Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Designed by the McDonnell-Douglas chief engineer Ed Heinemann the A-4 Skyhawk met
all the requirements of the US Navy and exceeded many. It was half the maximum
weight, could carry four times the weapon load and small enough that it didn’t need
folding wings for carrier duty. This small aircraft would earn many nicknames
“Heinemann’s Hot Rod” "Scooter", "Bantam Bomber", "Tinker Toy Bomber".
The Skyhawk proved to be one of the most popular US naval aircraft exports of the
postwar era. Because of its small size, it could be operated from the older, smaller
WWII-era aircraft carriers.

In 1976 Kuwait purchased 30 A-4KU and 6 TA-4KU aircraft and operated them until
1997. The Skyhawks entered service with Nos. 9 and 25 Squadrons. When Iraqi forces
invaded Kuwait some of the A-4KUs were able to get airborne and actually attacked the
advancing forces but weren’t able to halt the aggression. Once the Kuwait airfields were
taken over the A-4KUs were flown to Saudi Arabia where the crews and equipment were
integrated into the Royal Saudi Air Force operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
During the time they Kuwait aircraft were in Saudi Arabia they became known as the
Free Kuwait Air Force and carried out 1,361 sorties with a loss of only 1 aircraft. After
Desert Storm the A-4KUs were eventually replaced by F/A-18C/D Hornets. After Desert
Storm 20 A-4KU and 3 TA-4KUs were sold to the Brazilian Navy for use on their aircraft
carrier Minas Gerais. One of the A-4KUs was aircraft 809 had BuNo.160188 c/n 14556
and it went to the Brazilian Navy as AF-1 serial N-1005.

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 opens
Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic
Highly collectable

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1417
A-4KU Skyhawk
BuNo.160188, Free Kuwait Air Force,
Gulf War, Dhahran AB, Saudi Arabia Jan 1991

Specifications for the A-4K Skyhawk

Country of Origin – United States of America

Manufacturer – Douglas Aircraft Company

First Flight – June 22, 1954

Crew – 1

Dimensions
Length – 41 ft 3 in   (12.57 m)
Wingspan _ 27 ft 6 in   (8.38 m)
Height – 14 ft 10 in   (4.53 m)

Performance
Power Plant – 1 X Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8A producing 9,300 lb st thrust
Maximum Speed – 730 mph @ sea level   (1,167 km/h)
Maximum Rate of Climb – 8,440 ft/min   (43m/sec)
Ceiling – 49,000 ft   (14,935 m)
Range – 2,025 miles   (3,241 km)

Weight
Empty – 11,800 lbs   (5,352 kg)
Maximum – 24,500 lbs   (11,113 kg)

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