Skyhawks Around The World - Past and Present
From Douglas Poster courtesy of Gary Vever
(Click on image for larger version) |
Brazil is not on the poster because the poster was printed prior to their purchase of Skyhawks.
Submission of first-person-knowledge and images of A-4 Skyhawks located anywhere is invited. If the images are not yours, any photo copyright information is required.
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Current estimate is that there is aproximately 165 A-4s still in active military service with Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Israel and Singapore.
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Canada considered them!
France also considered the Skyhawk for their carrier.
In late 1972, two A-4M’s were flown from Patuxent River, MD, to Landivisau,
France via Goose Bay, Labrador, and Keflavik, Iceland for compatibility tests on the French
aircraft carrier Foch. After a week of shore-based flights, the Skyhawks bagged seventeen
traps and catapults on the 845ft long Foch. Launches with the BS-5 catapult built up to
21,500 pounds until the weight limit of the catapult track cover deflector was reached.
After debriefing the French Defense Ministry, the pilots flew the A-4M’s onboard John F.Kennedy
in the North Sea for transportation to Norfolk, VA.
"Boom" Powell. |
United States Of America
Douglas Poster courtesy of Gary Verver
Last U.S.N. Active Duty Skyhawk Unit:
The "Redtails" of Composite Squadron Eight (VC-8) were the last U.S. Navy active duty unit to operate the Skyhawk on a regular basis. Flying the TA-4J out of Ofstie Field, Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; the "T" Birds were equipped with special electronics gear. VC-8 Skyhawks provided utility missions in support of fleet
operations, close air support training for Marine, Army, and Special Force units, and operated in an adversary role in support of the Tomcat and Hornet RAGs. The "Redtails" TA-4Js were retired from active service in May 2003.
The active duty life of the venerable Skyhawk in U.S. Navy fleet service began in late September 1956 and spanned more than 47½ years.
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Civilians Flying Skyhawks
| One estimate of Skyhawks in civilian hands for flying purposes is 32 - and growing.
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