1/72 Douglas A-4G Skyhawk 216/NZ 6216 RNZAF July 1984

General Background

The A-4 Skyhawk is one of the most successful attack aircrafts ever built. This smallest jet aircraft ever deployed on a carrier was the product of Douglas's Chief Engineer Ed Heinnemann in the 1952. This was the time when a more lightweight aircraft was in demand to fit into those post-war vintage carriers.

The Skyhawk was extensively used during the Cold War period and the Vietnam War by the Navy and the Marines. Because of its small size and powerful performance, the A-4 was also known as the “Heinnemann's Hot Rod”. A total of 2, 960 of Skyhawk were built and many of them were exported to other countries.

The Aircraft

Douglas Skyhawk A-4 Bu 155061 made its maiden flight on July 31, 1967. The aircraft was assigned to VA-155 in October 1968 and reassigned to VA-212 in 1969 where it spent time in Vietnam War. In 1971 the aircraft was sold to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and delivered to VF-805 as N13-155061 (RAN code 874). In 1983 874 was withdrawn from service until July 1984 when it was sold to New Zealand. The aircraft became NZ6216 and converted to a “K” variant and later donated to the Omaka Museum, New Zealand.

• Performance
• Engine: 1 x Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6A turbojet, 8500 lb. of thrust
• Max speed 673 mph at sea level with a clean aircraft: 636 mph at sea level with a Mk. 28
• Cruising speed: 498 mph
• Stall speed: 139 mph
• Combat ceiling (clean aircraft): 40,500 feet
• Runway to 20,000 ft: 4 minutes
• Flight distances
• 230 miles with a Mk. 28 weapon
• 680 miles with 2 X 300-gallon drop tanks
• Ferry range: 2130 miles
• Dimensions
• Wingspan: 27 ft 6 in
• Length: 41ft 4 in
• Height: 15 ft
• Wing area: 260 sq ft
• Weights
• Empty: 9,624 lb.
• Gross: 18,300 lbs.
• Maximum: 22,950 lbs
• Armament: 2 x 20 mm cannon with 200 rounds/gun
• Maximum weapons load: 8,200 lbs. carried on 5 pylons - 2 pylons under each wing and 1 center-line pylon