One of the latest Skyhawk variants, the A-4M Skyhawk II, was designed to operate with the US Marine Corps specifically in air support roles.
Our subject, the first A-4M, first flew on 04/10/1970 at the helm of McDonnell Douglas test pilot, Walt Harper, departing Palmdale, California.
After USMC acceptance, the aircraft was delivered on 02/26/1971 to the Naval Air Test Center (NATC), NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.
“The French connection”
In the late 1960s and early 1970s the French Aéronavale needed a replacement for the Dassault Etendard IV.
In September 1972, two A-4Ms flew to Landivisiau (France) via Goose Bay, Labrador and Keflavik, Iceland to carry out compatibility tests on the French aircraft carrier, Foch.
After a week of flights from land bases, the Skyhawks made 17 landings and takeoffs on the carrier.
Pilots then move the A-4Ms aboard the US aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy in the North Sea for transport back to Norfolk, Virginia.
The remainder of its flying career would see it fulfilling several testing roles from different experimentation establishments until retirement circa 06/1991.
Variants:
A-4M (1970).
Identities:
Bu No 158148 (1970).
Owners and operators:
- Operational: USMC (11/03/1970), Long Beach, California; NATC “148” NAS Patuxent River, Maryland (02/26/1971); Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility (NWEF) “148” (07/1975); Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC) “83” NAS Point Mugu, California (11/15/1977); NATC “7T-304” and “SD-304” NAS Patuxent River, Maryland (1982/1991).
- Museums: Exhibited at Quonset Air Museum (Quonset Point, Rhode Island) through 12/2016, relocated to Air Classics Museum (Aurora, Illinois) after Qounset museum’s was dissolved in 2015.
Fate:
Derelict outdoors at Air Classics Museum (noted 10/22/2022).
Internet references: Aerial Visuals, Airliners, Airport Data, Forgotten Jets, Skyhawk Association and Wikipedia.
Man, it hurts to see such a gorgeous aircraft in rough condition…
I really hope a restoration team can bring this bird back to show-worthy condition
Sad the A7 and A4 in those photos where in excellent show condition. Yet the museum that got them is letting them sit there and rot!
If you need any images olesse let me know…i have thousands of original slides. Skyhawk is my main sviation image. I’ve actually hoped to do a book on the A-4M, all its serials and unit histories.
john binford