Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

About the Aircraft

Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

The Hickory Aviation Museum’s A-4L, Bureau Number 148538 is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It was delivered in Aug of 2007. Coordinated by Kyle and Kregg Kirby.

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single seat carrier-capable attack aircraft developed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later by McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated A4D under the U.S. Navy's pre-1962 designation system.

The Skyhawk is a lightweight aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 24,500 pounds (11,100 kg) and has a top speed of more than 670 miles per hour (1,080 km/h).

National Origin United States
Manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company McDonnell Douglas
First flight 22-Jun-54
Introduction Oct-56
Retired 2003, U.S. Navy, 1998, USMC, 2015, Israeli Air Force
Status In service with non-U.S. users
Primary users United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, Israeli & Argentine Air Forces
Produced 1954 - 1979
Number built 2,960
Propulsion 1 x Pratt-Whitney J52-P8 Turbojet
Unit cost US$860,000 (avg $/ first 500)
Variants Lockheed Martin A-4AR, Fightinghawk, McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk, ST Aerospace A-4SU Super, Skyhawk
Douglas A-4L Skyhawk BuNo 148538

General Characteristics

Characteristics

Crew: one (two in OA-4F, TA-4F, TA-4J)
Length: 40 ft 3 in (12.22 m)
Wingspan: 26 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Height: 15 ft (4.57 m)
Wing area: 259 ft² (24.15 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 0008-1.1-25 root, NACA 0005-0.825-50 tip
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)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P8A turbojet, 9,300 lbf (41 kN)

Performance

Maximum speed: 585 kn (673 mph, 1,083 km/h)
Range: 1,700 nmi (2,000 mi, 3,220 km)
Combat radius: 625 nmi, 1,158 km ()
Service ceiling: 42,250 ft (12,880 m)
Rate of climb: 8,440 ft/min (43 m/s)
Wing loading: 70.7 lb/ft² (344.4 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.51
g-limit: +8/-3 g

Armament:

  • Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.79 in) Colt Mk 12 cannon, 100 rounds/gun.
  • Hardpoints: Rockets, Missiles, Bombs.