Douglas A-4 Skyhawk - A Short History
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a relatively lightweight aircraft with a simple construction, making it cheap, fast and reliable. It served in several wars and was exported to several countries
SOURCES:
Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.o..., License: CC BY-SA 3.0 (creativecommon...) - the text has been remixed and shortened
MEDIA:
Various images in the Public Domain.
Centre fuselage A-4 Skyhawk Indonesian Air Force.jpg by
NaidNdeso (commons.wikime..., License CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommon...)
Israeli A4 Hazterim 260608 2.JPG by Oren Rozen (en.wikipedia.o..., License: CC BY-SA 3.0 (creativecommon...)
"F-0421 A4D Skyhawk Over Mountains" by
San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives ( • F-0421 A4D Skyhawk Ove... ), License CC-BY (creativecommon...)
Argentina Still operates A4-AR...
36 units were purchased in mid 90s, it was an extensive upgrade over cherrypicked less used A4M in long term storage, keeping the J-52 Power plant (unlike the A4s from Singapore which upgraded theirs to the F404 Turbofan engine) but actualizing their entire avionics (mostly F-16 block 15 avionics adapted) including the replacement of the APG-53A with APG-64 radar -a special version who retained the APG-53A antenna with a little reduced detection ranges-
Argentina flew them up until today, where around 12 of them are operational currently, and something between 4 and 8 could be put again in service in short-term if needed according to official sources.
A4-AR lack any stealth quality, VBR capabilitys (they are not wired for AIM-7 nor AIM-120 missiles) and according to official sources, Argentina does not have any smart bomb in stock, but they could still perform very well at a really low cost in some regional scenarios were SAMs are not so common and enemy air forces are not that large, so at the end of the day it still presents a valuable asset for the Argentinean Air Force, and it is expected to last in service at least 5/10 more years
Stumbled across this video. Nice presentation of the A4. This was a great aircraft for the money. It fit the CAS mission of the Corps. I flew it as a Marine aviator for several years with 2 tours in Nam and loved every second of it.
Glad you enjoyed the video! Very intersting hearing you actually flew it in Nam!
All the A-4's delivered up through the A-4F "Super Fox" cost less than $1 million each.
My father in law flew A-4 Skyhawks in Vietnam, USMC Wake Island Avengers. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross in one...
He must have some interesting stories to tell.
My dad worked on the A-4 Skyhawk early in the Vietnam war. He was station on the U.S.S Oriskany
Estos aviones también tuvieron una buena participación en la guerra de malvinas de 1982
The Kiwi Kahu (?) Skyhawks were essentially a poor man's F-16 and incredibly capable. The Singapore two-seater scooters used two single-seat canopies in a staggered arrangement and looked amazing. Never checked the performance impact on their seating arrangement. Great site and amazing content. Well done!
Yep Kiwi Kahu (Project Kahu). Upgraded the interior to look like a F-16!
I love the Skyhawk, such a small nimble but effective aircraft.
I remember when the Blue Angels flew these quick, nimble little aircraft.
I think I had a plastic model of one of the Blue Angels A-4's.
Argentina still operate a small number of A4-AR ( A4M with the APG-66 radar and some other early F-16 avionics)
VMA 133 operated A4’s until decommissioning in September of 1992
I heard this airplane described as "the airplane you wore." Due to being shoehorned into the cockpit.
It could still be an effective combat aircraft to this day, operating for Pennie’s on the dollar of an F35
Yes, probably could be.
Thanks for the info
The best attack aircraft the US Navy ever had. Even better the the A-6 and the F/A-18
It was a wonderful aircraft.
I want one. With the composite wings.
Wouldn't fit in my garage though.
Great video! Never knew anything about the Skyhawk other than that John McCain flew it in Vietnam
Glad you liked it! I learned a lot about the A-4 myself when I made the video.
@@A_Short_History i know there's one available for private sale online
Wow, I’m guessing they are fairly expensive to fly though.
@@A_Short_History goes for $1.6 mil so yeah not cheap lol. i also know there's a phantom, a sea harrier, a Sabre and two MiG 21s for sale currently
I want the Phantom!
I was on the Oriskany in 74 to bad i missed seeing a4 scooters
What were they flying at the time? A-7’s?
@@A_Short_History a-7 and F8
Favorite
Agree very much.
"Jesters Dead!" 😂👍🏼
Funny in Wikipedia, Singapore was not mentioned as a major user of the A4. as a matter of fact the country developed a better aircraft with the F404 non after burning power plant.
Ah, yes - the Super Skyhawk. There is actually a specific Wikipedia page for that: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ST_Aerospace_A-4SU_Super_Skyhawk
The scooter
John mc Cain shot down flying over nth viet israel used big numbers 50+ lost in 1973