A-4 Skyhawk Sticks Around

The Strategy Page . Com ^ | 3/3/09

[Joe 6-pack]

It’s a remarkably durable design when operated by a pilot other than McCain.

[Mr. Jazzy]

I love the “Scooter”.

[oyez]

Pound per pound, the most impressive aircraft I yet seen

[Thrownatbirth]

I always liked the cockpit ashtray.

[newbolt]

My thoughts exactly.

[rmh47]

They are also a remarkably agile aircraft when not loaded.

[newbolt]

Great single pilot a/c. Easy to fly, easy on and off the ship. You don’t really get in the Scooter, you kinda put it on.

[ArrogantBustard]

John McCain was hardly the only A4 jock to get shot down.

[Mat_Helm]

Three cheers for Heinemann's Hot-Rod!

[Last Dakotan]

They are also a remarkably agile aircraft when not loaded.

So was Ted Kennedy...

[NavyCanDo]

In the Navy’s Air launched Weapons School we trained on the A-4. Loved em. Was told the pilots did not fly the A-4, they just strapped one to their butt and went for an amazing ride.

[WVRockDJ]

Skypig ping! Worked 4 years on these jewels; they can carry a HUGE amount of ordnance on them, if configured properly. Removing and re-installing the cannon were a *^&% tho...especially in a South Korean winter. :-)

[llevrok]

they just strapped one to their butt and went for an amazing ride.

I am not a flier and am so envious of all you you who flew planes like the A-4. It sounds like a doozie!! (in my book anything fast and loud is fun)

[stevem]

One of the fictional generals, I believe it was Stonebraker (of William Tunner fame) was talking about the gooney birds. This was in the (Leon Uris) book Armageddon about the Berlin Airlift. General Stonebraker said the Gooney Bird was a venerable craft and he hated to see it lose its dignity, stated as the Skymasters were taking over Airlift responsibilities.

I believe the A-4 might just fall into the same category, although regarding an entirely different genre.

[Vroomfondel]

ping

[Question_Assumptions]

The Brazilians use A-4s (that they purchased from Kuwait) on their one aircraft carrier (that they purchased from France), at least in theory.

[magslinger]

SONOBUOY PING!

I don't normally post articles about an aircraft type used by the Navy unless the naval use is mentioned, but you just don't see very many articles about Skyhawks these days.

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[magslinger]

Skypig ping! Worked 4 years on these jewels; they can carry a HUGE amount of ordnance on them, if configured properly. Removing and re-installing the cannon were a *^&% tho...especially in a South Korean winter. :-)

Really? I had thought the operation was not that dissimilar from changing scopes on a rifle. ;)

[Broker]

called the Scooter .. Flew once with VC-5 NAS CUBI..