Information

Our North American T-28B has been beautifully returned to its original Training Command yellow with green markings denoting it as an instrument trainer. Some of these were fitted with gun pods for aerial gunnery training. The T-28C model is the same except it has a tail hook for carrier training.

As used as the Basic Training Command aircraft, the flight syllabus consisted of: Transition, Precision, Aerobatics (TPA), Basic and Radio Instruments, Formation, Cross Country, Night, Gunnery and Carrier Qualification, totaling about 125 hours. Navy, Marine and Coast Guard student aviators flew these aircraft for more than twenty years. Bu.No. 529263

Uses other than student training were: Towing targets for fleet gunnery, instrument proficiency training for single pilot aircraft squadrons and finally for desk bound aviators when four hours per month were required for flight pay.
Over 2200 were built in all models and flew in the respective liveries of twenty-one Nations. More than three hundred are still civilian registered, with half of that amount still flying.

Compiled by Dwight Lubich, T-28 Pilot

Information

The TA-4J “Skyhawk” is a two-seat, lightweight, high-performance aircraft with a modified delta wing. It was manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company of Long Beach, CA, and was designed as a training aircraft capable of operating from a carrier or shore base. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney J52 P6B and can carry a variety of external stores. The TA-4J flew for the first time on December 17, 1968. It entered service with VT-21 in mid 1969.

The primary role of the TA-4J was to train carrier pilots. A total of 226 TA-4Js were built. Many TA-4F airframes were converted to TA-4J configuration by removal of their offensive weapons systems. Several TA-4Js were used in support roles, including that of adversary aircraft. Dubbed the “Scooter” by its Navy and Marine pilots due to its legendary maneuverability and outstanding roll rate, the A-4 also became known as “Heinemann’s Hot Rod” in tribute to its designer.

Fleet Composite Squadron EIGHT (VC-8) was commissioned as Guided Missile Squadron TWO at NAS Chincoteague, Virginia, in July 1958. In January 1959, the squadron was transferred to US Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. The squadron was re-designated Utility Squadron EIGHT in 1960 and received it’s present designation in 1965.

The TA-4J Skyhawk missions include adversary air combat, towing banner targets, launching AQM and BQM drones, electronic warfare, missile profiles, raids, close air support, dissimilar air combat training, air intercept control, and radar calibration. In 1997, VC-8 obtained Level II Adversary Qualification, becoming the US Navy’s only Active Duty Adversary squadron. The squadron has been awarded the Battle “E” for Operational readiness (seven awards), the Meritorious Unit Commendation (three awards), the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards), and the Humanitarian Award (two awards). Most recently the command was named by the CNO as the overall Search and Rescue Award winner.

The VC-8 TA-4Js were retired from active service in May 2003. The active duty life of the venerable Skyhawk in U.S. Navy fleet service began in late September 1956 and spanned more than 47 years.

This aircraft was one of the last active Skyhawks in service. Her last flight was April 8th, 2003, flying from NAS Roosevelt Roads, VC-8, Puerto Rico, to Alaska Airlines maintenance facility, Oakland, CA and was subsequently towed to the USS Hornet Museum.

Specifications

Length: 42’ 7”

Wing Span: 27’ 6”

Height: 14’ 11”

Empty Weight: 10,602 lbs

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 24,500 lbs

Maximum Level Speed: 675 mph

Engine: Pratt & Whitney J52-P6A – 8,500 lbs thrust

Maximum External Load: 6,200 lbs
This aircraft is currently on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation.

Thank You

The USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum would like to thank the following who helped make this aircraft display possible:

• United States Navy, Fleet Composite Squadron EIGHT (VC-8),
• Bay Area Tailhook Ready Room, A-4 Skyhawk Association,
• Alaska Airlines Oakland, Oakland International Airport,
• Port of Oakland, Operating Engineers, Local 3,
• Alameda County Sheriff, Alameda Police Dept., Holiday Inn.

Achievements

On 1 May 2003, US President George W. Bush rode in the co-pilot seat of a Viking S-3B that landed on USS Abraham Lincoln, where he delivered his “Mission Accomplished” speech announcing the end of major combat in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Bu.No. 160599

Active Duty Life: 1975-2009

Design Features

Long range (3,182 mi) & endurance provided by efficient GE TF-34 high-bypass turbofan engines.

Replaced piston engine S-2 Tracker in anti-submarine & sea surface search roles.

Read More

• “Lockheed S-3B Viking” by Willy Peeters, Lock On No. 23 Verlinden Publications

Adopted by:

• William Bennett
• Marvin Asato
• Allen Bettendorf
• Tanisha S McMahan
• Mathias G Lallas

History

The F-14A is the latest in a long tradition of Grumman fighters built for the U.S. Navy. It is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-place strike fighter. The Tomcat’s primary missions are air superiority, fleet air defense and precision strike against ground targets. With its twin, afterburning turbofan engines producing over 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F-14 can attain speeds greater than Mach 2.

In February 1969, the Navy selected Grumman to design this successor to the F-4 Phantom. From 1969 through 1992, a total of 710 were built: 637 for the U.S. Navy and 79 for Iran.
F-14’s were retired from the U.S. Navy’s active fleet on 22 September 2006.

Active Duty Life

The F-14 on display (BuNo 162689) was built in 1986 and served with several squadrons: VF-14, VF-41 and VF-101. During Desert Storm, as a part of VF-41, it lead the first strike against Iraq from the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). In April 2002, 162689 was retired and delivered to the USS Hornet Museum from VF-101.

Specifications

Span (swept): 38 ft 2 in

Span (unswept): 64 ft 2 in

Length: 61 ft 11 in

Height: 16 ft 0 in

Weight (empty): 38,000 lb

Weight (Loaded): 72,000 lb

Max Fuel (internal): 16,200 lb

Armament

• (6) AIM-54 Phoenix missiles
• (6) AIM-7 Sparrow missiles
• (4) AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles
• (1) M61-A1 Vulcan 20 mm cannon

Various combinations of bombs

Propulsion: Pratt & Whitney TF 30-P-412

Maximum thrust: 14,560 lb; 25,100 lb with afterburning

Crew: 2-pilot and radar intercept officer (RIO)

Cost: $38,000,000

Bureau Number: 162689

Performance
Maximum speed**: Mach 2+

Cruising speed: 400-550 kt

Approach speed: 120 kt

Min field T.O. distance: 1,000 ft

Min field landing distance: 2,000 ft

Range: 1,600 nm

Service Ceiling: 50,000+ ft
**(Mach one = approx. 761 mph @ sea level)