MCDONNELL DOUGLAS A4PTM SKYHAWK

Oleh kerana daku tercabar melihat Saudara otai dengan jaya nya mengeluarkn artikel mengenai SU 30 MKM, maka aku dengan rendah diri nk share dengan geng2 semua sedikit info tentang..................

Credit goes to: http://www.mamboccv.com/A4PTM_M32-29_071207.jpg

· This aircraft was originally operated by the US Navy (October 1956 – 2003).

• In 1980, Malaysia purchased 88 surplus Skyhawks airframes (25 A-4C, 63 A-4L) for refurbishment, redesignaton as A-4PTM (Peculiar To Malaysia), and assignment to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
• However, inflationary costs eventually reduced the buy to 40 airframes.
• Upgrading of the A-4PTMs by the Grumman Aerospace facility at St. Augustine, FL, included rewiring; addition of two ordnance wing stations; rework of the J65 engines; and installation of improved avionics and ordnance gear, the enarged A-4M canopy, and a drag chute.
• An undetermined number of the single-seat PTM Skyhawks were rebuilt into two-seat TA-4PTM configuration similar to the TA-4.
• The PTM Skyhawks were delivered to the RMAF in late 1985 and early 1986, and had a relatively short service life. Except for six TA-4PTMs retained for aerial tanker duty, the Malaysian Skyhawks were all retired by late 1994.

TRIVIA

· The Skyhawks were purchased as part of the Armed Forces "Perista" development programme, to provide the RMAF with strength in numbers.

· Maintenance and spares problems soon plagued the aircraft with a few falling off the sky.

Sources: http://www.skyhawk.org/2c/productionhistory.htm

http://www.malaysian-museums.org/rmaf/exhibits/aircraft/skyhawk.htm

p/s: thanks Otai, your article had inspired me to write this simple article. walah