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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
| John Steinwinder Brookhaven, MS | I can answer that for you Phil. I was a Aviation Ordnanceman. I was the person that would load the fuel tank onto the A4-E bomb racks. As far as dropping the fuel tanks, it was the same procedure as dropping a bomb. The pilot would just select the bomb rack station the fuel tank(s) were located then just just press the bomb release button on the flight control stick.
Sorry, no photos were allowed of the cockpit during 1968 - 1972. Hope this helps. John Steinwinder 09/26/2011 @ 06:29 [ref: 49250] |
| t. hoffman , TX | Was stationed at NAAS Kingsville Tx. from 1969 until 1974,was there during the transition from the old F9 aircraft to the TA4J.Was aTD both instructor and maintenance man on theDevice2F90, TA4J simulator there in Kingsville.Was allowed to be checked out on seat trainer,LPC etc and bagged many back-seat hours with my former division officer.Am currently working at NASA corpus Christi, and watching the ultimate demise of the Beechcraft T34 A,B andC models. 11/03/2010 @ 11:09 [ref: 32966] |
| 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] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
