All Wood Wings: A-4E Skyhawk Model, US Navy

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A-4E Skyhawk, US Navy

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Scale 1:32 Length 15.1" (excluding probe) Wingspan 10.3"

Photography by Action Asia Photo
© 2002-8 Action Asia Photo - All Rights Reserved
www.actionasiaphoto.com

The Douglas A4D Skyhawk was designed in response to a Navy requirement for a fast, long-range, light-weight carrier jet aircraft capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. On June 12, 1952, the U.S. Navy contracted with Douglas Aircraft of El Segundo, California, to build one prototype XA4D-1 Skyhawk attack aircraft. Literally "hand built", the prototype was the first of an eventual 3,960 Skyhawks to roll off the Douglas Aircraft assembly line.

Powered by a Curtiss-Wright J65-W-16A engine, it had a one-piece windscreen, no tail hook or refueling probe, and the "sugar scoop" exhaust baffle was not yet conceived. The first factory-to-fleet delivery of an A4D-1 was made to VA-72 on September 26, 1956. Fleet delivery of an improved version - the A4D-2 began in September 1957. The improvements included a stronger, "inside-out" rudder construction; a pressure fueling system with a probe for air-to-air refueling; external fuel tanks; stronger landing gear; additional navigation equipment; an improved air-to-ground ordnance delivery system; and an externally-carried "buddy store" package for air-to-air fueling of other aircraft.

In early 1958 Douglas proposed to manufacture a further improved Skyhawk - the A4D-3 equipped with a more economical, more powerful (8,500 lb thrust vs. 7,700 lb) Pratt & Whitney J52 engine; a terrain clearance radar system; an all-attitude bombing and navigation system; and improved instrumentation and auto-pilot for all-weather flight. However, because of the Navy's existing austere budget then, the project was cancelled.

As a compromise to the canceled A4D-3 contract, production of the A4D-2N (for Night Fighter) was authorized. This was an up-scale version of the A4D-2. The Curtiss-Wright J65 engine was retained and improvements included an auto-pilot and all-attitude gyro system; a low-altitude bombing system; terrain clearance radar; and angle of attack instrumentation. The first A4D-2N flight occurred on August 21, 1958 and first fleet delivery was to VMA-225 in February 1960.

TheA4D-4 was cancelled in the project design stage.

In February 1959, Douglas submitted a proposal for an A4D-5 as a follow-on to the A4D-2N. Improvements included installation of the lighter weight, 8,500 lb thrust Pratt & Whitney J52-P6A engine; re-design of the fuselage center section and inlet ducting; addition of two wing station "hard points" for increased weapons-carrying; increased airframe strength; and navigation and bombing systems upgrades. During production - in 1962, the US Military changed the aircraft designation system. The old system had included the manufacturer's designation. Hence, A4D had meant that it was an Attack aircraft and the 4th type built by Douglas. The new (and current) system dispensed with the manufacturer's letter: Now the initial letter designates the aircraft mission as before (A is for Attack, B for Bomber, F for Fighter, T for Trainer, etc.) but the dash number represents the numerical sequence within that mission (A-l, A-2, A-3, A-4, etc.) and the final letter represents an alphabetical sub-sequence within the numerical sequence (A-4A, A-4B, A-4C, etc.).
The A4D-1 was re-designated the A-4A.
The A4D-2 was re-designated the A-4B.
The A4D-3 was never built.
The A4D-2N was re-designated A-4C.
The A4D-4 was cancelled.
To avoid confusion, the designation A-4D was skipped.
The A4D-5 - delivered in early 1963 - became the A-4E. This stock model represents an A-4E.

Some A-4Es were subsequently retro-fitted with the 9,300 lb thrust Pratt & Whitney J52-P8A engines and the conspicuous upper fuselage "hump back" avionics pod. The upper fuselage location was selected because there was no conveniently accessible internal fuselage space available for add-ons. The stock model represents an A-4E.

The A-4F added nose wheel steering, wing lift spoilers, and the upgraded Escapac 1-C3 ejection seat. Fleet deliveries began in early 1967. A unique recognition feature was the "bent" aerial fueling probe which was so configured to preclude electronic interference with the wide-angle target acquisition system. The avionics pod "humpback" configuration was added to the A-4F after fleet deliveries began.

From 1969 to 1972, a program was in place to provide state-of-the-art tactical and ECM equipment upgrade for 100 A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawks and these planes were then re-designated A-4L for use by U.S. Naval Reserve. Modifications included an up-rated J65 engine, relocation of avionics gear, and installation of wing-lift spoilers.

The humpback pod eventually was retro-fitted to all operational A-4Es and some A-4Cs. Also subsequent to fleet delivery, 100 A-4Fs were retro-fitted with the 11,200 lb thrust Pratt & Whitney J52-P408 engine. The resultant improved performance was a principal reason the A-4F was selected for use by the "Blue Angels" after the conclusion of their 1973 flight demonstration season.

The A-4M was designed specifically for use by the U.S. Marine Corps and improvements included the 11,200 lb thrust Pratt & Whitney J52-P408 engine; a smokeless burner can; a larger, increased-visibility canopy; a ribbon-type drag chute; and a repositioned IFF antenna atop a squared-off vertical fin. Fleet introduction began on February 26, 1971, to VMA-324 at MCAS Yuma, Arizona. Further improvements in a majority of the A-4Ms included "head-up" cockpit instrumentation; integrated weapons display & delivery systems; "laser spot" target acquisition & tracking; advanced ECM & defensive ECM; and a new electrical generator.

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-4s became known variously as either "Scooters", "Tinker Toys" or "Heinemann's Hot Rod". Fitted with two 150 gallon under wing drop tanks, two A-4Ds flew 2,082 miles non-stop without in-flight refueling to demonstrate 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" and "Shrike". 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. Skyhawks endured the most losses of any carrier-based aircraft in Vietnam with the loss of 195 of them in combat as well as the first two victims of surface-to-air guided missiles. The A-4 also saw considerable combat action during the Arab/Israel and Falkland Island wars.

The Skyhawk was used extensively by the US Navy and Marine Corps for two and a half decades with the Navy training on a two-seater version as late as 1999. As well, it is flown by Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore under various different designations.