VF-1Photograph Album1991 Kuwaiti A-4KU 807. In 1974, Kuwait purchased thirty new A-4Ms and six TA-4s, along with spare parts and support equipment for $250 million. The Kuwaiti Skyhawks were designated A-4KU and TA-4KU. Delivery began in 1976. Many Kuwaiti Skyhawks based at Dhahran Air base in Saudi Arabia, were flown on combat missions against Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War. Photograph from Brian K. Shaune. Kuwaiti A-4KU 827 - 1991. After the 1991 war the remaining Kuwaiti A-4KU and TA-4KU Skyhawks were kept in storage until sold to Brazil in 1997. Note the canopy shield - to protect the canopy from desert sand etching and the crew access ladder. Photograph from Max Tollens. 2 Oct 1998 Brazilian Navy AF-1 Falcão N-1001 (BuNo 160180) painted in temporary (projected) colors and markings on display at the VF-1 Squadron establishment ceremony. Photo from Ronnie Whamond. Brazilian Navy AF1 Skyhawk BuNo. N 1001, side number 01, at the October 2, 1998 VF-1 Falcões establishment ceremony at the São Pedro d'Aldeia Naval Air Base, Brazil. AF1 Skyhawk BuNo. N 1001 is painted in temporary projected colors and markings. Please notice the three other AF1 Skyhawks in the background. These three Skyhawks are still painted in Kuwaiti markings and colors. Photograph from Ronnie Whamond. The São Pedro d'Aldeia VF-1 Falcões establishment ceremony parading the single seat Brazilian Navy AF-1 Falcão N-1001 (BuNo 160180) painted in a temporary color scheme. Photograph from Lieutenant Commander Claudio Mello, Brazilian Navy.. Proposed Markings and Colors - October 1998. The Kuwaiti A-4KU desert sand camouflage wouldn't work in a naval setting. The best Brazilian minds worked to developed an appropriate naval camouflage scheme. The apparent winner is this 3 view AF1 Skyhawk color and marking scheme. Proposed three-view courtesy of "FCM Decals, a Brazilian decal manufacturer. Graphic from Lieutenant Commander Claudio Mello, Brazilian Navy. March 1999 Brazilian Navy Skyhawk N-1001 (BuNo 160180) armed with Sidewinder missiles. Gary Verver Collection Kuwaiti A-4KU 826 - August 1999. Three A-4KU Skyhawks in original Kuwait Air Force colors parked outside the Naval Air Base São Pedro da Aldeia HS-1 hangar. Photograph by Valter Sousa Andrade. Aug 1999 Kuwaiti A-4KU 807. A head on view of a newly arrived Skyhawk in original Kuwait Air Force colors. Photograph by Valter Sousa Andrade. Brazilian Navy Bird Farm - December 1999. Kuwaiti A-4KU and TA-4KU Skyhawks being turned into AF1 and AF1a Skyhawks in the HS-1 Hangar. Until the new VF-1 hangar was complete HS-1 shared their hangar with the Falcões. December 1999 VF-1 hangar photograph by Bill Walker. VF-1 Hangar at Naval Air Base São Pedro da Aldeia - April 27, 2000. The new VF-1 hangar just before occupancy. Photograph by Bill Walker. AF-1 Skyhawk BuNo. N 1022 - June 9, 2000. Brazilian Navy AF-1 Skyhawk BuNo. N 1022, side number 22, in the VF-1 Falcões hangar at São Pedro d'Aldeia Naval Air Base, Brazil. This two seat Skyhawk is painted in permanent markings and colors. Please notice the stowed instrument training curtain in the rear seat. Photograph from Valter Sousa Andrade. AF-1 Skyhawk and Brazilian Navy Ship Minas Gerais A-11 - September 12, 2000. Brazilian Navy Ship Minas Gerais held flight operations September 11, 12, 13, 2000 in the Atlantic Ocean off Brazil. Brazilian Navy AF-1 Skyhawks N-1004, N-1006, N-1007, N-1008 and N-1012 conducted flight operations during this period. AF-1 Skyhawk T&G on Minas Gerais - September 12, 2000. Close up of AF-1 Skyhawk approaching Minas Gerais - September 12, 2000. Aerial view of an AF-1 Skyhawk over the Minas Gerais round-down - September 12, 2000. AF-1 Skyhawk touching down on Minas Gerais - September 12, 2000. AF-1 Skyhawk running down the Minas Gerais flightdeck before lifting off for a go-round - September 12, 2000. Official Brazilian Navy photos AF-1 Skyhawk Four Plane Formation - Fall 2000. Brazilian Navy AF-1 Skyhawks fly over the VF-1 Falcões hangar at São Pedro d'Aldeia Naval Air Base, Brazil. Photograph from Lieutenant Commander Claudio Mello, Brazilian Navy. AF-1 Skyhawk Four Plane Feet Wet - Fall 2000. Four Brazilian Navy AF-1 Skyhawks fly over the South Atlantic Ocean near Brazil. Photograph from Lieutenant Commander Claudio Mello, Brazilian Navy. The Brazilian Navy exercise to make the AF-1 Falcão Skyhawk carrier operational on the Brazilian Navy Light Aircraft Carrier Minas Gerais ( A-11) was executed January 18, 2001. This would be the first time a Brazilian Navy pilot in a jet aircraft would trap aboard a Brazilian Navy aircraft carrier. The exercise was based at Cabo Frio - RJ, Brazil and involved three AF-1 Falcão Skyhawk fighter-bombers. Brazil brought in a United States crew of experienced Skyhawkers. The Landing Signal Officer (LSO) was Curt Francis; The Catapult Officer (shooter) was Bill Sowers; Catapult Hook-up Officer was Rich Villareal; And the Safety Observer was Don Ussery. Dan Canin, a Lockheed Martin employee, was temporarily hired by Kay and Associates, Inc. as the test pilot to conduct AF-1 carrier suitability testing on Minas Gerais. After test completion, two of the Falcãos piloted by Brazilian Navy Pilots and one by an Argentine pilot conducted carrier qualifications. A Brazilian Navy AF-1 Falcão N-1006 with hook down approaches Brazilian Navy Ship Minas Gerais A-11. AF-1 Skyhawk Is Hovering Over The Minas Gerais Wires - January 18, 2001. He's Got A Minas Gerais Wire. He's Pulling Out The Minas Gerais Three Wire. The very first jet trap ---AF-1 Trap. The AF-1 Skyhawk Is Loaded On The Minas Gerais Catapult. Skyhawk N-1006 Is Taking The Cat Stroke. The Skyhawk Airborn After The Cat Stroke - January 18, 2001. Operational At Last. Information and Official Brazilian Navy photos from Claudio Mello, Rafael Pelizzon Ferreira, Bill Sowers and Rodrigo Bendoraytes. In May 2001, the Brazilian Navy exercised its second carrier the Brazilian Ship São Paulo - the reworked French Ship Marshal Foch. Landing Signal Officer this period was Commander Curt Francis, United States Navy retired. The AF-1 Falcão Skyhawks again worked the deck. LSO Commander Francis took the following digital pictures - the graphics are a bit big but worth the download time. The São Paulo lens that produces the "meatball" glide path for landing Naval Aviators. The Falcão approaches the round-down. LSO Curt Francis turns to catch the Falcão's touch-down on the touch-n-go landing. Information and photographs from Curt Francis. From time to time United States carriers cruise the South Atlantic near Argentina and Brazil. Since Naval Aviators from these countries are trained by the United States Navy - they fly out to the United States carriers to bum a few CV landings. In October 2001, the Brazilian Falcãos, including BuNo.160180, made a few touch 'n go passes on United States Ship Nimitz CVN 68 somewhere in the South Atlantic. In return Nimitz aircraft visit the Falcão's field to get rid of corroding sea salt with a quick fresh water wash job. Two Falcãos in the Nimitz break for landing. Two Falcãos fly by Nimitz with hooks down requesting landing. A Falcão over the wire area - the wires are removed during the touch-n-go landing. A Falcão touches down on Nimitz during a touch-n-go landing. Information and photographs from Curt Francis. Waist Cat Launch. Photo from Stephan de Bruijn Remains of Kuwait Skyhawk #821 (BuNo 160200). Gary Verver Collection Remains of Kuwait Skyhawk forward fuselage and partial wing, BuNo unknown. Gary Verver Collection Remains of Kuwait Skyhawk forward fuselage, BuNo unknown. Gary Verver Collection Aug 2004 Brazilian Navy Skyhawk BuNo 160203, 1017. Photo by Rodrigo Bendoraytes. Aug 2004 Brazilian Navy Skyhawk BuNo 160192, 1008. Photo by Luis Carlos M. Brandno Jr. Brazilian Navy Skyhawk N-1021 (BuNo 160212). Official Brazilian Navy photograph from Lieutenant Commander Claudio Mello, Brazilian Navy. |
