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
