Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft (Attack Aircraft, Aggressor Aircraft)
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Aircraft Overview
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seat, subsonic attack aircraft that was developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the 1950s. It was designed to be a lightweight, low-cost aircraft that could operate from aircraft carriers and perform a variety of missions, including ground attack, close air support, and air defense suppression.
The A-4 Skyhawk was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6A turbojet engine, which provided a maximum speed of 610 mph (980 km/h) and a range of up to 1,160 miles (1,865 km). It was armed with two 20mm cannons and could carry up to 5,000 pounds (2,270 kg) of bombs, missiles, and other weapons on five external hardpoints.
The A-4 Skyhawk saw extensive service during the Vietnam War, where it was used primarily for ground-attack missions. It was also used by the Israeli Air Force in a number of conflicts, including the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. In addition, the A-4 Skyhawk was exported to several other countries and was used in a variety of roles, including training and reconnaissance.
Over the course of its service life, the A-4 Skyhawk underwent several upgrades and modifications, including improved avionics and weapon systems. It remained in service with the US Navy and Marine Corps until the mid-2000s, and it continues to be used by a number of foreign air forces today. The A-4 Skyhawk is also popular with civilian operators and is often used as a target aircraft for weapons testing and training.
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 40 ft 1.5 in (12.230 m)
- Wingspan: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
- Height: 15 ft 2 in (4.62 m)
- Wing area: 260 sq ft (24 m2)
- Airfoil: root: NACA 0008-1.1-25; tip: NACA 0005-.825-50
- Empty weight: 9,853 lb (4,469 kg)
- Gross weight: 16,216 lb (7,355 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 24,500 lb (11,113 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6A turbojet engine, 8,500 lbf (38 kN) thrust
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Performance
- Maximum speed: 585 kn (673 mph, 1,083 km/h) at sea level
- Range: 1,008 nmi (1,160 mi, 1,867 km)
- Ferry range: 2,194 nmi (2,525 mi, 4,063 km)
- g limits: +8 -3
- Rate of climb: 5,750 ft/min (29.2 m/s)
- Wing loading: 62.4 lb/sq ft (305 kg/m2)
- Thrust/weight: 0.526 (at gross weight)
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Armament
- Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.79 in) Colt Mk 12 cannon, 100 rounds/gun
- Hardpoints: 4× under-wing & 1× under-fuselage pylon stations with a capacity of 8,500 lb (3,900 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Rockets: 4× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× 127 mm Mk 32 Zuni rockets)
- Bombs:
- 6× Rockeye-II Mark 20 Cluster Bomb Unit (CBU)
- 6× Rockeye Mark 7/APAM-59 CBU
- Mark 80 series of unguided bombs (including 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs)
- B43 nuclear bomb
- B57 nuclear bomb
- B61 nuclear bomb
- Other: up to 3× 370 US gallons (1,400 L) Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight/extended range/loitering time
- Missiles:
- Air-to-air missiles:
- 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder
- Air-to-surface missiles:
- 2× AGM-12 Bullpup
- 2× AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile
- 2× AGM-62 Walleye TV-guided glide bomb
- 2× AGM-65 Maverick
- Air-to-air missiles:
