U.S. Navy Douglas A4D/A-4 Skyhawk
MODEL BY:
H. Davidson
Model Scale:
1/72
MODEL ADDED:
N/A
historical significance
First Albuquerque Visit: 1966
Additional Information:
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seat subsonic carrier-capable light attack aircraft. It was originally designated A4D under the United States Navy’s pre-1962 designation system. The Skyhawk was developed during the early 1950s for the US Navy. The Skyhawk has a short-span delta wing configuration, a tricycle undercarriage, and is powered by a single turbojet engine. It went on to set a world speed record of 695.163 mph on 15 October 1955. On 1 October 1956, the Skyhawk was introduced to operational service. The US Navy operated the aircraft as its principal light attack aircraft during the Vietnam War, carrying out some of the first air strikes by the US during that conflict.
The US Navy Squadron VA-144, nicknamed “The Roadrunners”, adopted New Mexico as their mascot state. The commanding officer of the squadron and one of his wing mates flew a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque in the summer of 1966. They then went by car to Santa Fe to make the Governor of New Mexico as an honorary member of the squadron and present a patch of the Roadrunner. Their squadron patch featured the comic caricature of the state bird, the Roadrunner. Aircraft Bu No 4597
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