Description A4F Skyhawk (US Marines, BuNo 151147/CF 20 VMA-211, Chi Lai, 1968) (Hobbymaster HA1426) Diecast Model. No assembly Required . Category Aircraft Models, Subcategory 1:72 Hobby Master, Scale 1 : 72, ISBN/Box HA1426, 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 by the McDonnell-Douglas chief engineer Ed Heinemann the A-4 Skyhawk met all the requirements of the US Navy and exceeded many. It was half the maximum weight, could carry four times the weapon load and small enough that it didnt need folding wings for carrier duty. This small aircraft would earn many nicknames Heinemanns Hot Rod “Scooter”, “Bantam Bomber”, “Tinker Toy Bomber”. The A-4M assigned to front-line squadrons would be replaced in the mid 1980s by the AV-8 Harrier II. The Skyhawk proved to be one of the most popular US naval aircraft exports of the postwar era. Because of its small size, it could be operated from the older, smaller WWII-era aircraft carriers. In September 1964 A-4E Bu.No. 151147 was delivered to the USN VA-43. It soon was transferred to VA-66 Waldos where it received the distinctive dorsal hump. In 1968 151147 transferred to VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers and stationed in Chu Lai where Marines had arrived in 1965. Home base for VMA-211 normally was Japan but between October 1965 and January 1973 they completed four tours in SEA. In 1968 in Chu Lai the aircraft was named Apocalypse III and flown by 1st Lt. Robert Rivers who later won a Silver Star. A-4E Skyhawk Specifications Engine: 1 x Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6A turbojet, 8500 lb. Thrust Performance: Max speed 673 mph at sea level with a clean aircraft 636 mph at sea level with a Mk. 28 nuclear weapon Cruising speed 498 mph Stall speed 139 mph Combat ceiling (clean aircraft) 40,500 feet Runway to 20,000 ft 4 minutes Flight distances: 230 miles with a Mk. 28 weapon 680 miles with 2 X 300-gallon drop tanks Ferry range 2130 miles Dimensions: Wingspan 27 ft 6 in Length 41ft 4 in Height 15 ft Wing area 260 sq ft Weights: 9,624 lb. Empty 18,300 lbs. Gross 22,950 lbs. Maximum Armament: 2 x 20 mm cannon with 200 rounds/gun Maximum weapons load 8,200 lbs. carried on 5 pylons – 2 pylons under each wing and 1 center-line pylon
