{"product_id":"a-4-skyhawk-pilots-flight-operating-united-states-air-force-9781935327752","title":"A-4 Skyhawk Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions","description":"Designed by Douglas Aircraft Co.'s brilliant engineer Ed Heinemann, the turbojet powered, delta-wing A-4 Skyhawk played a key role in conflicts from Vietnam to the Falklands and Yom Kippur Wars. The Skyhawk was intended to replace the venerable Skyraider as a carrier-based, ground attack aircraft, yet Heinemann's design looked nothing like its predecessor. Its small, lightweight airframe was so compact that its wings did not even have to be folded for carrier stowage, and it surpassed the Navy's design specification for weight by nearly 100%. No wonder the nimble jet was dubbed \"Heinemann's Hot Rod\". The A-4 entered service in 1956, and first saw combat during the early days of the Vietnam War where it flew as a light attack aircraft. Its service in S.E. Asia was prolific, as it flew literally thousands of strike and escort missions and even scored an air-to-air victory over a North Vietnamese MiG. A Marine A-4 is believed to be the last American aircraft to drop bombs on Vietnam. During the conflict 362 Skyhawks were lost. The Navy retired the Skyhawk in 1975, although it continued flying as a trainer and adversary aircraft as late as 2003. Nearly 3,000 Skyhawks were built before production ceased in 1979, including a two- seat trainer model TA-4. The Skyhawk was widely exported and saw combat with the air forces of Kuwait, Israel and Argentina. This pilot's manual was originally classified \"restricted\" but has now been declassified and is here reprinted in book form\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e United States Air Force\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1935327755\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781935327752\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Periscope Film LLC\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/15\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 318\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.39lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.00h x 8.00w x 0.67d","brand":"United States Air Force","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43983839527167,"sku":"9781935327752","price":35.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_a4ecef24-aabf-4d45-a721-db4233fdacd3.jpg?v=1683269021","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/a-4-skyhawk-pilots-flight-operating-united-states-air-force-9781935327752","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}