A4 Skyhawk (formerly A4D Skyhawk, Douglas later McDonnell Douglas, now Boeing) is an attack aircraft.
The aircraft is of conventional design, with a low-mounted delta-like wing, tricycle undercarriage, and a single jet engine in the rear fuselage, with intakes on the fuselage sides. The tail is of cruciform design, with the horizontal stabilizer mounted above the fuselage. Armament consisted of a 20mm cannon in each wing root, and large variety of bombs, rockets, and missiles carried on a centreline hardpoint under the fuselage and two hardpoints under each wing (early versions had only one hardpoint under each wing).
Description
Role
Attack aircraft
Crew
one, pilot
Dimensions
Length
12.22m
40' 3"
Wingspan
8.38m
27' 6"
Height
4.57m
14' 11"
Wing area
24.15m?
259ft?
Weights
Empty
4,750kg
10,448 lb
Loaded
Maximum take-off
11,136kg
24,500 lb
Powerplant
Engines
1x Pratt & Whitney J52-P8A
Power
41.4 kN
9,300 lb
Performance
Maximum speed
1,100km/h
686 mph
Combat range
3,220km
2,000 miles
Ferry range
Service ceiling
12,880m
42,250ft
Rate of Climb
2,572m/min
8,440ft/min
Armament
Guns
2x 20mm Mk 12 cannon
Fuselage centreline station
1,590kg
3,500 lbs
Inboard wing stations
1,000kg each
2,200 lbs each
Outboard wing stations
454 kg each
1,000 lbs each
Variants
Prototypes
XAD4-1 Prototype
YAD4-1 Flight-test prototypes
A-4A
A4D-1 (A-4A) Initial production version, 166 built
A-4B
A4D-2 (A-4B) Strengthened aircraft and added air-to-air refueling capabilities, 542 built
A-4P Remanufactured A-4Bs sold to Argentine Air Force
A4D-2N (A-4C) Night/adverse weather version of A4D-2 (improved avionics), 638 built
A-4L 100 A-4Cs remanufactured for naval reserve squadrons
TA-4S 7 trainer versions of the above. Different from most Skyhawk trainers in that they have a second canopy for the instruction, rather than seating student and instructor under one long canopy.
TA-4SU ("Super Skyhawk") extensively modified and updated A-4S with General Electric F404 engine and 1980s electronics.
A-4PTM 40 A-4Cs and A-4Ls refurbished for Royal Malaysian Air Force, incorporating many A-4M features.
TA-4PTM small number of trainer versions of above
A4D-4 cancelled, A-4D designation skipped to prevent confusion with A4D
A-4E
A4D-5 (A-4E) major upgrade including new Pratt & Whitney J52 engine, strengthened airframe, improved avionics. 499 built.
TA-4E two A-4Es modified as prototypes of a trainer version
A-4F
A-4F further refinement of A-4E. Extra avionics housed in a hump on the fuselage spine (this feature later retrofitted to A-4Es and some A-4Cs). 147 built
TA-4F conversion trainer - standard A-4F with extra seat for an instructor. 241 built
OA-4M Twenty-three TA-4Fs modified for Forward Air Control duties for the USMC.
A-4M
A-4M dedicated Marine version with improved avionics and more powerful engine. 158 built.
A-4N 117 modified A-4Ms for the Israeli Air Force.
A-4KU 30 modified A-4Ms for the Kuwaiti Air Force. Brazil purchased some of these second-hand and redesignated them AF-1.
TA-4KU 6 trainer versions of the above. Brazil purchased some of these second-hand and redesignated them AF-1A.
A-4AR 36 A-4Ms refurbished for Argentina
Units Using the A-4
USN
VA-12
VA-15
VA-22
VA-23
VA-34
VA-36
VA-44
VA-46
VA-55
VA-56
VA-64
VA-65
VA-72
VA-76
VA-81
VA-83
VA-86
VA-93
VA-94
VA-95
VA-106
VA-112
VA-113
VA-125
VA-127
VA-144
VA-146
VA-152
VA-153
VA-155
VA-161
VA-163
VA-164
VA-165
VA-176
VA-195
VA-204
VA-205
VA-209
VA-210
VA-212
VA-216
VA-303
VA-304
VA-305
VA-776
VA-831
VA-873
VAQ-208
VAQ-308
USMC
VMA-211
VAM-214
VAM-223
VMA-311
VMA-331
Brazillian Air Force
Argentinian Air Force
Argentinian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Israeli Air Force
Kuwaiti Air Force
Royal Malaysian Air Force
Singapore Air Force
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