| Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1409 Douglas A- 4F, USN Blue Angels Aerobatic Demonstration Team LIMITED EDITION |
| The A-4 Skyhawk was designed by Ed Heinemann from the Douglas Aircraft Corporation and first flew in 1954. Designed as a lightweight single engine attack aircraft it was consider by many to be the most famous ever built in this category. The A-4 was the pioneer of the “buddy” air-to-air refueling concept where aircraft of the same type could transfer fuel from one to the other without the use of a dedicated tanker. . A total of 2,960 A-4 aircraft were produced with the USMC retiring the last one in 1996. In 1974 the Blue Angels downsized from the massive F-4J to the smaller more aeorbatic Douglas A-4F. Also this was during the oil crisis and the Skyhawk was more economical to operate, it was subsonic and more maneuverable which allowed for tighter displays and kept the performance in front of the audience. The pilots loved the A-4 because it was so easy to fly, it was simple to maintain and it had a very low accident rate. In 1986 the A-4 gave way to the newer F/A-18 Hornet. Specifications a normal Douglas Aircraft Corporation A-4F Skyhawk Type Carrier based, single-seat attack bomber Total number of “F” variant manufactured 147 Dimensions Length: 40 ft 1 in (12.22 m) Height: 15 ft 2 in (4.62 m) Wingspan: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) Wing area: 260 sq. ft (24.15 m 2 ) Weights Empty Weight: 9,853 lbs. (4,469.24 kg) Gross Weight: 16,216 lbs. (7,355.45 kg) Maximum Weight: 24,500 lbs. (11,113.013 kg) Power plant 1 X Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408 Thrust-lb: 11,200 lbs. (5080.2345 kg) Performance Range: 2,000 miles (3,218.688 km) Max. Speed: 646 mph (1,039.6362 kph) Ceiling: 40,000 ft (1,2192 m) Armament 5 X hard points capable of carrying a maximum 10,000-lbs. 2 X 20mm cannon in wings with 100 rounds per gun. |

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