Was the a4 Skyhawk a good plane? The Skyhawk was cheap, reliable and effective, so the Navy and Marines ordered hundreds of them, with production eventually totaling at 2,500 in a wide variety of models.
Was the a4 Skyhawk a good plane?
The Skyhawk was cheap, reliable and effective, so the Navy and Marines ordered hundreds of them, with production eventually totaling at 2,500 in a wide variety of models. In the early 1960s, every U.S. Navy carrier had at least two attack squadrons of Skyhawks; the first nuclear supercarrier had four.
How much does an a4 Skyhawk cost?
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
| A-4 (A4D) Skyhawk | |
|---|---|
| Number built | 2,960 |
| Unit cost | US$860,000 each for the first 500 units |
| Variants | Lockheed Martin A-4AR Fightinghawk McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk |
How good is a4 Skyhawk?
The Skyhawk had a top speed of 645 miles per hour and an impressive range of up to 2,001 miles. It could haul nearly 10,000 pounds of bombs and could carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile. An additional two 20mm cannons gave it the ability to handle air or ground targets.
How many a4 Skyhawks were shot down in Vietnam?
Ejecting from his aircraft, he became the first naval aviator taken prisoner during the Vietnam War. All told, 195 carrier-based Skyhawks fell to enemy fire during the Vietnam War, among the pilots forced to eject from them and taken prisoner Medal of Honor recipient Commander (later Vice Admiral) James B.
What is the most affordable plane?
The cheapest private jet on the market is the small but mighty Cirrus Vision Jet at $1.96 million. The Vision Jet is the world’s first single-engine private jet, powered by a Williams International FJ33-5A turbofan engine that produces 1,800lbs of thrust.
What is the cheapest Cessna?
Cessna 150
- Cruising speed: 124 mph.
- Maximum range: 349 mi.
- Passengers: 1.
- Average starting price: $17,500.
What replaced the A 4?
The Skyhawks have been replaced by F-16s in combat roles but are still used for pilot training. All the remaining A-4s aircraft were to be fully phased out beginning by 2014 as the IAF accepts delivery of Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master jets.
How many Vietnam pilots died?
Total helicopter pilots killed in the Vietnam War was 2,202. Total non-pilot crew members was 2704. Based on a databasefrom the Pentagon, we estimate that over 40,000 helicopter pilots served in the Vietnam War. To help in understanding the above numbers, the first 80 Hueys are missing a letter for some unknown reason.
Why was the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk important in the Vietnam War?
The A-4 was fast, maneuverable and rugged, well able to survive combat in Vietnam, where anti-aircraft artillery and small arms were the enemy’s principal weapons. The Marine landings coincided with a need for a new air base on the coast in order to reduce flight time to targets in Quang Tin province and adjacent districts.
Who was the commander of the A-4 Skyhawks?
Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) would direct most operations assigned to the A-4 force in South Vietnam, plus bring in new squadrons as required. MAG-12 was commanded by Colonel Dean Macho, an energetic and resourceful officer who usually led from the front. Macho would fly numerous A-4 strike missions.
What kind of gun was used in the Skyhawk?
Photo from Phil Thompson, former RAN Aviator. Mark 11, 20mm Aircraft Gun, in the Mark 1 POD, attached to the bomb rack of a Douglas A4D-2 aircraft, April 14, 1958. The U.S. Navy today unveiled a new pod-mounted weapon, a 20mm aircraft gun capable of firing 4,000 rounds per minute.
What was the A-4 Skyhawk arrester system used for?
An adaptation of the carrier arrester-wire system, the arrested-landing system could stop a landing Skyhawk in 600 feet. It quickly proved its usefulness, as did other naval aircraft arrester systems used for land bases. All Marine A-4s retained their tail hooks so they could use this landing system.