A-4B Skyhawk

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was a Cold War single-seat attack aircraft that was developed by Douglas Aircraft for the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the early 1950’s. Designed by Douglas’ Ed Heineman, the A-4 was a small light-weight, single-engine, delta wing aircraft. Because of its size, the aircraft was ideal as a carrier aircraft. Produced from 1954-1979, the Skyhawk was America’s primary light aircraft used over North Vietnam early on in the Vietnam War.  One Notable pilot of the A-4 Skyhawk during the war was future Senator John McCain, who was subsequently shot down in his Skyhawk and taken as a Prisoner of War. Because of the Skyhawks’s superb performance and handling characteristics, the airplane was chosen to succeed the Navy’s F-4 Phantom ll as THE airplane of the Navy’s flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, which they flew from 1974-1986. Because of its similarities to adversarial aircraft, the A-4 Skyhawk was used extensively over the years as a training aircraft, including at the famed TOPGUN school.

The Museum’s A-4B Skyhawk was accepted by the United States Navy on October 21, 1958 where it served with several Navy squadrons through the years, including with VA-125 at Naval Air Station Lemoore, and with VC-1 at the former Naval Air Station Barber’s Point on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. On May 16, 1964, the Museum’s A-4 Skyhawk was involved in a mid-air collision with an Erco 415C Ercoupe, sheeting the tail off of the Ercoupe , and ultimately killing the pilot of the Ercoupe. After being retired, the A-4 went on display at the U.S.S. Intrepid Museum in New York City, before being subsequently loaned to the Tillamook Air Museum in December 1997. In august 1998, the A-4 was set atop a stanchion outside the Museum adjacent to Highway 101 as a gate guard. In August 2022, after nearly 25 years in the coastal weather, the airplane was brought down from its pedestal and into the Museum where it underwent restoration.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type                                Attack Aircraft

Weight                            9,146 lbs. Empty

Wingspan                       27 ft, 6 in

Length                             38 ft, 5 in.

Height                             14 ft. 11 in.

Power                              One Curtiss-Wright J-65 W-16A

                                         Turbojet Engine

Armament                   Two Colt Mk 12 20mm cannons;

                                         8,000  lbs. of mixed ordinance

Manufacturer             Douglas Aircraft Company

PERFORMANCE

Maximum Speed 670 mph

Cruise Speed 493 mph

Ceiling Over 40,000 ft

Range 920 miles