{"product_id":"hobby-master-1-72-a-4m-ha1411","title":"Hobby Master HA1411 1:72 A-4M Skyhawk VMA-214 \"Blacksheep\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Hobby Master HA1411 1:72 A-4M Skyhawk VMA-214 \"Blacksheep\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe McDonnell Douglas A-4M was \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003edesigned specifically for the Marine requirements and was chosen over the Ling-Temco \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVought A-7. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe new A-4M engine was an updated version of the J52 that was rated at 11,200 lb.s.t. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis was a huge 20 percent increase in power with only a 1 percent increase in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eengines weight. Douglas also added smokeless burner cans to reduce the amount of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003evisible exhaust and all this was done without increasing fuel consumption. A new \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eelectrical power generator provided 60 percent more energy so a self-contained engine \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003estarter was added. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pilot was given a larger canopy that was three inches wider and greatly increased \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehis all round view. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA drag chute was provided to help with landing on short airstrips. A new re-fueling probe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethat was canted out was added so it wouldn’t interfere with the target-acquisition system. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA new IFF antenna was needed so the A-4M tail was squared off. The new M model first \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eflew on April 10, 1970 and the last A-4 was accepted on February 27 1979. After 27 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eyears of producing the Skyhawk this made it the longest production run of any U.S. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003etactical aircraft up to that date. The total production of the A-4M variant was 160 aircraft.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1942 the 214 Marine Fighter Squadron was commissioned at Ewa Airfield on Oahu,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHawaii. It started out full of misfits under the command of legendary Major Gregory\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Pappy” Boyington who had just finished flying with the AVG Flying Tigers. Considering\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe demeanor of the crew the name “Blacksheep” seemed very appropriate so the 214\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003edecided to use it as the name for the new group. The bar sinister black shield of\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eillegitimacy with a black sheep, a Corsair and a circle of stars their status and the manner \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ein which they were established. Pappy shaped his men into one of the most deadly \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003efighter team of the Pacific in WWII. The 214 was decommissioned for a short time after \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWWII but was re-commissioned in 1948. The squadron fought in Korea where they \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eplayed a major part during the landings at Inchon. They also showed the same \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eexcellence as the original team while in combat in Vietnam. The squadron flew 3971 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecombat sorties and 5274 combat flight hours in the first eight months of their tour of duty \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ein Vietnam. For the next several years the 214 were relocated several times and flew \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eseveral different aircraft types. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom 1971 to 1979 the 214 were stationed at 4 different locations, one being Iwakuni \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapan. The aircraft they flew during these years was the McDonnell Douglas A-4M \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSkyhawk. It wasn’t until June 1989 that the Blacksheep retired the A-4M for the new AV-8 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNight Attack Harrier.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hobby Master","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43319007248611,"sku":"12147","price":199.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0632\/5000\/6243\/products\/hobby-master-ha1411-172-a-4m-skyhawk-vma-214-blacksheep-263135.jpg?v=1738274064","url":"https:\/\/www.mtsaviationmodels.com\/de\/products\/hobby-master-1-72-a-4m-ha1411","provider":"MTS Aviation Models","version":"1.0","type":"link"}