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Description
| Notes: TA-4F equipped for shrike, bullpup, buddy store refueling, AN/APG-53 radar doppler, and an/asn/41 navigation computer. Primarily configured for advanced training command. | ||
| Manufacturer: | Douglas | |
| Base model: | A-4 | |
| Designation: | TA-4 | |
| Version: | J | |
| Nickname: | Skyhawk | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Tri-Service | |
| Designation Period: | 1962-Present | |
| Basic role: | Attack | |
| Modified Mission: | Trainer | |
| See Also: | ||
Specifications
| Length: | 42' 7" | 12.9 m | |
| Height: | 15' 3" | 4.6 m | |
| Wingspan: | 27' 6" | 8.3 m | |
| Wingarea: | 260.0 sq ft | 24.1 sq m | |
| Empty Weight: | 10,602 lb | 4,808 kg | |
| Gross Weight: | 15,783 lb | 7,157 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 24,500 lb | 11,111 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 1 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney J52-P-6 | ||
| Thrust (each): | 8,500 lb | 3,854 kg | |
Performance
| Range: | 1,350 miles | 2,173 km | |
| Max Speed: | 660 mph | 1,062 km/h | 574 kt |
| Ceiling: | 38,700 ft | 11,795 m | |
Operators (Past and Present)
| USMC | MALS-31 | MCAS Beaufort | SC |
| USMC | MALS-32 | MCAS Cherry Point | NC |
| USMC | MALS-42 | Alameda | CA |
| USMC | MALS-49 | NAS Willow Grove | PA |
| USN | VC-1 | NAS Barbers Point | HI |
| USN | VC-5 | NAS Cubi Point | Philippines |
| USN | VC-8 | Roosevelt Roads | PR |
| USN | VC-10 | Guantanamo Bay | Cuba |
| USN | VF-43 | Oceana | VA |
| USN | VF-45 det | Cecil Field | FL |
| USN | VF-45 det | Key West | FL |
| USN | VF-126 | Miramar | CA |
| USN | VFA-127 | Lemoore | CA |
| USN | VFC-12 | Oceana | VA |
| USMC | VMA-124 | Memphis | TN |
| USN | VT-4 | Pensacola | FL |
| USN | VT-7 | Meridian | MS |
| USN | VT-21 | Kingsville | TX |
| USN | VT-22 | Kingsville | TX |
| USN | VX-5 | China Lake | CA |
Known serial numbers
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| MCAS El Toro Historical Foundation | Irvine | California |
| NAS Ft. Worth Joint Reserve Base | Ft. Worth | Texas |
| NAS Meridian | Meridian | Mississippi |
| National Museum of Naval Aviation | NAS Pensacola | Florida |
| Texas Air Museum | Slaton | Texas |
| USS Lexington Museum On The Bay | Corpus Christi | Texas |
| Western Aerospace Museum | Oakland | California |
TA-4J on display
National Museum of Naval Aviation | Western Aerospace Museum |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Phil Lange Topeka, KS | I have a question.
What is the procedure for dropping the fuel tanks? Does anyone have a good cockpit photo that would help illustrat the location of the control functions that accomplish drop? Thanks, Phil Lange 03/27/2009 @ 09:52 [ref: 24029] |
| Adam Hodge Marietta, GA | Hey Guys,
Not sure which model A-4 section this best to ask this in, haha. :) I'm currently a HS Student (Jr) trying to start up a collection of Scooter patches from any service/mission (VA,VMA,VC,VT, etc) as a keepsake. I'm looking for anything anyone can spare (Squadron Patches,Decomm Patches,Shoulder Patches,Anniv Patches, etc) related to Navy or Marine A-4 Squadrons. I wish I would've had the opportunity to see the Scooter in Navy/Marine Action but came along too late! If anyone can help/donate anything to jumpstart my attempt at a collection, Please email me at HODGETCA@aol.com (Can try and offer a little bit of $$ if need be). I doubt there is many folks my age (17) trying to start a collection like this. Thanks in Advance and Skyhawks Forever! 02/03/2008 @ 03:04 [ref: 19532] |
| Andrew Owens , OR | I was stationed at Roosevelt Roads,PR between 1998-2002 and was attatched to VC-8 and had the privelage of working on the TA-4J's. Was a "Plane Captain" for both the TA-4J Skyhawk and the UH-3H SeaKing. As an Aviation Ordnanceman I worked with RMK/TDU, MK-76's, multiple PODS, 20B bomb racks, drop tanks, 500 lb bombs, and others that I don't recall. Fun times! 12/07/2007 @ 04:45 [ref: 18827] |
| John Fox , KS | Other past users of the TA-4J were VT-24 and VT-25, both of NAS Chase Field, Beeville, TX 11/25/2007 @ 05:01 [ref: 18662] |
| Paulo Colombo, OTH | é uma boa aeronave de ataque,principalmente em operaçoes no oçeano 10/21/2007 @ 07:59 [ref: 18260] |
| John \"Spanky\"Baker Flower Mound, TX | 6012/6022 MOS
RVN 1972 served with VMA331-Beaufort SC VMA311-Iwakuni Japan/RVN Bien Hoa VMA214-El Toro Ca to anyone I served with in Vietnam You should remember me as the one who always stole the trucks and Jeeps from 1st CAV across the field' we also built the Skipper a car? with all the junk parts from ton son neut boneyard 07/04/2007 @ 16:49 [ref: 17015] |
| James L. Barnhard Washington, DC | In 1974 I graduated from ADJ "A" school I got orders to VF-143 the first US Navy Squadron to transition to F-14's VF-143 had not yet returned from their WESTPAC Cruise. I was Assigned to VF-124 awaiting the return of my Squadron VF-143. VF-124 sent 6 of us TAD to VF-126 to assist in launch and recovery of their TA-4J's. After about a week on the flight line I heard a rumor that enlisted personal could put in a special request chit for a back seat check out. I was laughed at and spoofed on by all the guys in the line shack when I ask about it. I said to myself what the heck it never hurts to ask. So I turn in the chit and to my amazement it comes back approved. I go through the training in the altitude chamber, ejection seat & dipsy dunker. I was so excited it was like when do I get to fly? Again I hear everyone laugh, in to the line shack comes one of the officers. He says who is Barnhard I announce myself and he says draw your flight gear. Your flying back seat. I was over whelmed with excitement the others were starring in awe as I headed out of the line shack to the PR shop to draw gear. I flew quite a number of hours with VF-126's and VF-143's pilots. To this day I thank Cmdr. S. J. Paul VF-143's CO. I later earned my wings in the civilian world. I want to thank all the officers that allowed me to fly with them. If anyone should happen to know Cmdr. J. S. Paul or LT. Dan Eberily that were with VF-143 please pass my email address on to them.
Many Thanks James L. Barnhard SeaKatt1@aol.com 04/26/2007 @ 09:16 [ref: 16312] |
| Big Bob , FL | Surely you know the photo of the jet catching the arresting gear is the much newer T-45 "Goshawk" 01/27/2007 @ 00:10 [ref: 15315] |
| AD 2 Kevin Siler Portland, OR | I served in VC-1 at NAS Barbers PT from 1979-1982. I worked in the line division and was plane captain for the "Blue Alii" 04 pictured in the picture gallery on this web site. It brings back a bunch of memories! Duty in Hawaii was fantastic. I loved it. While there, I was also plane captain for our squadrons H-1 helos. I even got some flight time as a maintenance crewman. Good times. I really enjoyed working on the TA-4J. All except changing the CSD. What a pain!!! 05/08/2006 @ 17:31 [ref: 13228] |
| Joedy Gardner Trilogy @ Vistancia (Peoria), AZ | I started flying A'4's in VMA-214 "Blacksheep Squadron" in Kaneohe, Hawaii (1960 ?). We had FJ4B when I first joined the squadron then recived the A4B then the A4C. I was selected to participate in a special mission flying A4's (Detactment "N") aboard the CVS-12 Hornet intercepting Badgers out of Russia. Admiral Luker was our commanding officer aboard the carrier and we did receive special treatment as the only jets aboard. There were only six of us pilots [Major Kerns (OIC), Major Archibald, Capt. Potenza, Capt. Hale, Lt, Crain and myself, Lt. Gardner (LSO)]. I have been trying, for years, to locate any of these guys but have been unsuccessful.
We had a "blast" on this tour. We were able to rack up a bunch of carrier landings. I once landed on a snow covered deck one morning returning to the ship from Japan. We were able to make "High speed (450+), low entry (50 feet), port side, VFR entry for landing. The roster tail was fun for the deck hands to see. also they could look down into our cockpits as we flew by on the left side of the carrier and we had to pull a few "g's" to slow down by the 45 to lower gear and hook. We did this for awhile until Major Kern found out that us younger guys were doing this. He was really upset but we think Admiral Luker "OK'd" it and we were just told not to do it anymore. The cruise was a great experience and I really enjoyed the tour. I still have the cruise book and some other items including a model of the A4 with the 150 gal centerline tank and two sidewinders. We had a modern blacksheep & black stripe painted on the side of each aircraft. Anyway, in Chu Lai Vietnam I flew A4E's & C's. Then upon return to the USA (San Diego MCRD) I was asked to fly a test hop on an A4A! That was another blast because the cockpit was sparse except for the basic engine instrument a gyro, tacan? and radio. Later I received orders to VMT-103 and I was chosen to go to Long Beach (Douglas Plant) to fly some tests on the new TA4F that we were to receive. Before I left the Marine Corps in May 1969 I had flown the A4A, B, C, D, & E. Even though I was lucking to fly other aircraft the A4 was my favorite for many reasons including a ton of time, a bunch of carrier lands and some fantastic flights. One of last flights in the TA4F, in Yuma, Arizona, was when I was the instructor pilot in the back seat with a marginal student on his Fam 1 in the front seat. We learned that we had a trottle linkage failure upon reach 20,000 feet. I thought the student was "crazy" when I instructed him to reduce power and level off. He became a little hysterical as I took the plane from him. Guess what?? no emergency plan for this situation, The back seat was not equipped with a fuel shut-off switch and I had to instruct this now. scarred student. in the front seat to not only locate the switch but to use it only on my verbal command, Also, if he thought about ejecting...the back seat goes first and I had no way, at that time. to control the command to the ejection system. Anyway, I was able to slow the aircraft, "dirty" up and burn off the required fuel and using tight circles, G force etc. made the approch. having the student "hit" the cut off swithch prior to landing and we rolled into the arresting gear with the engine shutting down a few thousand feet earlier. I received an "attaboy" from the commanding general and a write up in the safety magazine (still have the info in a plaque). VMT-103 changed some operational procedures after this flight!!! That's some of my history and experiences in the A4's. However, the one thing that I knew when we tested the TA4F at Douglas was that the TA4 was not just another A4! The flight characteristic were differnt (two seat vs single seat, gross weights, additional equipment etc.) and those of us with a lot of time in A4's could tell the difference. The concept proved to be a good idea, a great way to train pilots and allowed others (non-pilots) to fly in the back seat. I have pictures, documents, flight logs etc. but most are "boxed" away somewhere in storage since we moved into our new adult living community here at Trilogy. Submitted, J. Gardner Major USMC 04/06/2006 @ 14:13 [ref: 13060] |
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