Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (8485)

The A-4 was originally designated the A-4D under the U.S. Navy's pre-1962 designation system. Its maiden flight was 22 July 1954. It played a key role in Vietnam, including active duty on carriers. The U.S. Navy called for a jet powered attack aircraft to replace the A-1 Skyraider. The result was an aircraft that weighed only half the specification and had a wing so compact that it did not need to fold up to be stored. The Skyhawk soon received several nicknames, including "Scooter," "Bantam Bomber," and "Tinker Toy Bomber." The Skyhawk was retired by the Navy in 2003, but still flies with other air forces. The Castle Air Museum's A-4L last flew with VA-204 "The RIver Rattlers" at NAS, New Orleans, Louisiana.