The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was designed by Ed Heinemann as a carrier based ground-attack aircraft, it's first flight was in June 1954 and it entered service with the USN in October 1956 and remained continuously in USN service until 2002. A total of 2,960 A-4 Skyhawks were produced and although primarily used by US forces also served in significant numbers with the military forces of Israel, Argentina and Kuwait, and consequently saw action in the Yom Kippur War, the Falklands War and Operation Desert Storm. It is of note that the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk has served in smaller numbers with the armed forces of Brazil (the 23 ex Kuwait Desert Storm A-4 Skyhawk survivors), Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore. Douglas A-4F Skyhawk Specifications: - Crew: Pilot only
- Length: 40 ft 3 in (12.22 m)
- Wingspan: 26 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
- Height: 15 ft (4.57 m)
- Empty weight: 10,450 lb (4,750 kg)
- Loaded weight: 18,300 lb (8,318 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 24,500 lb (11,136 kg)
- Engine: Single 9,300 lbf (41 kN) Pratt & Whitney J52-P8A turbojet
- Maximum speed: 585 knots (673 mph, 1,077 km/h)
- Range: 1,700 nm (2,000 mi, 3,220 km)
- Service ceiling 42,250 ft (12,880 m)
- Rate of climb: 8,440 ft/min (43 m/s)
Cannon: - Twin 20 mm (0.787 in) Colt Mk 12 cannon
Missiles: A combination of the following - - AIM-9 Sidewinder
- AGM-45 Shrike ARM (anti-radiation missile)
- AGM-65 Maverick ASM (air-to-surface missiles)
- AGM-12 Bullpup ASM (air-to-surface missiles)
- Tactical nuclear missiles
Bombs: Up to 9,900 lb (4,490 kg) on five external hard-points which may consist of - - Rockeye Mk.20 Cluster Bombs
- Rockeye Mk.7/APAM-59 Cluster Bombs
- AGM-62 Walleye glide bomb
- Mk.81 (250 lb) general-purpose bombs
- Mk.82 (500 lb) general-purpose bombs
- Tactical nuclear bombs
|
