IPMS Nederland - Walk around - Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (>10x)

: Laatste update: 12 april 2021; 24512

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was designed by the famous designer Ed Heinemann at Douglas at the nineteen fifties. The US Navy wanted a light attack aircraft and Heinemann designed the smallest, lightest and cheapest jet design possible. The design is a delta winged, single-engined aircraft with no wing folding and very simple systems. It was used by the US Marines Corps and the US Navy used the type on its carriers, including in the Vietnam war. Skyhawks also played key roles in the Yom Kippur War, and the Falklands War. Exported in small numbers to e.g Argentina, Israel, Singapore, Australia (later to New Zealand) and Brazil. More 3,000 planes were manufactured until beginning 1979 in various versions.

A-4 various

Various Skyhawks, such as the A-4C with serial 148492 at MCAS El Toro Historical Foundation, Irvine California.

Various pictures with details of other Skyhawks as well.

Photographed Januari 2011 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

A-4C Skyhawk

This A-4C with the early style nose, code "AE" with civil registration NX22627, was seen at the museum at Titusville & Space Coast Regional Airport, Florida.

Photographed November 2014 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk

The first Skyhawk to come down the production line YA4D-1 (A-4A) BuNo. 137813 still exists! It is now on display as VA-83 , code " AJ 301" in the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.

Photographed November 2014 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

A-4E Skyhawk

This A-4E Skyhawk hangs on the ceiling and is on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.

Photographed November 2014 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

A-4F

Douglas A-4F 'Skyhawk' with serial 154204, was seen at MCAS El Toro Historical Foundation, Irvine California. It has the warning receiber of the fin top but no the "hump back". The missile shows through some fiberglass panels the systems for display.

Photographed Januari 2011 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

A-4M

Douglas A-4M 'Skyhawk' has the serial 160264 (though unsure if this is correct as this was the last Skyhawk). It has the avionics "hump back". The A-4M also had a bigger canopy and many new systems including ECM and a nose with optical tracker. This aircraft was seen on display at MCAS El Toro Historical Foundation, Irvine California.

Photographed Januari 2011 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

A-4L

Douglas A-4L 'Skyhawk' with serial 147787, aircraft at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile Alabama

Various pictures with details of other Skyhawks as well.

Photographed Januari 2011 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

A-4F Skyhawk

Here the details are seen of the A-4F at the USS Midway museum in San Diego, USA. This aircraft is restored and Bua.no 154977 US NAVY VA-23 from "USS Oriskany".

Photographed Januari 2012 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

A-4M (the last Skyhawk manufactured)

This A-4M 'Skyhawk' II is the last Skyhawk manufactured in 1979 with serial 160264. It is on display at the Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum at Miramar MCAS, California. It on loan from the National USMC museum.

Photographed 2015 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

A-4L

This A-4L with serial 149532, NAVY coded "AF", was seen at the Castle Air Museum at the former Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California.

Photographed Januari 2017 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

A-4M

This A-4M serial 158195 was modified by removing the "avionics hump" and bomb targeting system to represent a Blue Angels aerobatic team Skyhawk. Note that these has their leading edge slats set fixed. It was seen at the Museum of Flying at Santa Monica Airport, Ca.

Photographed November 2017 by Cees Hendriks (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland

ta-4

A-4 Duals / trainers

Twin seat Skyhawks were also used for pilot training and the "agressor" training role.

This aircraft photographed at MCAS El Toro Historical Foundation, Irvine California. Its slats have been set "fixed up and closed" for display.

TA-4J agressor brown scheme with the slats drooped as normal for a parked Skyhawk.

TA-4J "Top"Gun"

This TA-4J is in a Top Gun livery with serial 154342. It is located at March Field, USA. This aircraft was one of the last active Skyhawks with last flight April 2003. Note that for the display the leading edge slats have been set fixed "up and closed" while the flaps are drooped. Normally the slats would also droop down on a parked Skyhawk.

TA-4S
Based on TA-4 aircraft, the TA-4S was remanufactured for Republic of Singapore Air Force. It differs as now two separate canopies were used (and not a single large one!). The instructor is seated behind the student pilot. It has also a refuelling probe and seems to carry a refuelling type central pod. Note the glossy paint finish on the shown aircraft on display at the Singapore Air Force Museum at Singapore.

TA-4J

The TA-4 trainer has Bur.no 154332 / 040 and was the last operational version of the Skyhawk with the retirement of the type in 2005. Seen at the Oakland Aviation Museum, it is stored outside and needs fresh paint. It has its straight refuelling probe removed.

A-4 cockpit details

Various pictures with details. Note that cockpit instrument panels and ESCAPAC seats vary between different A-4 variants. Cockpit interiors are blue-grey with black instruments and panels.