Diecast A4C Skyhawk (US Navy, “MIG-17 Killer”, BuNo 148609, VA-76, USS Bon Homme Richard, 1st May, 1967) (Hobbymaster HA1427)
$72
$90
Description A4C Skyhawk (US Navy, “MIG-17 Killer”, BuNo 148609, VA-76, USS Bon Homme Richard, 1st May, 1967) (Hobbymaster Diecast model HA1427) Category Aircraft Models, Subcategory 1:72 Hobby Master, Scale 1 : 72, ISBN/Box HA1427, Publisher Hobbymaster True 1/72 scale Professionally painted Great attention to detail All markings are Tampoed (pad applied) Option to display the model on a stand that is provided Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions Canopy displays open or closed Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic Highly collectable Designed to replace the Douglas AD-1 Skyraider the Skyhawk first flew in 1954. Its small size was a radical departure from the normal Big thinking of the time. The USN first took delivery in late 1956 with the USMC receiving theirs 3 months later. Over the years many nicknames were used, Tinker Toy, Heinemanns Hotrod (the designer was Ed Heinemann), with the E and F models labeled the Camel because of the electronics hump along the dorsal. Probably the most well known nickname used for the 2,960 A-4s that were produced is Scooter. Douglas A-4C Skyhawk 148609 c/n 12802 was delivered to VA-64 in 1961. After spending time with VA-64 and VA72 148609 was assigned to VA-76 Spirits in 1964 as NP-685. VA-76 was deployed to Vietnam on board the USS Bon Homme Richard when on May 1, 1967 LCDR Ted “T.R.” Swartz flying 148609 shot down a MiG-17 over North Vietnam with an unguided Zuni missile making this the only time a Skyhawk scored an air-to-air victory during the Vietnam War. 148609 was lost in June 1972 after a mid-air collision. Specifications McDonnell Douglas A-4C Crew 1 Pilot Dimensions Length 40ft 3in Wingspan 27ft 6in Height 14ft 11in Weight Empty 10,450 lbs Loaded 18,300 lbs Gross 24,500 lbs Performance Powerplant 1 x Wright J-65-W-20 non-afterburning turbojet, 8,200 lbs. of thrust Maximum Speed 673 mph Combat Radius 1,000 miles Ferry Range 2,130 miles Service Ceiling 42,250 ft Maximum Rate of Climb 8,440 ft/min
