McDonnell Douglas A-4N Skyhawk

Model Construction Time: April 2004 - December 2005.

This is my first attempt at model airplane building since I was 10 years old, when I built a snap-together Messerschmitt Me-262. It is the first time I’ve constructed a model using glue and the first time I’ve ever painted a model that I’ve built.

The A-4 came into service for the US Navy in 1956, coming on the heels of the Korean War. The “A” designates it as an attack aircraft and it was used extensively by the US for close-air support during the Vietnam War. It finally ceased production in February 1979. Today it is a Navy/Marine flight trainer and it is in service in the air forces of Argentina, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore. (Source: The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, ed. David Donald, Barnes & Noble Publishing)

This particular model came with options of Israeli Air Force (IAF) or Brazilian navy paint schemes. Although the Brazilian paint scheme was vastly simpler, I chose the Israeli motif because of my love for Israel, both the land and the people, as the country and earthly heritage of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. From the photos shown, you can see that I have chosen the insignia of the IAF 109th Squadron, the Valley Squadron. The pictures show a diarama of an air strip with the background being set in the Golan Heights. Below are some specifications of the A-4N Skyhawk (taken from The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft), as well as some stats and background on the 109th Valley Squadron, found on www.aeroflight.co.uk.

Specifications
Type: Single seat attack bomber
Powerplant: One Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408A turbojet, 11,200 lb thrust
Max Speed: 670 mph at sea level
Range: 340 miles with 4000 lb payload
Length: 40.3 ft
Span: 27.5 ft
Height: 15 ft
Weight: 10,465 lbs empty
Armament: Two 20-mm cannons, plus 9,155 pounds of weaponry on 5 external hardpoints

IAF 109th Valley Squadron

The 109th Squadron, known as “Ha’Emek” or the Valley Squadron, was formed in 1951 and was the IAF’s first dedicated attack squadron. It first consisted of the Mosquito FB.6. Later, the squadron acquired Mystere IVA’s, which saw action in the 1967 Six-Day War against both Egypt and Syria. The 109 became the first IAF unit to fly the A-4 Skyhawk in regular operations. The A-4’s saw action in various limited sorties and in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The unit eventually converted to Israeli-made Kfir C-1’s and C-2’s. The insignias of the unit are shown below (from www.iafe.net). The red insignia came into use during the A-4 era and is the one I used for this model. This particular A-4 was in service from 1973 to 1977.

Today the 109 flies the F-16C, known in Israel as the Barak (Lightning). The unit was formed in Ekron, but it has been at the Ramat David Air Base, located southeast of Haifa and southwest of Nazareth, since 1956. Ramat David, which is Hebrew for “High Place of David” or “Mountain of David”, is located squarely in the center of Har Megiddo, or the valley of Megiddo (also known as the Jezreel Valley). This is the future site of the great battle or war spoken of in the Bible just prior to our Lord’s return known as Armageddon. It is also the place where Lord Jesus will judge the nations. It is very likely that the 109th Valley Squadron will have a significant role to play in this “War to End All Wars”.