Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>A-4>HA1425

General Background

The A-4 Skyhawk is one of the most successful attack aircrafts ever built. This smallest jet aircraft ever deployed on a carrier was the product of Douglas's Chief Engineer Ed Heinnemann in the 1952. This was the time when a more lightweight aircraft was in demand to fit into those post-war vintage carriers.

The Skyhawk was extensively used during the Cold War period and the Vietnam War by the Navy and the Marines. Because of its small size and powerful performance, the A-4 was also known as the “Heinnemann's Hot Rod”. A total of 2, 960 of Skyhawk were built and many of them were exported to other countries.

The Aircraft

In 1965 the order went out to produce the Douglas Skyhawk A-4F variant that was similar to the A-4E but with improvements. A-4F 155009 C/N 13825 was delivered to VA-55 "Warhorses" in 1968. In April 1972 the "Warhorses" were involved Operation Freedom Train that was air sorties against targets in the southern portion of North Vietnam. In May 1972 the unit took part in Operation Linebacker that was a very heavy concentration of air strikes again North Vietnam with the hope of bringing North Vietnam to the negotiating table.

Specifications :

Type:	Carrier based, single-seat attack bomber
Total number of "F" variant manufactured:	147
Dimensions
Length:	40 ft 1 in  (12.22 m)
Height:	15 ft 2 in  (4.62 m)
Wingspan:	27 ft 6 in  (8.38 m)
Wing area:	260 sq. ft  (24.15 m2 )
Weight
Empty Weight:	9,853 lbs.  (4,469.24 kg)
Gross Weight:	16,216 lbs.  (7,355.45 kg)
Maximum Weight:	24,500 lbs.  (11,113.013 kg)
Powerplant:	1 X Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408
Thrust-lb:	11,200 lbs.  (5080.2345 kg)
Performance
Range:	2,000 miles (3,218.688 km)
Max. Speed:	646 mph  (1,039.6362 kph)
Ceiling:	40,000 ft  (1,2192 m)
Armament:	5 X hard points capable of carrying a maximum 10,000-lbs.
	2 X 20mm cannon in wings with 100 rounds per gun.