A-4 Skyhawk
Douglas’ Famous Scooter

by Chris Banyai-Riepl

WARchive Photo Series, Vol. 2

Reviewed by John Miller

Chris Banyai-Riepl is no stranger to producing quality texts on aviation subjects. He’s previously published books on the North American F-86D/L Sabre Dog and the U.S. Navy Centennial (1911-2011)(links below). Chris’ most recent effort, the WARchive Series, is based on large collection of aviation images taken by his father, Will A. Riepl. Clearly, the senior Riepl had an eye for photography and fortunately, his son does as well. Volume 1 of the WARchive series focuses on the history of Naval Air Station Seattle. In Volume 2, the A-4 Skyhawk is the subject.

The book is crammed with quality photos of the A-4 from the initial A series to the final AO-4M.  If you’re a fan of the Douglas “Scooter,” this book should be on your shelf.

Books:

1) A-4 Skyhawk: Douglas’ Famous Scooter

2) Naval Air Station Seattle: Lake Washington’s Air Base

3) U.S. Navy Centennial (1911-2011)

4) North American F-86D/L Sabre Dog

 
Background:

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seat subsonic carrier-capable, light-attack aircraft designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer, Douglas Aircraft Company. The aircraft was later built by McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated A4D under the United States Navy’s pre-1962 designation system.

The Skyhawk was developed during the early 1950s on behalf of the Navy and United States Marine Corp. as a replacement for the propeller-driven Douglas A-1 Skyraider.

The A-4 is a compact, straightforward, and lightweight aircraft for the era. Its maximum takeoff weight of 24,500 pounds (11,100 kg) was roughly half of the Navy's weight specification. The Skyhawk has a short-span, delta-wing configuration, a tricycle undercarrriage and is powered by a single turbojet engine. The U.S. Navy issued a contract for the aircraft on June, 12th 1952. On June, 22nd 1954, the XA4D-1 prototype performed its maiden flight and went on to set a world speed record of 695.163 mph on October, 15th 1955. On October 1st, 1956, the Skyhawk was introduced to operational service.

The Navy operated the type as its principal light attack aircraft during the Vietnam War, carrying out some of the first U.S. air strikes of the conflict. The Skyhawk was the main ground attack aircraft of the Israeli Air Force during the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War.

In the Falklands War, Argentinian Air Force Skyhawks sunk two Royal Navy vessels. Indonesian Air Force Skyhawks were used for counterinsurgency strikes in East Timor and Kuwaiti Air Force Skyhawks saw action during Operation Desert Storm. By 2022, a number of Skyhawks remained in service with the Argentinian Air Force and Brazilian Naval Aviation.

Text edited from Wikipedia.

This book is filled with quality, never-before-seen pics of the A-4 in various liveries. If you’re looking for inspiration, there are multiple pics of A-4’s in colorful schemes, including a couple of “aggressor” schemes that have me thinking about that Magic Factory 1/48 A-4M in the my stash……

The book comprises six Chapters as detailed below.

1) Origins

(A brief developmental history of the A-4 is provided along with good pics of early models.)

2) Early Hawks

(The A-4A, B, C and L are covered.)

3) The A-4E and F “Workhorse Skyhawks”

(The hump-backed Scooter is covered with multiple nice schemes featured) 

4) The Two-Seaters

(The familiar red/white training scheme as well as the very attractive Red Hawk livery of VMAT-102 are covered)

5) The A-4M and OA-4M

(The last versions of the Scooter is the focus with multiple good detail shots)

6) Fancy Hawks

(Pretty Scooters in Blue Angel and Bicentennial colors are covered)

 

 

This is a nice addition to the WARchive Series. In addition to covering many schemes worn by the Skyhawk, the book contains multiple pics that capture the appearance of a working A-4, complete with stains and wear. If you’re a Douglas Scooter fan, you’ll like this book.

Keep ‘em coming, Chris!

John

For more on this review visit ModelPaintSolutions.com.

Text and images copyright ©2025 by John Miller/Model Paint Solutions.

Text by and Images by John Miller / Model Paint Solutionr
Page Created 15 August, 2025
Last updated 15 August, 2025

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