-
We are implementing a new rule regarding the posting of social media links and Youtube videos, the rule is simple if you are posting these links please say something about it rather than just dropping what we call a "drive by Link", a comment on your thoughts about the content must be included. Thank you
Photos Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, The Venerable "Scooter"
- Thread starter BravoZulu
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2024
- Messages
- 6,613
- Points
- 259
New Zealand Air Force A-4K Skyhawk fully loaded with bombs
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 42,452
- Points
- 463
Douglas A-4M Skyhawk from VF-126 "Bandits" at Naval Air Station Miramar, California (USA) being serviced, circa 1990-1993. The U.S. Navy mostly used the A-4E/F in the agressor role and operated only a handful of A-4Ms, after they were retired by the U.S. Marine Corps. The A-4M 159483 was sold to Argentina in 1995
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 42,452
- Points
- 463
A-4E Skyhawk from Attack Squadron 106 (VA-106) "Gladiators" is brought to the launching position on a steam catapult aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11), during flight operations in the Gulf of Tonkin, September 1968.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2024
- Messages
- 6,613
- Points
- 259
New Zealand Air Force TA-4G Skyhawk going vertical
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 42,452
- Points
- 463
To mark the 50th Anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, a series of airshows were held around the country, and to represent the RNZAF as a sort of flagship for the anniversary year it was decided that one of the two-seat McDonnell Douglas TA-4K Skyhawks would be given a very special colour scheme.
Originally a TA-4G, upon arrival in New Zealand it was converted to a TA-4K model, and joined No. 2 Squadron at Ohakea in 1985. It was the last Skyhawk wearing the old adapted RAN grey colour scheme and was chosen to become the gold machine as it was due to be repainted into the RNZAF's light green, dark green and grey camouflage. So the gold was worn in the interim.
Skyhawk NZ6256 was rolled-out of the RNZAF Base Ohakea paintshop on the 14th of December 1986 resplendent in its gold scheme with the and red, white and blue stripes.
On the 1st and 2nd of April 1987 there were 50th anniversary flights made by the RNZAF over much of the country, including a diamond nine formation of Skyhawks over RNZAF Base Wigram on the 1st, while NZ6256 was on the ground at Wigram for the crowd to admire.
https://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/RNZAF_50th_Anniv_Skyhawk.html
Skyhawk NZ6256 was rolled-out of the RNZAF Base Ohakea paintshop on the 14th of December 1986 resplendent in its gold scheme with the and red, white and blue stripes.
On the 1st and 2nd of April 1987 there were 50th anniversary flights made by the RNZAF over much of the country, including a diamond nine formation of Skyhawks over RNZAF Base Wigram on the 1st, while NZ6256 was on the ground at Wigram for the crowd to admire.
https://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/RNZAF_50th_Anniv_Skyhawk.html
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 42,452
- Points
- 463
F-4S Phantom from Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) "Sharpshooters" with a pair of VMAT-102 "Skyhawks". A 2 seat TA-4F and a single seat A-4 over Picacho Peak, CA near MCAS Yuma. Probably late 1960s/ early 1970's
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 42,452
- Points
- 463
A U.S. Navy Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (BuNo 152069) from Attack Squadron 106 (VA-106) "Gladiators" is brought to the launching position on a steam catapult aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11), during flight operations in the Gulf of Tonkin, September 1968.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 42,452
- Points
- 463
April 25, 1967, Eagle Six is Ltjg Alan R. Crebo in an A-4C Skyhawk, Navy BUNO 151102.
“ We all stare at his Skyhawk in awe and wonder as we all join on him. Crebo’s A4 is a sight to behold. He has no rudder. Fully half of the vertical stabilizer is gone. Football and basketball sized holes allow us to see right through the tail pipe in several places. Someone points out that viewed from dead astern, the horizontal stabilizer is twisted about three degrees out of alignment with the trailing edge of the wing.
Every access panel in the fuselage has been popped open from the force of the concussion. He is flying with the hydraulic boost package disconnected and has very limited maneuverability, so we all fly on him. Someone in the flight has a hand held 35mm camera and takes multiple shots of the incredible battle damage.
Al Crebo was tail end Charlie in the bomb stack.
He reached the top of the pop up and hung at about two hundred twenty knots waiting for sufficient separation from Eagle Five before rolling in. He never saw the SA-2 which delivered a direct hit on his airplane. The force of the hit and explosion rolled Al on his back. He recovered with the nose pointed at the target, so he completed his run.
As he began his pull out, the badly wounded Skyhawk made an uncommanded roll inverted over the target. It was at this point when he made the “Eagle Six hit and losing control” call over the radio. Al reached under the glare shield and yanked the flight control boost disconnect handle, and flew the little A4 upright on manual flight controls. Now, NATOPS states that before disconnecting the hydraulic flight controls, one should be dirty, below two hundred knots, and lined up with the landing runway. The A4-C even had an extendable stick to give the pilot more leverage when flying on cables and pulleys with no power steering. Al was doing about 450 knots when he disconnected and rolled upright. He said he didn’t remember the airplane being hard to fly at all!
Approaching the “Bonnie Dick”, Al decided to see if he could control the airplane well enough to attempt a landing. He extended the landing gear and the nose gear and tail hook came down, but the main mounts remained jammed in the wing due to buckled wing plates. He tried for ten thousand feet to eject, but along side the plane guard D.D. at sixty five hundred feet, the gallant Skyhawk flamed out and gave up the ghost. Al ejected safely and was promptly picked up by the plane guard helo. CDR. The little Skyhawks had got their drivers home.”
“ We all stare at his Skyhawk in awe and wonder as we all join on him. Crebo’s A4 is a sight to behold. He has no rudder. Fully half of the vertical stabilizer is gone. Football and basketball sized holes allow us to see right through the tail pipe in several places. Someone points out that viewed from dead astern, the horizontal stabilizer is twisted about three degrees out of alignment with the trailing edge of the wing.
Every access panel in the fuselage has been popped open from the force of the concussion. He is flying with the hydraulic boost package disconnected and has very limited maneuverability, so we all fly on him. Someone in the flight has a hand held 35mm camera and takes multiple shots of the incredible battle damage.
Al Crebo was tail end Charlie in the bomb stack.
He reached the top of the pop up and hung at about two hundred twenty knots waiting for sufficient separation from Eagle Five before rolling in. He never saw the SA-2 which delivered a direct hit on his airplane. The force of the hit and explosion rolled Al on his back. He recovered with the nose pointed at the target, so he completed his run.
As he began his pull out, the badly wounded Skyhawk made an uncommanded roll inverted over the target. It was at this point when he made the “Eagle Six hit and losing control” call over the radio. Al reached under the glare shield and yanked the flight control boost disconnect handle, and flew the little A4 upright on manual flight controls. Now, NATOPS states that before disconnecting the hydraulic flight controls, one should be dirty, below two hundred knots, and lined up with the landing runway. The A4-C even had an extendable stick to give the pilot more leverage when flying on cables and pulleys with no power steering. Al was doing about 450 knots when he disconnected and rolled upright. He said he didn’t remember the airplane being hard to fly at all!
Approaching the “Bonnie Dick”, Al decided to see if he could control the airplane well enough to attempt a landing. He extended the landing gear and the nose gear and tail hook came down, but the main mounts remained jammed in the wing due to buckled wing plates. He tried for ten thousand feet to eject, but along side the plane guard D.D. at sixty five hundred feet, the gallant Skyhawk flamed out and gave up the ghost. Al ejected safely and was promptly picked up by the plane guard helo. CDR. The little Skyhawks had got their drivers home.”
