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 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a light attack aircraft built by the United States, originally intended to be on board aircraft carriers.
Robust, efficient and inexpensive, the plane encountered a big commercial success with nearly 3 000 copies made for a ten user countries. Commissioned in 1956 in the U.S. Navy and remained in production for 27 years, it was still used by several countries in 2005.
Between 1974 and 1987, the Skyhawk equipped the aerobatic Blue Angels of the U.S. Navy.
History
Design
In 1951, noting the rapid increase in the weight of military aircraft, the chief engineer Douglas asks his team to design a lightweight fighter. The result of this study on private funds of the company is subject to the U.S. Navy in January 1952, when it seeks an aircraft ground attack. It therefore called on Douglas to reconsider its copy and meet the following requirements: speed of 800 km / h range of 550 km, carrying a load of 908 kg (potentially a nuclear bomb) and weighing less than 13 600 kg.
A few weeks later, Douglas is proposing a plane 2 times more light, flying 160 km / h faster than required with a greater range of 185 km, and therefore has no trouble getting a development contract. The basic idea was to use a delta wing that could store a much larger amount of fuel a boom in classical wing. Moreover, the reduced scale removes the need for a system of folding wings for storage on aircraft carriers, thus gain weight.
The first prototype designated XA4D-1, made its maiden flight on 22 June 1954. He was followed 2 months later by the first series aircraft, equipped with a nozzle and a windscreen changed from 2 to 20 mm guns, capable of carrying 2 270 kg load on 3 pylons. Deliveries to the U.S. Navy beginning in October 1956, the U.S. Marine Corps received its first aircraft in January 1957. A few months later, a modified version appears (A4D-2/A-4B) enhanced with a drift, a boom in-flight refueling sets and some other improvements including the ability to make the air-ground missile Bullpup.
On 15 October 1955 an A4D-1 set a new record speed of 100 km circuit, with an average of 1 118 km / h.
Versions for the United States
The first version capable of flying at night or in bad weather (A4D-2N/A-4C) is mid-1958. It is equipped with a radar avoidance field, a bombing at a low altitude, with an autopilot, a reactor with 10% more power, and various other changes. Then wait until July 1961 to attend the first flight of the next version (A4D-5/A-4E) significantly improved its new engine less fuel-efficient, it offers a much greater autonomy, the two towers added to the wings move the payload capacity load at 3 720 kg, and many changes are made to the electronic board.
Mid-1965 steals the first copy of the two-seater training TA-4E/TA-4F, which retains all the operational capacities of single versions. The fuselage was lengthened by 71 cm to accommodate the second cockpit and a more powerful engine is installed. Meanwhile, an A-4E is controlled to provide for new aircraft to offset the losses from the Vietnam War. It made its first flight in late August 1966 and provides, inter alia, the reactor at the two-seater, as well as a series of landing gear changed. While deliveries have started, it is necessary to integrate new electronic equipment. As no place is available in the fuselage, a special container is included on the back, forming a hump between the cockpit and the tail. This change is made to A-4E and delivered A-4E still in service, most of which are also the new reactor.
In 1968 a new version appears tandem TA-4J, on which the system in-flight refueling and most of the weapons were withdrawn. The following year, 100 old A-4C reserve units are modified by replacing the reactor and addition of electronic container back, becoming the A-4L. In April 1970 steals the first copy of the A-4M, specifically developed for the U.S. Marine Corps. It has in particular a reactor with 20% more power, a cockpit with greater visibility to the pilot, and a braking parachute. This version will receive further improvements over time, mainly on-board electronics, such a system aiming laser mounted in the nose
Finally, in 1978, the U.S. Marine Corps is changing biplaces TA-4F to use planes to air traffic control advanced. These aircraft are designated OA-4M and receive most of the electronic systems installed on the A-4M. Versions for export In 1965, Australia ordered a version of the A-4F able to get the air-air missile AIM-9 Sidewinder, in order to ensure the air defense missions. A first series was delivered in 1967, followed by another in 1970. The last aircraft still in the flight are finally sold to Malaysia and New Zealand in the mid-1980s.
In 1966, after 3 years of waiting, Israel is finally allowed to buy a derivative of the A-4E. The first copies are delivered at the end of 1967, just after the Six Day War, and immediately receive some local changes such as replacing the guns of 20 mm to 30 mm cannons. To compensate for the losses inflicted during the Yom Kippur War, former A-4E of the U.S. Navy ship in 1973. Fifteen of them are sold to Indonesia in 1979. Meanwhile, more than a hundred copies of a derivative of the A-4M are delivered between 1972 and 1976.
In 1968, the New Zealand order to turn a dozen A-4K, with an electronic version simplified. Delivered in 1970, supplemented later by Australian A-4 (see above), all these aircraft have undergone a modernization program of the aircraft during the second half of 1980.
Late 1974, Kuwait is in turn acquiring A-4KU capable of carrying the missile air-to-air AIM-9 Sidewinder and with some improvements to the A-4M as the new reactor, but with a much simplified avionics. Deliveries take place in 1977 and 1978. After having been used during the Gulf War (1990-1991), these planes are out of service and some of them sold in Brazil in 1997.
Having purchased former A-4B of the U.S. Navy in 1965, Argentina in 1970, however, must wait to be shipped. Designated A-4P, these planes are completed in 1971 by A-4Q able to get the air-air missile AIM-9 Sidewinder and in 1975 by former A-4C always from the U.S. Navy.
Singapore received its first A-4 in 1973, old A-4B upgraded with a more powerful engine, the 30 mm cannon, and latest avionics. A specific training was created with 2 cockpit separated unlike other A-4-seaters. These aircraft are complemented by a second round in 1980, this time with A-4C, which receive only a part of the changes. In the mid-1980s, all these aircraft are re with a General Electric F404, the same reactor as the F/A-18 Hornet, but without afterburners. A few years later, their mail is again upgraded.
In 1980, Malaysia ordered a batch of A-4C and A-4L surplus from the U.S.. These planes undergo a major overhaul and upgrade, including electronic systems, and become capable of carrying the missile air-to-air AIM-9 Sidewinder missile and air-to-surface AGM-65 Maverick. Deliveries are spread over 1985 and 1986.
In 1982, Indonesia complete A-4H bought three years ago to Israel by a lot of A-4E from the U.S. Navy.
Brazil is the purchaser of the last A-4, with copies purchased used in Kuwait in 1997.
Category: Aeronautical
Type: Glossaries and Dictionaries
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