Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>A-4>HA1407

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

The 116 known as “The Flying Wing” Squadron first flew in 1956 using P-51Ds and Mystere IVA. In October 1956 during the “Suez Crisis” the Squadron received the unofficial nickname “The Wire-cutters” because they would fly their aircraft through Egyptian telegraph wires to disrupt communications. The 116 Squadron flew the A-4Es until upgrading to the N version in 1975. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War the A-4 suffered heavy losses making it necessary for the US to send 28 replacements. There were 499 A-4Es built and Israel acquired 94 of them.

Specifications :

Engines :	1 x Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6A turbojet, 8500 lb. Thrust
Performance
Maximum Speed :	673 mph at sea level with a clean aircraft
	636 mph at sea level with a Mk. 28 nuclear weapon
Cruising speed :	498 mph
Stall speed :	139 mph
Combat ceiling :	(clean aircraft) 40,500 feet
Runway :	to 20,000 ft – 4 minutes
Flight distances:	230 miles with a Mk. 28 weapon
	680 miles with 2 X 300-gallon drop tanks
	Ferry range 2130 miles
Dimensions:	Wingspan 27 ft 6 in
	Length 41ft 4 in
	Height 15 ft
	Wing area 260 sq ft
Weights:	9,624 lb. Empty
	18,300 lbs. Gross
	22,950 lbs. Maximum
Armament:	2 x 20 mm cannon with 200 rounds/gun
	Maximum weapons load 8,200 lbs. carried on 5 pylons - 2 pylons under each wing and 1 center-line pylon