The Skyhawk Years: The A-4 Skyhawk in Australian Service 1968 1984 [Hardcover]

...an outstanding review of the Royal Australian Air Forces experience with the Skyhawk.  National Maritime Historical SocietyThe magnificent Douglas A-4 Skyhawk served with the Royal Australian Navy from 1968 until 1984 with two squadrons: VF805 and VC724. VF805 was the front-line fighter unit that served aboard the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, while VC724 was shore-based at Naval Air Station Nowra for training and support.During that period, the aircraft on the Melbourne gave the RAN a unique capability that was central to Australian defense policy. The Skyhawk Years is a story of busy and varied deployments around Australia, Southeast Asia and regularly to the multi-national Rimpac exercises in Hawaii. A particular highlight was a long cruise to the UK in 1977 and participation in the Spithead Naval Review, part of the celebrations for Her Majestys Silver Jubilee.With first-hand stories from pilots and maintainers, the challenges of operations from the worlds smallest aircraft carrier are well explained. Also told are thrilling stories of air combat maneuvers against fighters from other countries, with the A-4 often surprising more well-credentialled adversaries.A string of mishaps ended the embarkation of Skyhawks on the Melbourne in 1980, with a sad period following which saw the ultimate scrapping of RAN fixed-wing aviation four years later. However, among the former pilots and maintainers many fond memories of A-4 operations remain alive. ...an outstanding review of the Royal Australian Air Forces experience with the Skyhawk. ...the many color photos also add to the books value, letting us see our familiar Skyhawks in different colors... ...this is much more than just a unit history; it captures the role of an outstanding aircraft... It is a book that deserves to have a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the RAN and its Fleet Air Arm and it certainly has a valued place on mine. I recommended it highly. AU