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Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft were known for their maneuverability. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was one of the greatest aircraft to serve with the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps and in various air forces throughout the world.
As result of the Korean conflict, the United States Navy developed a versatile carrier borne fighter that could carry heavy ordnance to use in the ground support role, plus have extended over target loiter time and range.
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk exceeded all of these expectations. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft became a pilot favorite during Vietnam and its popularity made it a favorite import of U.S. allies.
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft were used successfully by Argentina during their defense of the Falkland Islands. They accounted for the sinking of a number of British warships.
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft had a production run of about 25 years, the longest of any tactical aircraft in aviation history.
A total of 2,960 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft were built through 1980.
The single engine of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft was non-afterburning, dual inlet, 11,200 lbs. of thrust. The wing of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was delta shaped, low mounted, non-folding. The tail of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was of a single design, with a high mounted horizontal stab. The landing gear of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk were a tricycle set-up. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk had two 20 mm cannons with 200 rounds each. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft had one fuselage centerline hardpoint and two hardpoints under each wing. The ordnance of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk consisted of 8,200 lbs. of bombs, rockets, and missiles.
Gravity and centrifical force activate the wing leading edge slats automatically on the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. To add strength to the wing, of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, the main landing gear stays outside of the main spar. The wheel retracts into the wing of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk while the struts are in a fairing under the wing.
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft pioneered the idea of "buddy" air-to-air refueling.
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was designed to be able to make an emergency landing on its two drop tanks. Such landings generally resulted in only minimal damage to the nose of the aircraft that can quickly be repaired.
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was the main tactical aircraft of the United States Navy during the early Vietnam War. Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft carried out some of the first bombing missions of the war and are believed to also have dropped the last U.S. ordnance of the war.
Carrier based Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft are said to have successfully headed attacks on the most heavily defended positions in the history of warfare during the conflict.
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft stationed in Vietnam, were used with excellent results by the USMC in ground support missions.
Israel employed the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk as a ground attack aircraft in the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War.
During the Falkland War, despite lacking any electronic or missile self defense, Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft of the Argentine Air Force damaged and sunk numerous British ships. In all, 22 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft were lost or shot down during the war.
During the first Gulf War, Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft from the Kuwait Air Force attacked Iraqi ground forces. Of the 23 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft employed, a single Douglas A-4 Skyhawk aircraft was lost in combat.
