Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

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
Optional armament has been provided
Canopy displays open or closed
Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic
Highly collectable

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA1420
Douglas A-4E Skyhawk
BuNo. 150092, VMA-121, MCAS, Chu Lai, Vietnam
1960s

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 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:
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

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 A-4M assigned to front-line squadrons would be replaced in
the mid 1980s by the AV-8 Harrier II.
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.

VMA-121 “Green Knights” and their A-4s were ferried to Chu Lai Air Base in South Vietnam and
began operations on December 1, 1966. On June 4, 1967 the unit redeployed to Iwakuni, Japan
until September 5, 1967 when they returned to Chu Lai AB for another tour. On January 31, 1969
VMA-121s Vietnam tour ended when they left for MCAS Cherry Point, NC where they were re-
equipped with Grumman A-6 Intruders and designated VMA(AW)-121. On October 4, 1968 A-4E
became the property of VMA-223 “Bulldogs” also at Chu Lai AB.

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