The McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a plane specifically designed to operate from aircraft carrier. Developed in the years 1950 for U.S. Navy. The small, economical, yet versatile the Skyhawk still in use in several air forces the world.
The McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a lightweight, single engine attack aircraft. The mission of an A-4 attack squadron is to attack and to destroy surface targets in support of the landing force commander, escort helicopters, and conduct other operations as directed.
The Skyhawk was designed by Douglas' Ed Heinemann in response to a U.S. Navy call for a jet-powered attack aircraft to replace the A-1 Skyraider. After Numerous tests the skyhawk was selected for production. The diminutive Skyhawk soon received the nicknames "Scooter", "Bantam Bomber", "Tinker Toy Bomber", and, on account of its nimble performance, "Heinemann's Hot-Rod."
The aircraft is of conventional post-WW2 design, with a low-mounted delta-like wing, tricycle undercarriage, and a single turbojet engine in the rear fuselage, with intakes on the fuselage sides. The tail is of cruciform design, with the horizontal stabilizer mounted above the fuselage. Armament consisted of two 20 mm Colt Mk 12 cannon, one in each wing root, with 200 rounds per gun, plus a large variety of bombs, rockets, and missiles carried on a hardpoint under the fuselage centerline and hardpoints under each wing (originally one per wing, later two).
Skyhawks were well loved by their crews for being tough and agile. These attributes, along with its low price tag and easy maintenance, have contributed to the popularity of the A-4 both with American armed forces and internationally. The price for one unit is around $860,000 USD.
