A-4M Skyhawk VMA-311 "Tomcats," 1981 (1:72)

First formed in 1942 as VMF-311 and in 1958 renamed VMA-311 'Tomcats' with a tail designator 'WL' and a patch with 'Sylvester the Pussycat' riding a missile. In July 1978 VMA-311 received 13 new A-4Ms plus 3 transferred from VMA-214 and the 11th aircraft was Bu No. 159473. The modex number painted on the nose is 460 until about 1981 when changed to 11. VMA-311 A-4Ms spent most of their time in Japan until June 1988 when they moved to Yuma and transitioned to the AV8B Harrier.

A-4M specifications

Engine: One 11,200-pound thrust Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408A turbojet
Weight: Empty 10,465 lbs., Max Takeoff 24,500 lbs.
Wing Span: 27ft. 6in.
Length: 40ft. 3.75in.
Height: 15ft. 0in.

Performance:
Maximum Speed at Sea Level: 670 mph
Range: 340 miles with 4,000-pound bomb load
Armament: Two 20-mm cannon with 200 rounds per gun
Up to 9,155 pounds of weapons on five external hard-points
External weapons: Air-to-Air Missile AIM-9 Sidewinder, Shafrir
Air-to-Surface Missile AGM-12 Bullpup, AGM-62 Walleye, AGM-65 Maverick, Gabriel III

Bomb Mk 82/83/84 GP, nuclear, cluster bombs, Other rocket pods, ECM pods, refueling pods, torpedoes The A-4 was an aircraft that spent about 45 years in faithful service to the U.S. as well as other countries. Many notable Americans such as John McCain, James Stockdale flew the Skyhawk.