Few modern military aircraft can claim the longevity and overall success enjoyed by the legendary Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Also known as the “Bantam Bomber” and “Scooter” the small, subsonic A-4 first flew in the mid-1950s during the burgeoning era of larger and much more complex supersonic jet fighters. The Skyhawk broke the mold, however, by becoming America's first simple, low-cost, and lightweight jet-powered attack aircraft. Still in use today in South America, the Skyhawk enjoyed a 25-year production run. A-4s achieved combat fame in the Falklands Islands War and the Vietnam War where one even scored a kill against a faster Soviet-built MiG. Used by the air arms of seven foreign countries as well as the U.S. Navy's famed Blue Angels Flight Demonstration team, the A-4 Skyhawk remains a fascination for naval aviation enthusiasts nearly six decades after it first took to the sky.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb!
Dec 12 2011
By AH-1Z
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
One of the best books ever written on the A-4. Just when you thought there was little else to be revealed about this famous attack aircraft, a book like this comes along and opens your eyes again.
As with Mr. Thomas' other books, this is written with a goodly amount of detail, yet in an eminently readable style. Also, unlike too many books on a particular aircraft, this books tells its story "warts and all". It talks about the brilliance of the design and what it does, but also is open about where the problems were. It shows the A-4's capabilities to great advantage, and also honestly discusses why it was replaced in naval service (the A-7 may not have been as much fun to fly in a good pilot's hands, but it was a considerably better attack aircraft--of course it was also newer). The myriad models and stillborn variants are clearly covered in detail, and there are enough "war stories" included that this doesn't just end up as some dry tome.
This book is highly, HIGHLY recommended.
As with Mr. Thomas' other books, this is written with a goodly amount of detail, yet in an eminently readable style. Also, unlike too many books on a particular aircraft, this books tells its story "warts and all". It talks about the brilliance of the design and what it does, but also is open about where the problems were. It shows the A-4's capabilities to great advantage, and also honestly discusses why it was replaced in naval service (the A-7 may not have been as much fun to fly in a good pilot's hands, but it was a considerably better attack aircraft--of course it was also newer). The myriad models and stillborn variants are clearly covered in detail, and there are enough "war stories" included that this doesn't just end up as some dry tome.
This book is highly, HIGHLY recommended.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ultimate Skyhawk Book
Nov 29 2011
By Robert Powell
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Absolutely everything you want to know about the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Thomason has outdone himself. He gets into details and history this former Scooter pilot did not know. Besides a superb collection of photographs, the book is illustrated with useful diagrams including some by Thomason himself when what he wanted was unavailable. Besides the development history and US Navy's use of the A-4 in combat, SCOOTER has good coverage of the A-4's many other roles, especially as an adversary aircraft, and use by other nations including Israeli and Argentine combat. That the book was endorsed by the Sykhawk Assc. points up the quality of SCOOTER.
Add Peter Mersky's US NAVY AND MARINE CORPS A-4 SKYHAWK UNITS OF THE VIETNAM WAR (Osprey Combat Aircraft #69) and you will need no other books on this marvelous airplane.
Add Peter Mersky's US NAVY AND MARINE CORPS A-4 SKYHAWK UNITS OF THE VIETNAM WAR (Osprey Combat Aircraft #69) and you will need no other books on this marvelous airplane.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Solid Hit
Dec 18 2011
By JCAL
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Tommy H. Thomason has produced a great volume. I would have liked to have seen more chapters on systems and engines, (In particular the installation of F404 in the A-4S. and systems. But the coverage of the overseas operators is very good.
He did miss two private operators of the A-4, there was one out Chino in the mid '80's that was featured in a Pepsi commercial and another one brought back to flyable condition by David Strait(?) at Addison, Texas in the late '80's.
He did miss two private operators of the A-4, there was one out Chino in the mid '80's that was featured in a Pepsi commercial and another one brought back to flyable condition by David Strait(?) at Addison, Texas in the late '80's.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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