Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1403
McDonnell Douglas A- 4E
VA-163 John McCain's downed aircraft

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

True 1/72 scale
Professionally painted
Great attention to detail
All markings are Tampoed (pad applied)
Option to display the model on a stand that is provided
Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions
Loads of optional armament has been provided
Canopy can be displayed open or closed
Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic
Highly collectable

In July 1967 John Sidney McCain III survived a deck explosion and fire on the USS Forrestal that
killed 134. He then joined the USS Oriskany VA-163 Saints and in October 1967 his A-4E
Skyhawk was shot down over Vietnam. Released after 5 1/2 years in prison John retired in 1981
and was elected as a Congressman in 1982 and Senator in 1986. While in the Navy McCain was
awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and the DFC.

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION
PICTURES THE RETAIL VERSION

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