Airplane Model*Hobby Master HA1401 1:72 A-4M BuNo. 160264 “Last Skyhawk” – Miniature Marvels: Airplane Models & Painted Dice

Hobby Master HA1401 1:72 A-4M BuNo. 160264 “Last Skyhawk”

Designed by the McDonnell-Douglas chief engineer Ed Heinemann the A-4 Skyhawk met all the requirements of the US Navy and exceeded many. It was half the maximum weight, could carry four times the weapon load and small enough that it didnt need folding wings for carrier duty. This small aircraft would earn many nicknames one being Heinemanns Hot Rod. The A-4M assigned to front-line squadrons would be replaced in the mid 1980s by the AV-8 Harrier II.

Designed specifically for the U.S. Marine Corps the A-4M Skyhawk had some major improvements such as a new 11,200 lb thrust engine, an increased visibility canopy, a ribbon-type drag chute and electronics. The first A-4M flight took place on April 10, 1970, with the first fleet delivery Feb 1971. Aircraft number 2960 was the last A-4M manufactured and was delivered to VMA-331 on Feb 27, 1979. A total of 2,960 A-4 Skyhawks of all versions were manufactured with 158 being A-4Ms.