{"id":7037,"date":"2022-08-15T11:00:08","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T10:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?p=7037"},"modified":"2022-11-22T12:47:45","modified_gmt":"2022-11-22T11:47:45","slug":"skyhawks-illustrated-14110","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/skyhawks-illustrated-14110\/","title":{"rendered":"Skyhawks Illustrated #14110<\/b>: A Skyhawk that flew to the sound of the Marseillaise"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the latest Skyhawk variants, the A-4M Skyhawk II<\/strong>, was designed to operate with the US Marine Corps specifically in air support roles.<\/p>\n

Our subject, the first A-4M, first flew on 04\/10\/1970 at the helm of McDonnell Douglas test pilot, Walt Harper<\/strong>, departing Palmdale, California.<\/p>\n

\"Delivery<\/a>
Lifting off the runway at Long Beach Municipal Airport following its delivery ceremony to USMC (photo: McDonnell Douglas via Harry Gann & Carlos Ay, 03\/11\/1970).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

After USMC acceptance, the aircraft was delivered on 02\/26\/1971 to the Naval Air Test Center (NATC), NAS Patuxent\u00a0 River, Maryland.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe French connection\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the late 1960s and early 1970s the French A\u00e9ronavale needed a replacement for the Dassault Etendard IV.<\/p>\n

\"Proposed<\/a>
Used for tests aboard the French aircraft carrier Foch proposed as the future A-4T (photo: Denis Levitre\/A-4 Skyhawk Variants Facebook Group).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

After a week of flights from land bases, the Skyhawks made 17 landings and takeoffs on the carrier.<\/p>\n

\"White<\/a>
Parked at Naval Air Test Center\u2019s Trapnell Field (photo: TZ Aviation, 02\/1975).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

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.<\/p>\n

The remainder of its flying career would see it fulfilling several testing roles from different experimentation establishments until retirement circa 06\/1991.<\/p>\n

\"Sharpening<\/a>
Testing AGM-62 Walleye II bombs at the Naval Aviation Test Center (photo author unknown).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

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

A-4M<\/strong> (1970).<\/p>\n

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

Bu No 158148<\/strong> (1970).<\/p>\n

\"Prior<\/a>
Restoration work beginning at the Quonset Point Air Museum (photo: Denis Levitre\/A-4 Skyhawk Variants Facebook Group).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Owners and operators:<\/strong><\/h3>\n