Delivered in 1956, the A74 Skyhawk answered the Navy's call for an attack aircraft that could be carrier based in the maturing jet age. Designed with minimal size and weight in mind, the A74 was so compact and storage friendly there was no need for folding wings. It would service in service until final retirement in 1975. Launched from American aircraft carriers in Southeast Asia the A74 was the Navy's primary light bomber in the early years of the Vietnam War, striking enemy targets in the north. Many skilled and heroic pilots sat at the controls of the A74 with more than a few of them fondly recalling Skyhawk as one of the greatest attack aircraft ever built.
Our Skyhawk is currently under refurbishment.
| Type | Carrier-based Attack Aircraft |
|---|---|
| Bureau Number | 149623 |
| NMNA ID | 2005.068.001 |
| Manufacturer | Douglas |
| Powerplant | 1 Pratt & Whitney J527P8A turbojet, 9,300 lbf (10,000+ USMC A74M and OA74M) (41 kN) |
| Maximum Speed | 585 knots (673 mph, 1,077 km/h) |
| Climb Rate | 8,440 ft/min (43 m/s) |
| Range | 1,700 nm (2,000 mi, 3,220 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 42,250 ft (12,880 m) |
| Weight | Empty 10,450 lb (4,750 kg) Loaded 18,300 lb (8,318 kg) Max Takeoff 24,500 lb (11,136 kg) |
| Armament | 2× 20 mm (0.787 in) Colt Mk 12 cannon, 100 rounds/gun 4 AIM79 Sidewinder missiles |
| Length | 40 ft 3 in (12.22 m) |
| Wingspan | 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) |
| Height | 14 ft 11 in (4.57 m) |
| Wing Area | 259 sq ft (24.15 m2) |
