Douglas A-4 Skyhawk | |
|---|---|
| Pays | Usa |
| Rôle | Avion d’attaque, chasseur, avion agresseur |
| Premier vol | Le 22 juin 1954 |
| Construit | 2960 |
Lla Douglas A-4 Skyhawk est un avion d’attaque subsonique monoplace capable de transporter développé pour la Marine des États-Unis et le Corps des Marines des États-Unis au début des années 1950. Le Skyhawk à turboréacteur monoréacteur à ailes delta a été conçu et produit par douglas Aircraft Company, puis par McDonnell Douglas. Il a été initialement désigné A4D sous l’US Navy’s pre-1962 designation system. The Skyhawk is a relatively lightweight aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 24,500 pounds (11,100 kg) and has a top speed of more than 670 miles per hour (1,080 km/h). The aircraft’cinq points durs soutiennent une variété de missiles, de bombes et d’autres munitions. Il était capable de transporter une charge de bombe équivalente à celle d’un bombardier Boeing B-17 de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, et pouvait livrer des armes nucléaires à l’aide d’un système de bombardement à basse altitude et d’un « Loft » delivery technique. The A-4 was originally powered by the Wright J65 turbojet engine; from the A-4E onwards, the Pratt & Whitney J52 was used. Skyhawks played key roles in the Vietnam War, the Yom Kippur War, and the Falklands War. Sixty years after the aircraft’premier vol en 1954, certains des 2 960 produits (jusqu’en février 1979) sont toujours en service avec plusieurs armes aériennes à travers le monde.
| A-4F Skyhawk Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Luc Colin |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 77 |
| Douglas A-4C Se promener | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Cees Hendriks |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 114 |
| Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk ‘Canon supérieur’ Se promener | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Cees Hendriks |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 63 |
| Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawk Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Alameda, Californie |
| Photos | 86 |
| Douglas A-4N Skyhawk Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Base aérienne de Nellis |
| Photos | 142 |
| Douglas A-4B Skyhawk Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Bill Maloney |
| Localisation | Floyd Bennett Champ HARP |
| Photos | 18 |
| Douglas A-4M Skyhawk Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Musée du Vol, Santa Monica |
| Photos | 94 |
Voir aussi :
| McDonnell Douglas A-4M Skyhawk Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Bill Maloney |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 24 |
| Douglas A-4C Skyhawk Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Bill Maloney |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 23 |
| A-4N Skyhawk Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Isaac Gershman |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 108 |
Douglas A 4 Skyhawk
Le Douglas A-4 Skyhawk est un avion d’attaque monoplace et subsonique développé pour l’United States Navy et l’United States Marine Corps au début des années 1950.Small, Simple, and Deadly
Lla Douglas A-4F Skyhawk represents the ultimate evolution of the initial Skyhawk design used by the U.S. Navy. Designed by the legendary Ed Heinemann, the A-4 was so compact it didn’t need folding wings for carrier storage. The « F » model was the final variant produced for the Navy, featuring a more powerful engine and the distinctive « Bosse » on its back to house advanced electronics. It was the backbone of Navy strike missions over North Vietnam and later became the iconic mount of the Blue Angels.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (A-4F) |
|---|---|
| Rôle | Light Attack / Close Air Support |
| Crew | 1 (Pilot) |
| First Flight (A-4F) | August 31, 1966 |
| Groupe motopropulseur | 1 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8A turbojet |
| Thrust | 9,300 lbf (41.4 kN) |
| Vitesse maximale | 673 mph (1,083 km/h) |
| Combat Radius | 700 miles (1,130 km) |
| Armement | 2 × 20mm Colt Mk 12 cannons; 5 hardpoints (up to 9,195 lbs) |
Design Refinement: The « Hump » and Beyond
- The Avionics Hump: The most recognizable feature of the A-4F is the dorsal fairing or « hump. » This was added to house additional Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) gear and navigation equipment that simply wouldn’t fit inside the original tiny airframe.
- Delta Wing Efficiency: The A-4’s wing was a modified delta shape. This design allowed for a very strong, light structure that provided excellent lift and storage for fuel, while being narrow enough to fit on carrier elevators without complex folding mechanisms.
- Lla « Bent » Refueling Probe: To keep the nose clear for radar and sensors, the A-4F used a distinctive cranked refueling probe on the starboard side. This allowed the pilot to refuel from tankers while maintaining a clear view of the basket.
- Zero-Zero Ejection Seat: The A-4F was upgraded with the Escapac 1C-3 ejection seat, which allowed the pilot to safely eject even while the aircraft was stationary on the ground (zero altitude, zero speed).
Combat Service & The Blue Angels
- Vietnam Veteran: The A-4F saw intense combat as a « Iron Hand » radar-suppression aircraft and a dive-bomber. Its small size and agility made it incredibly difficult for North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gunners to hit.
- Blue Angels Legend: From 1974 to 1986, the Blue Angels flew the A-4F. They removed the humps and cannons to save weight, resulting in a thrust-to-weight ratio that allowed for incredibly tight and powerful maneuvers.
- Top Gun Aggressor: Because of its small size and high roll rate (over 300 degrees per second), the A-4 was used for decades at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) to simulate the Soviet MiG-17 in « Dissimilar Air Combat Training. »
- Lla « Trottinette »: Pilots nicknamed the A-4 the « Trottinette » because of its nimble handling. Despite its age, its reliability and simplicity kept it in frontline service with nations like Brazil and Argentina long after it was retired by the US.
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