Developed to replace the A-1 Skyraider the A-4 Skyhawk was extremely lightweight maneuverable
inexpensive and didn’t need folding wings. One of the upgrades saw 499 A-4E’s built, some received a
lighter weight 8,500 lb thrust engine and some late production planes had the 9,300 lb thrust engines as well as an upper fuselage “hump back” avionics pod added. All had one hard point added under each wing, re-designed center fuselage, air intakes, and airframe strengthening with bomb and navigation upgrades. Because of all the missions and tonnage of weapons delivered the A-4 was dubbed “The Workhorse of Vietnam”, this is "The Little Plane That Could". Eight A-4E’s were sold to Royal Australian Navy.
A-4E Skyhawk Specifications
Engine:
1 x Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6A turbojet, 8500 lb. Thrust
Performance:
Max speed 673 mph at sea level with a clean aircraft
636 mph at sea level with a Mk. 28 nuclear weapon
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 2 300-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:
9,624 lb. Empty
18,300 lbs. Gross
22,950 lbs. Maximum
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
MILITARY AIRCRAFT 
