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Douglas
A-4M Skyhawk |
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The Douglas A-4D "Skyhawk" was
designed by the late Ed Heinemann in response to a Navy
requirement for a fast (but compact) long-range, light-weight
carrier jet aircraft capable of delivering a nuclear weapon.
Prototype test results in 1954 confirmed that the "Skyhawk"
exceeded all of the Navy's criteria. Because of its small size
(wing span less than that of a Piper "Cub") and ease
with which flight deck personnel could handle it in comparison
with other jet aircraft, A-4Ds became known variously as either
"Scooters", "Tinker Toys" or
"Heinemann's Hot Rod".
An A-4 set a world speed record of over 695
mph in 1959 for class C aircraft over a 500 km course. Fitted
with two 150 gallon under wing drop tanks, two A-4Ds flew 2,082
miles non-stop without in-flight refueling in a demonstration of
its long-range capability.
The A-4 was stress limited to 24,500 lb total
weight for catapult launches, and 5,000 lb ordnance loads on a
center line and four wing racks ranging from conventional bombs,
to sophisticated weapons such as the Gatling gun, "Bullpup",
"Walleye", "Shrike" and, in one case,
"Sidewinder" air-to-air missiles. Built into the
aircraft were two 20 mm cannons.
The "Skyhawk"
participated in the first raids of the Vietnam war and became
one of the primary strike aircraft thereafter until replaced by
the A-7 "Corsair" in the 1969 time-frame. An A-4C is
credited with shooting down a MiG -17 over Vietnam. The A4Ds
endured the most losses of any carrier-based aircraft in Vietnam
with the loss of 195 of them in combat including those piloted
by Senator John McCain and Vice Admiral James Stockdale as well
as the first two victims of surface-to-air guided missiles
during that conflict. The A-4 also saw considerable combat
action during the Arab/Israel and Falkland Island wars.
Nearly 3,000 A-4s were produced from 1956 to
1979 for use by the Navy and Marine Corps as well as Australia,
Israel, Argentina and Kuwait. A two-seat trainer version was
still used by the Navy until late 1999.
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A-4M Sky Hawk,
USMC "Black Sheep"
Premier Series 1/32nd scale. 10.5" wingspan x
15" long.
No. AFN3D-BL. Only $194.95 |
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A-4M
Sky Hawk, USN
Premier
Series 1/32nd scale.
10.5" wingspan x 15" long.
No. AFN3D-AL. Only $194.95
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A-4M
Skyhawk, USMC
Deluxe Series. 1/32nd scale
10.25" wingspan x 15.25" long.
No. AFN3D-DM. Only 149.95 |
TA-4J
Skyhawk, USN Trainer
Standard Series. 1/32nd scale.
10.5" wingspan x 18" long.
No. AFN3D-ST. Only $119.95 |
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A-4M
Skyhawk, US Navy
Deluxe Series. 1/32nd scale
10.25" wingspan x 15.25" long.
No. AFN3D-DN. Only 149.95 |
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