenhofer, e-mail, 11.08.2010 17:42

I wa in the Naval Reserves in 65 to 72 with VA 727 and
VA 725 working on avionics at NAS Glenview. Sure wish I could have flown one of those beautiful birds you pilots looked like you had way to much fun!

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Rod Letchworth, e-mail, 20.08.2010 18:20

I flew 289 combat missions in Vietnam - 269 in the A4E and A4F. Most missions were Close Air Support during the TET offensive, releasing ordinance at 50 feet and 350 knots. This little bird never failed to get me back to base - sometimes with a load of North Vietnam lead aboard, but it always got me back to base. Wonderful Machine!

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Cdr. John H.Hawkins, e-mail, 21.08.2010 19:33

I loved flying the scooter. The A-4F "Super Fox" the most.
I wasn't crazy about being on instructor pilot at VT-4, but the TA-4 "julient" made it bear able.

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Cpt. Fucko, e-mail, 24.08.2010 22:34

Awesome little plane. I fly this one all the time on WoV simulator for the PC.

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Ron Rhoads, e-mail, 19.05.2010 19:02

As an instructor in both a Navy training command TA-4J squadron and the Marine Corps A-4 Advanced Training Squadron in Yuma, AZ, I got to see the inside of several versions of the "Scooter". I also got to deploy in the first A-4M squadron to take the new aircraft to Japan. The beginning of the evolution of the avionics in all A-4's began with the A-4M. As the Maintenance Officer of VMAT-102, I got to oversee the installation of ARC-159(V)radios in our small fleet of TA-4F and J models. That was the beginning of a whole new life for the avionics shop. No more fixing the radio after every flight. Ed Heinemann had my stubby body in mind when he designed the little beauty. I would not trade one day in the snug little gem. Do you all miss it as much as me?

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Ta-183 Huckebein, 16.05.2010 16:25

Last time i flew a Skyhawk I shot down a MiG-19!
he just rolled in front of me so I just gave him a burst of my machine guns and he just RIPPED APART!

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Martin shapiro, e-mail, 28.08.2010 03:46

I was an AE and serviced the A-4 electrical and electronic systems 1970-1976. I was assigned to VA209 and also the
Air Barons team while stationed at Glenview Naval Air Station in Glenview Illinois.

I also participated in carrier qualifications on the USS Independence air craft carrier....with VA209

I always had the respect of the pilots as I always told them "I don't fly in what I fix". We had an excellent squadron, as the group always enjoyed the cross training of skills and excellent rapport with the pilots. We also had a lot of fun!

Today the plane, carrier and myself are all retired!
My career after the NAVY was in medical electronics for 22 years

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GARY, e-mail, 07.05.2010 18:58

THE A-4 WAS ONE OF THE U.S.MARINE CORP'S,AND THE U.S.NAVY'S PREMIER ATTACK AIRCRAFT.THE "SKYHAWK" PILOTS FLEW MANY MISIONS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.THE A-4 WAS WELL KNOWN IN THE "AGRESSOR" ROLE IN THE U.S.NAVY'S FIGHTER WEAPONS TRAINING,"TOPGUN".MY FAVORITE A-4 WAS THE OA-4m.ONE OF THE 5 JETS I LIKE.

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Doug Hileman, e-mail, 04.05.2010 18:36

I see some names on this list I'd like to contact, but can't figure how to get the Email address. Somf, Pigdog,and anyone remembering my name, I'm at DougandLJ@cs.com. "A-4s Forever & Semper Fi"
Doug

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José Roberto, e-mail, 02.04.2010 07:04

I was chief engineer at J52-P408 Brazilian Navy Shop.
I would like to know if someone could tell me the name of the A4-Skyhawk Pitot Tubes factory ?

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Bill "Sonny" Caldwell, e-mail, 26.03.2010 23:24

I flew the A-4D1, 2, 2N and A4C between 1960 and 1962 with VA-43 (RAG) and then with VA-83 aboard USS Forrestal. Loved every minute, except one flight when I had a dusk launch and night recovery in the Mediterranean. Learned I had no radio or lights (interior of exterior)before recovery. Came down on Bob Mandeville's wing (Bob retired as a RADM)and had a bad case of vertigo. Caught the #1 wire, as I recall! The A-4 performed well----without lights!

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Steve Sanford, e-mail, 18.03.2010 03:20

I recognize several names on the previous posts. I ended up with just shy of 4000 hours in the Skyhawk which included A4-C, A4-E, A4-F, A-4M(Y), TA-4F, and TA-4J. I could never figure out how all of us tall guys ended up in the A-4 and the shorter guys in the F-4---I always had to bottom the seat out and then raise it less than an inch and kept one hand's width clearance between my helmet and the canopy. It was truly strapping it on for me. Love that jet.

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