Douglas A-4F Skyhawk

History

This small and simple tailed delta jet, originally designed as carrier-based (nuclear) bomber, later enjoyed a long career as an extremely versatile attack aircraft. The concept behind the Douglas A-4 was to keep the design simple and the weight as light as possible. The A-4 met both of those qualifications easily. Later developments had a large dorsal spine to make room for electronics. The A-4 was kept in production for 22 years, and is still serving with some air forces. The OA-4 is a two-seat FAC version for the USMC, and the trainer version is known as TA-4.
The importance of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, for the Quonset Air Museum, is the fact that first operational A-4 Squadron was VA-72, stationed at N.A.S. Quonset Point.
The Museum’s A-4F, U.S. Navy Bureau Number: 155027. This aircraft is a veteran of the Vietnam conflict having served with U.S. Navy Attack Squadron VA-164 ‘Ghostriders’ while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Hancock.
Additionally the aircraft also served with the US Navy’s Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) as an Aggressor aircraft. The aircraft last served with VF-43 ‘Challengers’ the East Coast Aggressor Training Squadron, which was based at NAS Oceana, Va.
The Quonset Air Museum volunteer membership disassembled and transported the aircraft from NAS Oceana, Va. and is on loan from the National Museum of Aviation, Pensacola, Florida.

Specifications

Description

Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Corporation
Designation: A-4
Version: F
Nickname: Skyhawk
Type: Carrier based, Single seat attack bomber
Navy Bureau Number: 155027

Dimensions

Length: 40 ft 1 in
Height: 15 ft 2 in
Wingspan: 27 ft 6 in
Wing area: 260 sq. ft

Weights

Empty Weight: 9853 lbs.
Gross Weight: 16,216 lbs.
Maximum Weight: 24,500 lbs.

Propulsion

Power plant: Single Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408
Thrust-lb.: 11,200 lbs.

Performance

Range: 2,000 miles
Max. Speed: 646 mph
Ceiling: 40,000 ft

Armament

Five under-fuselage hard points. Total of 10,000-lbs. capacity.
Two 20mm cannon in wing roots with 100 rounds per gun.

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