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A4 C

One of the nicest and most efficient fighter ever designed. I wonder how broad shouldered pilots were able to slide inside a very tight cockpit, some say that they wore the plane.

I flew with an ex Navy A4 pilot who said that the early model Lears were the closest to the Skyhawk in regard to handling characteristics...

I heard a rumor when I was in "A" school (1970) that it was originally designed as a drone. "Hey! let's add a cockpit!". Didn't ever verify

I was in a A4E squadron (VMA-331) then we upgraded to the A4M, the A4 is a attack aircraft not a fighter. Although it was used to mimick a mig in training F4 fighters.

I actually fly a Skyhawk today. Cessna made thousands of them.

Always miss when there is no info for a cool picture, what aircraft, place, when... Thankfully some commenters fill in the blanks.

Sky Hawk

Legendaria "Ave" linda foto.

Glenn Mottley, sorry to shoot down your "A" school rumors, but the A4 was the Douglas response to an RFP the Navy put out for a carrier qualified attack plane that weighed under 32000 pounds. Douglas was the only acft company that responded. "Drones" were crude in those days, no compute power light enough to make then useful. Edward Heinemann headed the project.

Also known as "Heinemann's Hotrod"!!!

The cockpit was very tight for the broad shouldered guys! When the M came out it had the bubble canopy with more shoulder room and the probe was bent to allow the pilot better looks at the basket!

Cant believe the USN is still flying them! Must be a true workhorse.

N9341C. This is a privately owned A4

No it's a current op, as you can see from the reg, she is still flying off the USS America.

Photographed this some time ago at 2500ft over Titusville, FL. I was in back seat of an F1 Rocket (himebuilt), hence some glare from the canopy.
Got quite a few pics as you can see which are posted here. Used a Canon 60D with a Sigma 18-300 lens because of its flexibility and compact size.
Gary
Www.carsplaneslandscapes.com

Just a follow up note on this A4-C Skyhawk... and a reply of sorts to n9341c's comment posted 2 years past...

This a/c was showing a FAA civil registration number at the time this photo was captured... N2262Z.

More about it here... :-)

http://warbirds-eaa.net/skyhawk-ventures-a-4c-skyhawk/#history

By the way, the USS America, CV-66, was decommissioned in August of 1996.

Joe Baugher's information regarding this a/c, US Navy BuNo 149606, show this:

"Douglas A4D-2N Skyhawk", "149606 to MASDC as 3A0345 Aug 16, 1971".

http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries18.html

FAA civil a/c registration can be seen here...

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=2262Z

Don't forget the tall long gears to carry nukes.