Hobby Master HA1411 1:72 A-4M Skyhawk VMA-214 "Blacksheep"

Hobby Master HA1411 1:72 A-4M Skyhawk VMA-214 "Blacksheep"

The McDonnell Douglas A-4M was designed specifically for the Marine requirements and was chosen over the Ling-Temco Vought A-7. The new A-4M engine was an updated version of the J52 that was rated at 11,200 lb.s.t. This was a huge 20 percent increase in power with only a 1 percent increase in the engines weight. Douglas also added smokeless burner cans to reduce the amount of visible exhaust and all this was done without increasing fuel consumption. A new electrical power generator provided 60 percent more energy so a self-contained engine starter was added. The pilot was given a larger canopy that was three inches wider and greatly increased his all round view. A drag chute was provided to help with landing on short airstrips. A new re-fueling probe that was canted out was added so it wouldn’t interfere with the target-acquisition system. A new IFF antenna was needed so the A-4M tail was squared off. The new M model first flew on April 10, 1970 and the last A-4 was accepted on February 27 1979. After 27 years of producing the Skyhawk this made it the longest production run of any U.S. tactical aircraft up to that date. The total production of the A-4M variant was 160 aircraft.

In 1942 the 214 Marine Fighter Squadron was commissioned at Ewa Airfield on Oahu,
Hawaii. It started out full of misfits under the command of legendary Major Gregory
“Pappy” Boyington who had just finished flying with the AVG Flying Tigers. Considering
the demeanor of the crew the name “Blacksheep” seemed very appropriate so the 214
decided to use it as the name for the new group. The bar sinister black shield of
illegitimacy with a black sheep, a Corsair and a circle of stars their status and the manner in which they were established. Pappy shaped his men into one of the most deadly fighter team of the Pacific in WWII. The 214 was decommissioned for a short time after WWII but was re-commissioned in 1948. The squadron fought in Korea where they played a major part during the landings at Inchon. They also showed the same excellence as the original team while in combat in Vietnam. The squadron flew 3971 combat sorties and 5274 combat flight hours in the first eight months of their tour of duty in Vietnam. For the next several years the 214 were relocated several times and flew several different aircraft types. From 1971 to 1979 the 214 were stationed at 4 different locations, one being Iwakuni Japan. The aircraft they flew during these years was the McDonnell Douglas A-4M Skyhawk. It wasn’t until June 1989 that the Blacksheep retired the A-4M for the new AV-8 Night Attack Harrier.