A-4 Skyhawk

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The A-4 Skyhawk is an attack aircraft originally designed to operate from United States Navy aircraft carriers. Fifty years after the type's first flight, some of the nearly 3,000 Skyhawks produced remain in service with smaller air arms around the world. The aircraft was formerly the A4D Skyhawk, and was designed by the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, later McDonnell Douglas, now Boeing.

Contents

History

A Skyhawk on display

The Skyhawk was designed by Douglas' Ed Heinemann in response to a U.S. Navy call for a jet-powered attack aircraft to replace the A-1 Skyraider. Heinemann opted for a design that would minimize size, weight, and complexity. The result was an aircraft that weighed only half of the Navy's specification and had a wing so compact that it did not need to be folded for carrier stowage. The diminutive Skyhawk soon received the nicknames "Scooter", "Bantam Bomber", "Tinker Toy Bomber", and, on account of its nimble performance, "Heinemann's Hot-Rod."

The Navy issued a contract for the type on June 12 1952, and the first prototype first flew on June 22, 1954. Deliveries to Navy and U.S. Marine Corps squadrons commenced in late 1956.

The Skyhawk remained in production until 1975, with a total of 2,960 aircraft built, including 555 two-seat trainers. The US Navy began removing the aircraft from its front-line squadrons in 1967, with the last retiring in 1975. The last Marine Skyhawk was delivered in 1979, and were used until the mid-1990s. Trainer versions of the Skyhawk remained in Navy service, however, finding a new lease on life with the advent of adversary training, where the nimble A-4 was used as a stand-in for the MiG-17 in dissimilar air combat training (DACT). It served in that role until 1999, when the last were replaced with the T-45 Goshawk. The last US Navy Skyhawks, TA-4J models belonging to composite squadron VC-8, remained in military use for target-towing and as adversary aircraft for combat training at Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads. They were officially retired on May 3, 2003.

The Skyhawk proved to be one of the most popular US naval aircraft exports of the postwar era. Due to its small size, it could be operated from the older, smaller WWII-era aircraft carriers still used by many smaller navies during the 1960s. These older ships were often unable to accommodate newer USN fighters such as the F-4 Phantom II and F-8 Crusader, which were faster and more capable than the A-4, but significantly larger and heavier than older naval fighters.

Design

The aircraft is of conventional post-WW2 design, with a low-mounted delta-like wing, tricycle undercarriage, and a single turbojet engine in the rear fuselage, with intakes on the fuselage sides. The tail is of cruciform design, with the horizontal stabilizer mounted above the fuselage. Armament consisted of two 20 mm Colt Mk 12 cannon, one in each wing root, with 200 rounds per gun, plus a large variety of bombs, rockets, and missiles carried on a hardpoint under the fuselage centreline and hardpoints under each wing (originally one per wing, later two).

The design of the A-4 is a good example of the virtues of simplicity. The choice of a delta wing, for example, combined speed and maneuverability with a large fuel capacity and small overall size, thus not requiring folding wings, albeit at the expense of cruising efficiency. Similarly the main undercarriage did not penetrate the main wing spar, being mounted so that when retracted only the wheel itself was inside the wing and the undercarriage struts were housed in a fairing below the lower wing surface. This meant that the wing structure itself could be lighter for the same overall strength and combined with the lack of a (heavy) wing fold mechanism even more weight was saved. This is the exact reverse of what often happens in aircraft design where a small weight increase in one area leads to a compounding increase in weight in other areas to compensate, leading to the need for more powerful, heavier engines and so on in a tight vicious cycle.

The A-4 also pioneered the concept of self air-to-air refuelling. This allowed the aircraft to be used as a tanker for others of the same type, removing the need for entirely different tanker aircraft - a particular advantage for small air arms or when operating in remote locations. This worked by designating a tanker aircraft and fitting it with a centre-mounted "buddy store" that was a large external fuel tank with a hose reel in the aft section and an extensible drogue type refuelling bucket. This aircraft was fuelled up without armament and launched prior to the attack aircraft. The attack aircraft were then armed up to the maximum and given only just enough fuel to bring them up to the maximum take-off weight. Once airborne, they would then proceed to top up their fuel tanks from the tanker using the A-4's inbuilt re-fuelling probe on the starboard side of the aircraft nose. They could them proceed to the target with both full armament and fuel loads.

The A-4 was also designed to be able to make an emergency landing, in the event of a hydraulic failure, on the two drop tanks nearly always carried by these planes. Such landings resulted in only minor damage to the nose of the aircraft which could be repaired in less than an hour. The wings had automatic leading edge slats, operated by aerodynamic pressure alone, again a simple but effective and weight saving feature. Ed Heinemann is credited with having a large "K.I.S.S." sign put up on the wall of the drawing office when the aircraft was being designed. Whether this is true, the A-4 certainly is a shining example of the application of that principle to aircraft design.

In combat

Skyhawks received much use in the early years of the Vietnam War until being supplanted by the A-7 Corsair II in the light bomber role. Skyhawks carried out some of the first air strikes by the US during the conflict and a Marine Skyhawk is believed to have dropped the last US bombs on the country. Notable pilots like Lt. (Jg) Everett Alvarez, (Cdr) Hugh Magee, John McCain, and Vice Admiral James Stockdale flew the Skyhawk. On one occasion, an A-4C Skyhawk, piloted by LCDR Ted Swartz from attack squadron VA-76, shot down a MiG-17 with an unguided rocket (In May 1970, an Israeli Skyhawk piloted by Col. Ezra Dotan also shot down a MiG-17 with unguided rockets, over south Lebanon). John McCain flew A-4s until he was shot down over Vietnam.

Shortly afterwards, Israeli Air Force Skyhawks would prove their worth in the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War.

During the Falklands Conflict, in spite of being armed with just iron bombs and lacking any electronic or missile self defense, Argentine Air Force Skyhawks sunk HMS Coventry (D118), HMS Antelope (F170) and RFA Sir Galahad (1966) besides producing heavy damage to several others like HMS Glasgow (D88), HMS Argonaut, HMS Broadsword and RFA Sir Tristram.

Argentine Navy A-4Q also played a role in the operating bombing attacks against British ships destroying HMS Ardent (F184).

See [Gordon Smith's website] for complete reference.

In all, 22 Skyhawks were lost or shot down during the war to a mixture of surface to air missiles such as the Sea Dart and the Sea Harriers guns and missiles.

More recently, Kuwait Air Force Skyhawks fought in the first Gulf War.

Skyhawks were well loved by their crews for being tough and agile. These attributes, along with its low price tag and easy maintenance, have contributed to the popularity of the A-4 both with American armed forces and internationally.

Variants

Prototypes

XA4D-1 Prototype
YA4D-1 (YA-4A, later A-4A) Flight-test prototypes and pre-production aircraft.

A-4A

A4D-1 (A-4A) Initial production version, 166 built

A-4B

A4D-2 (A-4B) Strengthened aircraft and added air-to-air refueling capabilities, improved navigation and flight control systems, provision for AGM-12 Bullpup missile. 542 built.
*A-4P Remanufactured A-4Bs sold to Argentine Air Force known as A-4B by the argentines.
*A-4Q Remanufactured A-4Bs sold to Argentine Navy.

A4D-3 Proposed advanced avionics version, none built.

A-4C

A4D-2N (A-4C) Night/adverse weather version of A4D-2, with AN/APG-53A radar, autopilot, LABS low-altitude bombing system. Wright J65-W-20 engine with 8,200 lbf (36.5 kN) take-off thrust. 638 built.
*A-4L 100 A-4Cs remanufactured for Navy Reserve squadrons.
*A-4S 40 A-4Cs remanufactured for Republic of Singapore Air Force.
**A-4SU ("Super Skyhawk") This is an extensivly modified and updated version of the A-4S.
**TA-4S 7 trainer versions of the above. Different from most Skyhawk trainers in that they have a second canopy for the instruction, rather than seating student and instructor under one long canopy.
**TA-4SU ("Super Skyhawk") This is an extensively modified and updated version of the TA-4S, fitted with a General Electric F404 non-afterburning turbofan engine, and modernised electronics.
*A-4PTM 40 A-4Cs and A-4Ls refurbished for Royal Malaysian Air Force, incorporating many A-4M features.
**TA-4PTM Small number of trainer versions of above.

A4D-4 long-range version with new wings cancelled; A-4D designation skipped to prevent confusion with A4D

A-4E

A-4E Skyhawk

A4D-5 (A-4E) major upgrade, including new Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6A engine with 8,400 lbf (37 kN) thrust, strengthened airframe with two more weapon pylons (for a total of five), improved avionics, with TACAN, Doppler navigation radar, radar altimeter, toss-bombing computer, and AJB-3A low-altitude bombing system. Many later upgraded with J52-P-8 engine with 9,300 lbf (41 kN) thrust. 499 built.
*TA-4E two A-4Es modified as prototypes of a trainer version.

''A4D-6 Proposed version, none built.

A-4F

A-4F Refinement of A-4E with extra avionics housed in a hump on the fuselage spine (this feature later retrofitted to A-4Es and some A-4Cs) and more powerful J52-P-8A engine with 9,300 lbf (41 kN) thrust, later upgraded in service to J52-P-408 with 11,200 lbf (50 kN). 147 built. Some served with Blue Angels acrobatic team from 1973 to 1986.
*TA-4F Conversion trainer - standard A-4F with extra seat for an instructor. 241 built.
**OA-4M Twenty-three TA-4Fs modified for Forward Air Control duties for the USMC.
**EA-4F Four TA-4Fs converted for ECM training.
*TA-4J Dedicated trainer version based on A-4F, but lacking weapons systems, and with down-rated engine. 277 built new, and most TA-4Fs were later converted to this configuration.
*A-4G Eight aircraft built new for the Royal Australian Navy with minor variations from the A-4F in particular they were not fitted with the avionics "hump". Subsequently, eight more A-4Fs were modified to this standard for the RAN.
**TA-4G two trainer versions of the A-4G built new, and two more modified from TA-4Fs.
*A-4H 90 aircraft for the Israeli Air Force based on the A-4F. Used 30 mm DEFA cannon with 150 rounds per gun in place of U.S. 20 mm guns. Later, some A-4Es later locally modified to this standard. Subsequently modified with extended jetpipes as protection against heat-seeking missiles.
**TA-4H 25 trainer versions of the above. These remain in service, and are being refurbished with new avionics and systems for service till at least 2010.
*A-4K Ten aircraft for Royal New Zealand Air Force. In the 1990s these were upgraded under Project KAHU with new radar and avionics, provision for AGM-65 Maverick, AIM-9 Sidewinder, and GBU-16 Paveway II laser-guided bomb. The RNZAF also rebuilt an A4C and 10 A4Gs to A4K standard.
**TA-4K Four trainer versions of the above. A fifth was later assembled in NZ from spare parts. The sale of ex-RNZAF A4K and TA4K aircraft to a private US flight training firm was announced in September 2005.

A-4M

A-4M dedicated Marine version with improved avionics and more powerful J52-P-408 engine with 11,200 lbf (50 kN) thrust, enlarged cockpit, IFF system. Later fitted with Hughes AN/ASB-19 Angle Rate Bombing System (ARBS) with TV and laser spot tracker. 158 built.
*A-4N 117 modified A-4Ms for the Israeli Air Force.
*A-4KU 30 modified A-4Ms for the Kuwaiti Air Force. Brazil purchased some of these second-hand and redesignated them AF-1.
**TA-4KU 6 trainer versions of the above. Brazil purchased some of these second-hand and redesignated them AF-1A.
*A-4AR 36 A-4Ms refurbished for Argentina. Known as Fightinghawk.
**TA-4R Refurbished two-seat training version for Argentina.
*A-4Y Provisional designation of all A-4Ms. Never adopted by the US Navy or Marine Corps.

Operators

Argentina

Argentina was not only the first foreign user of the Skyhawk but also one of the greatest with near 130 A-4s delivered since 1965. The United States placed an embargo of spare parts since 1977 due the dirty war but they still served well in the Falklands/Malvinas War in 1982.

4th Air Brigade: received 25 A-4C in 1976 as they are. Refurbished and take to flight status by the Air Force technicians at Río Cuarto, Cordoba. 5 weapon pylons. Locally known as A-4C. 9 lost in the war. Survivors moved to 5th Air Brigade.
5th Air Brigade: received 25 A-4B in 1965 and other 25 in 1970 all refurbished in the United States prior their delivery as A-4P. 3 weapon pylons. Locally known as A-4B. They performed well at the Falklands, where they sunk HMS Coventry, HMS Antelope and RFA Sir Galahad. 10 of them were lost in the war. The survivors merged on this unit with the A-4Cs and upgraded under the halcon program with 30 mm guns, AAM missiles and other minor details. All withdrawn from use in 1999 and replaced with 36 units of the much improved OA/A-4AR Fightinghawk. Several TA-4J and A-4E airframes were also delivered under the A-4AR program mainly for spare parts use.

3rd Fighter/Attack Squadron: 16 A-4B plus 2 for spare parts, modified with 5 weapon pylons and to carry AAM AIM-9B Sidewinders. Known as A-4Q. Received in 1971 to replace F9F Panther and F9F Cougar in use from the aircraft carrier ARA Veinticinco de Mayo. 3 were lost in the Falklands/Malvinas War where they sunk HMS Ardent. After the War, the United States vetoed delivery by Israel of 24 A-4H as their replacement. Withdrawn from use in 1988 and unit disbanded.

Brazilian Navy

20 AF-1 (ex-A-4KU) for use with aircraft carrier NAeL São Paulo for training purposes.
3 AF-1A (ex- TA-4KU)

Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU)

Indonesia has used 37 A-4E/TA-4E Skyhawk II by ex Israeli Air Force until 2003. In 2003 replaced by 2 Russian Su-27 SK and 2 Su-30 MK. * The Indonesian Air Force is planning to reactivate the A-4 Skyhawks by buying spare parts, after the U.S ended weapon and spare part sales embargo.

Israeli Air Force

The Israeli Air Force operates several squadrons of A-4's, with the only two notable events occurring being the shooting down of a Syrian MiG-17 with unguided Air-To-Ground rockets, and the mid-air collision of an A-4 with an F-15 Eagle in 1983 - the Eagle managed to return to base and land despite losing its entire right wing.

Kuwaiti Air Force

The A-4KU survivors of the Gulf War were sold to Brazil.

Republic of Singapore Air Force

A-4SUs on the runway

They joined the RSAF in the year 1974 and was upgraded thrice. In total, around 150 airframes, all A-4Bs and Cs, were purchased by Singapore

Modernised A-4SU and TA-4SU versions.

Replaced original powerplant with that of a F/A 18 Hornet's Resulting in 30% less take-off time and overall increased thrust. Max speed at sea level: 610 knots (1130 km/h) Max cruise speed at 30,000 ft (10,000 m): 446 knots (826 km/h)

In 1998, the French government stepped in with an offer of facilities at Cazaux AB in the south of France. A 25-year lease for basing rights of 18 A4-SU aircraft and around 250 RSAF personnel and their families was signed later that year. Back in Singapore, 143 Sqn disbanded in 1997 and its aircraft were handed over to 150 Sqn, which had given up its SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 basic trainers. The new squadron then took up the role of advanced jet training, using its aircraft as a lead-in fighter trainer for RSAF pilots. This made it the prime candidate for moving to France, and the first of 18 aircraft were “packed” and sent to France by ship in mid-1999 as part of the RSAF’s Advanced Jet Training Program.

They were retired in the year 2005 as well. They are also one of the most advanced A4 variants in the whole world. On the 5th of October 2005 , one of the A4-SU Skyhawk was delivered to Singapore Poly as part of a teaching aid.

Subsequently , Ngee Ann Polytechnic , Temasek Polytechnic and Nanyang Technology university would be able to receive theirs.

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An initial order of 20 aircraft was made in 1966 comprising 16 single-seaters and 4 trainers. The first aircraft was delivered on November 22 1967.

The Royal Australian Navy operated the aircraft from the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and based them at the naval air station HMAS Albatross near Nowra. Two Fleet Air Arm squadrons were equipped with A-4s:

805 Squadron (10 A-4G, followed by 10 ex USN A-4F modified to G standard. Withdrawn from use 1983). 10 aircraft lost in crashes. The image to the right shows the distinctive checkerboard pattern used by the squadron. Occasionally a black knight logo (also from the game of chess) was used.
724 Squadron (6 A-4G plus 4 TA-4G/F, withdrawn from use 1982). This squadron was the Skyhawk Operational Flying School where pilots were converted to the A-4 and learnt the necessary operational skills. When 805 squadron ceased flying A-4s its aircraft were reassigned to 724 squadron.

Following the withdrawal of the A-4 from Australian service 8 surviving A-4G and 2 TA-4G were sold to New Zealand and were subsequently upgraded to A-4K specifications with the RNZAF "Kahu" program, with HOTAS, Maverick missile capability, and glass cockpit. Ironically the RAN leased back the New Zealand aircraft for target towing and martime strike training roles.

A TA-4B model, altered to appear like the TA-4G models used by 724 squadron, has been loaned to [Australia's Museum of Flight] at HMAS Albatross by the US Department of Navy.

Royal Malaysian Air Force

The Royal Malaysian Air force acquired a total of 88 A-4C and A-4L aircraft, although only 40 were rebuilt to A-4PTM (Perculiar To Malaysia) standard, which included new bombing computer, body refurbishments and wirings. The remaining 48 aircraft were held for spare parts.

These aircraft are stored at the Kuantan Air Force base on Malaysia's eastern coast. It has been replaced in the attack platform by the more sophisticated Boeing F/A-18D Night Strike Hornet (8 purchased), BAE Systems Hawk 200 (18 acquired) and BAE Systems Hawk 100 (10 acquired).

Royal New Zealand Air Force

10 A-4K and 4 TA-4K were purchased by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1969 as English Electric Canberra replacements, and shipped to New Zealand aboard an aircraft carrier in 1970. The A4K is broadly comparable to the A-4F and G, although featuring extra avionics in a dorsal 'hump', as adopted by later A-4Fs, bent probe and drogue refuelling, and other minor changes. In 1984 10 ex-Australian A-4Gs were purchased. Under project KAHU, all aircraft updated to the A-4K Kahu standard, essentially by adopting the avionics from the F-16 Fighting Falcon, giving them the ability to use laser designated bombs, as well as AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. Kahu is Maori for falcon. Miniaturisation enabled the hump to be removed from the older New Zealand aircraft at the same time. The A-4Ks operated from Ohakea in New Zealand and Nowra in Australia equipped 2 and 75 Squadron RNZAF, as well as (briefly) 14 Squadron RNZAF, which operated the TA-4Ks prior to the delivery of BAC Strikemasters. The survivors were retired in 2001, and were to be sold in 2005 to a private U.S. flight training firm in a $150 million deal. However, this deal has been subject to delays from the U.S. State department due to concerns about allowing a squadron of reasonably capable combat aircraft to be operated privately in the United States. The aircraft are currently being stored at RNZAF Base Woodburne, just outside of Blenheim in the South Island. Two additional A-4Ks exist - one an ex-US early model brought up to the A-4K standard in the mid-1970s, solely for museum display; it is preserved at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum at Wigram, Christchurch. In 2001 another TA-4K Kahu was assembled in New Zealand entirely from spare parts, again for museum display; it is preserved at Ohakea. This is presumably the last 'production' A-4.

United States

Units that flew the A-4 [before retirement]:

Navy

VA-12
VA-15
VA-22
VA-23
VA-34
VA-36
VA-44
VA-46
VA-55
VA-56
VA-64
VA-65
VA-72
VA-76
VA-81
VA-83
VA-86
VA-93
VA-94
VA-95
VA-106
VA-112
VA-113
VA-125
VA-127
VA-144
VA-146
VA-152
VA-153
VA-155
VA-161
VA-163
VA-164
VA-165
VA-172
VA-176
VA-192
VA-195
VA-203
VA-204
VA-205
VA-209
VA-210
VA-212
VA-216
VA-303
VA-304
VA-305
VA-776
VA-831
VA-873
VAQ-33
VC-1
VC-7
VC-8
VC(VFC)-12
VC(VFC)-13
VF-126
VT-7
RVAH-3

Marine Corps

VMA-211
VMA-214
VMA-223
VMA-311
VMA-331
VMA-225
VMA-133
VMA-322
VMA-131 Diamondbacks MAG-49/4th MAW Last USMC A-4 Squadron deactivated December 1998. (Last four 0A-4Ms retired June 22,1994)

US Naval Air Reserve Squadrons at NAS Twin Cities, VA-811 and VA-813 also flew A-4A and A-4B aircraft 1963-69 or so.

US Naval Air Reserve Squadrons at NAS Glenview, NAS Jacksonvile, NAS Alameda, had A-4's.

Specifications (A-4F Skyhawk)

External links

A-4 in fiction

The Skyhawk was featured in some movies, most notabily being the Agressor aircraft used by instructors in the hit movie Top Gun, also its heavily used in the anime series Area 88 , and the downing of a Skyhawk is the starting point of the movie and book Sum of all fears.

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