It is pretty amazing to think that an aircraft designed and first flown in the early 1950s, could still be flying military missions fifty years later. That is the legacy and the strength of the A-4 Skyhawk.

Designed by the renowned Ed Heinemann, the Skyhawk is the epitome of his new found trend towards simplicity in aircraft. After the failure of the very complex SB2D and TB2D aircraft, Heinemann built the much simpler AD Skyraider, an aircraft that went on to be one of the longer service and capable medium attack aircraft ever flown. Wanting to go even lighter, yet with a respectable carrying capability with the entry to the Light Attack requirements, Heinemann designed the smallest airframe he felt could do the mission.

The result was the now famous Skyhawk. Its long landing gear was due to its requirement to carry the then-current nuclear bomb, which was not exactly small. Of course, by the time the Skyhawk entered full service, the size of these weapons was dramatically reduced and the long legs were not needed, yet they were retained. The Skyhawd was also a bit of a change from previous USN aircraft types in that it was the first one that was not designed for the pilot to be able to climb into the cockpit via the airframe. This requirement on some types (the Cutlass and Demon, for example) required the pilot to be partial acrobat in order to enter the cockpit. The A-4 required a ladder, making entry much safer for the pilot.

Like any airframe, there were issues that needed to be ironed out, but one of them was not the airframe, which was pretty much the same from the first to the last production aircraft. About the only thing that changed was the length of the nose to carry more avionics and of course to be adapted for the TA-4 version. Of course, as good as the aircraft way, it was eventually supplanted by the even more capable A-7 Corsair II. Ironically, the Skyhawk was still in service as the TA-4J after the A-7 had been replaced by the F-18.

Author Tommy Thomason had done a superlative job of telling the A-4 story. Those familiar with his early book on USN Attack aircraft will instantly recognize his work and especially his attention to detail. Not only is the initial design and development covered, but so is the full life of the aircraft. This includes its operation in various foreign air arms as well as its current use by civilian operators. Included in the book are hundreds of color and black and white images of the Skyhawk as well as many drawings of the early designs or various systems.

In all, it makes for a must have book for the Scooter fan and anyone else with an interest in this diminutive attack jet. Most highly recommended.

November 2011

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