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JOE DAVIES HERITAGE AIRPARK AT PALMDALE PLANT 42

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A-4 SKYHAWK

Aircraft at the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42



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GENERAL INFORMATION


MANUFACTURER:Douglas Aircraft Corp. (Later McDonnell - Douglas Corporation)
PRODUCTION PERIOD:1955 to 1979
NUMBER PRODUCED:2,960
PRODUCTION SERIES:USN/USMC: A-4A, B, C, E, F, & M single-seat A/C, TA-4F, J & OA-4M two-seat A/C
ROLES:Originally designed as a carrier-based fair-weather light attack bomber for the US Navy; later developed into a carrier- and land-based all-weather multi-mission aircraft for the US Navy and US Marine Corps, capable of close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, short-range strike, fleet defense, reconnaissance, forward air control, and advanced jet trainer


PERFORMANCE AND SPECIFICATIONS

(Figures given are for the A-4M model)

MAXIMUM SPEED:700 mph (Mach 0.94)
SERVICE CEILING:40,000 feet above sea level
RANGE:2,000 miles (unlimited with aerial refueling)
WEAPONS:AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-12 Bullpup, AGM-45 Shrike, Walleye Guided Bomb, two 20mm MK 12 cannons, various unguided rockets, assorted conventional and nuclear weapons
CREW:Pilot
LENGTH:40 feet, 4 inches
WINGSPAN:27 feet, 6 inches
HEIGHT:15 feet
MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGHT:25,500 lbs.
POWERPLANT:Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408 turbojet engine providing 11,200 lbs. of thrust
ACHIEVEMENTS:Established the 500-KM closed course speed record at 695.163 mph in October 1955; operated by the USN Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team

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