1/72 A-4E/F Skyhawk B9

After World War II, the jet-powered development of carrier-based fighters progressed smoothly, but
the jet-powered development of small carrier-based attack aircraft lagged behind, and
even after the end of the Korean War, the propeller-driven A-1 Skyraider remained the mainstay.
The U.S. Navy was well aware of the importance of ground attack during the Korean War, but the development of carrier-based attack aircraft was again delayed
in order to develop a fighter superior to the Communist MiG-15 .

However, in the early 1950s, the U.S. Navy
began a program to develop its next carrier-based attack aircraft
, and Douglas's design team proposed a small aircraft with
a total weight of 6.8 tons and a wingspan of less than 8.4 meters, born from their research into lightweight fighters . This bold design was approved, a contract was signed, and the first prototype (XA-4A), which made its maiden flight on June 22, 1954, featured thorough weight reduction, a simplified airframe structure with the wings integrated into a single unit and the fuselage mounted on top, and was designed with ease of maintenance in mind. Production lasted 26 years, with a total of 2,960 aircraft produced until the final production run ended in February 1979 , proving just how excellent the basic design of the A-4 Skyhawk was.

The A-4E was an improved version of the A-4C, with the engines changed from J65 to J52-P-6.
The air intake shape also changed with the engine change, and
the underwing armament load was increased to a maximum of 8,200 lb (3,720 kg).
The A-4F was the last type for the U.S. Navy,
featuring more powerful J52-P-8A engines and
an added hump fairing on the dorsal fuselage to house electronics.
The A-4F was also
used by the U.S. Navy's aerobatic team, the "Blue Angels," from 1974 to 1986, captivating audiences with its dynamic aerial maneuvers.

Data (A-4E)
Crew: 1
Wingspan: 8.38m
Length: 12.59m
Height: 4.57m
Engine: P&W J52-P-6
Thrust: 3,855kg
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 11,110kg
Maximum Speed: 1,085km/h/SL
Fixed Armament: 2 x 20mm cannons
First Flight: July 21, 1961 (A-4E), August 31, 1966 (A-4F)