{"id":5901,"date":"2022-12-15T12:00:10","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T11:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?p=5901"},"modified":"2022-12-13T03:38:15","modified_gmt":"2022-12-13T02:38:15","slug":"skyhawks-illustrated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/skyhawks-illustrated\/","title":{"rendered":"Skyhawks Illustrated #12931<\/b>: An Argentinian Skyhawk that was never Argentinian"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our latest Skyhawk Illustrated is an A-4C with an intense operational life which, transiting through Vietnam and AMARC, nearly made it into the Malaysian Air Force and, when its history seemed to be near the end, was rescued and restored as a flying display aircraft… ultimately being painted in Argentinian Navy colours!<\/p>\n

Our specimen had an interesting operational career after departing the Palmdale factory (California) on delivery to the United States Navy<\/strong> (USN) on 09\/10\/1962 wearing Bureau of Aeronautics Number 149606<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"NV<\/a>
Deployed to Vietnam with VA-216 “Black Diamonds”, VA-192 “Golden Dragons” and VA-22 “Redcocks” attack squadrons, Bu No 149606 demonstrated the Skyhawk’s design strength by absorbing substantial damage from North Vietnamese anti-aircraft artillery (photo: USN, 12\/17\/1965).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Withdrawn from use in 08\/1971, it was assigned to the Military Aircraft Storage & Disposition Center<\/strong> (Arizona), and remained stored there until 07\/1983, when it was one of the Skyhawks acquired by the Royal Malaysian Air Force<\/strong> (TUDM) for conversion to the A-4PTM variant, though it was never actually transferred to that country.<\/p>\n

\"Tanker\"<\/a>
Flying as a Buddy-buddy tanker with VA-216 “Black Diamonds” (photo: USN, circa 1964).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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From an unused batch of fuselages originally reserved for the TUDM, Porter Spangler<\/strong> acquired several A-4C components to reassemble one and put it in flight condition for air shows, painting it in VA-86 “Sidewinders” colours with its original Bu No and buzz number AE-402 while the squadron was deployed aboard USS \u201cAmerica\u201d.<\/p>\n

What he built is actually a “Frankenhawk”<\/em> (like Dr. Frankenstein’s creation in Mary Shelly’s novel) comprising the front section from our subject aircraft (Bu No 149606), the wing section from Bu No 145131 and the tail section from Bu No 148576 and, lacking ailerons, landing gear, gear doors, flaps or slats on the wing, they were purchased separately from other A-4 parts owners.<\/p>\n

\"MASDC\"<\/a>
Stored in AMARC with inventory number 3A345 since 08\/16\/1971 (photo: Ron Picciani, 03\/1974).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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We decided to refer to the new aircraft as an afterlife of c\/n 12931 because a Skyhawk’s construction number plate is usually riveted (and associated) to the forward fuselage, even though the Federal Aviation Administration registered it in the experimental airworthiness class associated to ad-hoc construction number “60-12377”, ostensibly associating it to the wing, rather than the nose, section of the airframe.<\/p>\n

Once completely rebuilt by Valiant Air Command War Bird Museum (VAC) and Skyhawk Ventures LLC<\/strong>, it was registered NX2262Z, started taxiing tests in 05\/2010 and got airborne for the first time on 08\/04\/2011, participating in several air show for the following six years.<\/p>\n

\"Forward<\/a>
Forward fuselage of Bu No 149606 (photo via Skyhawk Association, date unknown).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Argentine businessman Federico Andr\u00e9s “Fred” Machado<\/strong> acquired it in 2017 through his Fort Lauderdale (Florida) based company, South Aviation, and had it reformed and repainted to replicate Argentine Navy A-4Q 0658\/3-A-305, one of the aircraft involved in the sinking of HMS Ardent in San Carlos Water on 05\/21\/1982.<\/p>\n

Since 2021, when its owner was arrested on drug traffic and money laundering charges, the aircraft is being offered for sale for little under US $795,000.<\/p>\n

\"Tail<\/a>
Tail section from Bu No 148576 on its way to complete the rebuild of 149606 (photo via Skyhawk Association, date unknown).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Variants:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A4D-2N<\/strong> (08\/1962), A-4C<\/strong> (redesignated 09\/1962), A-4PTM<\/strong> (circa 1983).<\/p>\n

Identities:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

BuNo 149606<\/strong> (1962); 3A0345<\/strong> (08\/1971),\u00a0 M32-13<\/strong> (not taken up, 07\/1983); NX2262Z<\/strong> (07\/13\/2011).<\/p>\n

\"Frankenhawk\"<\/a>
NX2262Z restored in VA-86 Squadron colors at the Valiant Air Command Museum in Titusville, Florida (photo: Gerry Barron, 02\/09\/2016).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Owners and operators:<\/strong><\/h3>\n