TA-4J Skyhawk

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is one of the most iconic attack jets of the Vietnam War—a compact, carrier-ready strike aircraft known for its agility, toughness, and ability to deliver a heavy punch from a small airframe. Designed by Ed Heinemann for simplicity and reliability, the A-4 became a Navy and Marine Corps workhorse and ultimately flew more combat missions over Vietnam than any other carrier-based attack aircraft.

The Skyhawk entered service in the mid-1950s and quickly proved indispensable in Southeast Asia. It flew the first strikes following the Gulf of Tonkin incident and went on to spend the next decade performing precision attack missions, close air support for troops in contact, high-risk strikes on heavily defended targets, and continuous carrier operations from Yankee Station. Its compact size, rugged structure, and superb roll rate earned it pilot-favorite nicknames such as “Heinemann’s Hot Rod” and “The Scooter.”

Today, the Collings Foundation / Vietnam War Flight Museum operates one of the few flying Skyhawks left in the world, maintained in authentic Vietnam-era configuration. This aircraft demonstrates true carrier-borne handling, high-energy climbouts and rolls, and historically accurate Vietnam attack profiles—bringing living history to airshows across the country as part of FIGHTERJETS INC’s expanding Vietnam-era jet lineup.