CARRIER-BORNE STRIKE AIRCRAFT

Development and career

Commissioned in 1956 within the U.S. Navy, the Mc Donnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, a small single-winged carrier borne aircraft, made its first flight on June 24th 1954. The plane took part in many conflicts with success : in Vietnam with U.S. Navy and U.S.M.C., in the Middle East with Israel and in the Falklands with Argentina.
A new version of the aircraft, called A-4M Skyhawk II, is equipped with a ASB-19 Hughes bombing system, an ALR-45 radar, an ALR-50 radar warmer, an ALE-39 countermeasures system and a Marconi Head-Up Display.
Nowadays, it is no longer in service in the United States, but many countries still use it ; particularly the Brazilian Naval Aviation from CV Sao Paulo (former French Navy Foch).


The Skyhawk and French Naval Aviation

A foreseen aircraft for the Aéronautique Navale : the A-4T Skyhawk
By the late 60's, while French Carrier-Borne Aviation was mainly equipped with Vought F-8E Crusader fighters, Dassault Étendard IVM/P strike/ reconnaissance aircraft and Breguet Br.1050 Alizé ASW aircraft, the Navy Headquarters was already planning successors for those planes in order to maintain the excellence of French Aéronavale. France and Great Britain were at that time fully committed in the Jaguar's program, a strike aircraft dedicated to Royal Air Force and French Air Force squadrons ; therefore the French Navy Headquarters saw in this plane, a good replacer for its Étendard IVM/Ps which had been commissioned since 1962.
But after the bad performances of Jaguar prototype M05 during the various test campaigns at the Royal Aircraft Establishment of Bedford and on CV Clemenceau, the French Navy, was much more interested by american-built aircraft such as the Mc Donnell-Douglas A-4M Skyhawk II and LTV A-7E Corsair II.
Indeed, the Service Central de l'Aéronautique (Aeronautical Central Command) evaluated the Mc Donnell-Douglas A-4M Skyhawk II. The A-4M Skyhawk II BuAer from U.S.M.C.'s VMA-214 "Black Sheep" based at MCAS El Toro was sent to perform that duty. This reliable fighter had the support from the French Aéronavale Authorities who had been traditionnally inclined to prefer U.S. made aircraft for years. Morevoer, the effective and successful F-8E (French Navy) Crusader program a few years ago and the excellent availibility of that aircraft in service within two squadrons (12.F & 14.F) of the French Navy, fully justified their preferences.
The aircraft was tested on the CV Foch's deck (R99) in September 1972 off Toulon. The hundred A-4Ts planned to be delivered to equip attack squadrons were never built because of the preference for a 100 % French project : the Super-Étendard.
Even the two stickers stuck on the noze and the dorsal spin of the Skyhawk, respectively belonging to 12.F and 14.F squadrons did not manage to seduce French authorities !!!
Indeed, the Skyhawk was eliminated from the competition just as the LTV A-7E Corsair II whose construction under licence was considered with the S.N.I.A.S.
The idea of a French airframe powered by a U.S. Pratt & Whitney J52 of 5 t of thrust (because of its qualitative and financial aspects) was also considered. It is interesting to note that LV Robert Feuilloy (future 11.F squadron boss between May 23rd 1980 and May 11th 1982) was in exchange during a year in the 70's within VA-46 "Clansmen" (CV USS John F. Kennedy), a U.S. Navy attack squadron equipped with A-7B Corsair IIs.

Irony : U.S.N. Skyhawks providing training to French Navy "Nuggets"
Since the retirement of the CM.175 Zéphyr in December 1994, young French Navy pilots - "nuggets" in U.S.N.'s jargon have passed their carrier qualification in the United States. Having their initial training either at Salon-de-Provence or Cognac, the lucky chosen ones - eighteen in the beginning of the U.S. training program but only a dozen nowadays depending on the needs of squadrons - start their U.S. stay by spending three months in Defence Language Institute, San Antonio - Texas to improve their English in particular the specific aeronautical & radio communication vocabulary. Then, after passing the required medical tests, they go to N.A.S. Pensacola and undergo underwater emergency evacuation exercice. Having successfuly done all the bureaucratic requirements, the future French Navy embarked pilots reach the Training One based at N.A.S. Meridian in Mississippi. They fly first of all VT-19's T-2C Buckeye, then VT-7's TA-4J. The French follow the same training as their American colleagues. Three weeks after their CarQual (Carrier Qualification), they receive their "wings" just before coming back to France.

Rank	First Name - Second Name	Date	Aircraft Carrier	Remarks
Lieutenant Junior Grade	François-Xavier DE BENGY	January 28, 1997	USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)	He is a 1991 graduate of the French Naval Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.
Ensign	Xavier CALAIS	January 28, 1997	USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)	He is a 1993 graduate of the University of Toulon where he received a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering. He received two Navy "E's" for bombing accuracy.
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Pascal Emile CASSAN	January 28, 1997	USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)	He is a 1994 graduate of the French Naval Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering.
Ensign	Guillaume JACOB	January 29, 1997	USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)	He is a 1993 graduate of Pierre & Marie Curie University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Physics.
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Bruno J. A. MANARANCHE	January 29, 1997	USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)	He is a 1993 graduate of Saint Etienne College where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business.
Ensign	Lionel Jean BONHOMME	June 17, 1998	USS Enterprise (CVN 65)	He is a 1993 graduate of the Technical University of Aix en Provence where he received a Technical degree in Astrophysics. During Advanced Strike Training he earned one Navy "E" for bombing accuracy and one Navy "E" for strafing accuracy.
Ensign	Marc DESCARPENTRIES	June 17, 1998	USS Enterprise (CVN 65)	He is a 1994 graduate of Lyon University where he received a Bachelors degree in Mathematics. During Advanced Strike Training he received two Navy "E's" for bombing accuracy.
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Jean JUDDE DE LA RIVIERE	December 8,1998	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1995 graduate of the French Naval Academy where he received a degree in Science. During Advanced Strike Training he earned one Navy "E" for bombing accuracy.
Lieutenant	Arnaut LACOTE	December 8,1998	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1994 graduate of the French Naval Academy where he received a degree in Science. During Advanced Strike Training he earned two Navy "E's" for bombing accuracy.
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Bertrand LEPOUTRE	December 8,1998	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1995 graduate of the French Naval Academy where he received a degree in Engineering. During Advanced Strike Training he earned two Navy "E" for bombing accuracy.
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Nicolas BERGAMOTTO	December 9,1998	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1995 graduate of the French Naval Academy where he received a degree in Science.
Lieutenant	Jacques MALLARD	December 9, 1998	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1993 graduate of the French Naval Academy where he received a degree in Science. He was named to the Commodore's List during Intermediate Flight Training and earned one Navy "E" for bombing accuracy during Advanced Strike Training.
Ensign	Grégoire TARDIVEAU	December 9, 1998	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1993 graduate of Paris VI University where he received a degree in Physics. During Advanced Strike Training he received three Navy "E's" for bombing accuracy.
Ensign	Grégory CELLIER	March 9, 1999	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1994 graduate of Reunion University where he received a Bachelor degree in Mathematics and Physics. During Advanced Strike Training he earned one Navy "E" for bombing accuracy. He was designated "Best at the Boat" for that CQ evolution.
Ensign	François CHARRY	March 9,1999	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1994 graduate of Les Chartreux University where he received a degree in Economics. During Advanced Strike Training he earned one Navy "E" for bombing accuracy.
Ensign	Philippe GADET	March 9,1999	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1993 graduate of the University of Montpellier where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics.
Ensign	Yann TEXIER	March 9,1999	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1994 graduate of the University of Tahiti where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Ensign	Aymeric DE VALENCE	March 9,1999	USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)	He is a 1995 graduate of the University of Roanne where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. During Advanced Strike Training he earned one Navy "E" for bombing accuracy and one Navy "E" for strafing accuracy.
Ensign	Cédric JACQUEMIN	May 18, 1999	USS George Washington (CVN-73)	He is a 1993 graduate of Montpellier University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. During Advanced Strike Training he earned one Navy "E" for bombing accuracy. Received co - "Best at the Boat" honors during that CQ evolution.
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Stanislas Marie DELATTE	August 11, 1999	USS George Washington (CVN-73)	Lieutenant Delatte is a 1995 graduate of the French Naval Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerodynamics. Delatte earned a Navy "E" for bombing accuracy during Advanced Strike Training.
Lieutenant Junior Grade	Charles GODARD	August 10, 1999	USS George Washington (CVN-73)	Godard is a 1995 graduate of the French Naval Academy where he received a Engineering degree. Lieutenant Godard earned a Navy "E" for bombing accuracy during Advanced Strike Training.

2003 : a French Naval Aviation manned target
Since late 2003, AVDEF company has used along its Falcon 20 target tower aircraft, an A-4N Skyhawk as a manned target for French Naval Aviation carrier-borne fighters. This aircraft is a former one from the Israeli Air Force, known as BuAer 159536. It was part of the last batch of the 117 examples delivered to the Hebrew state. Retired in 2001, it was bought by Advanced Training System International, a US company based at Mesa, Arizona which registered it as N269WL. Now it is registered as F-ZVMD and rented to AVDEF based at Nîmes-Garons.

CHARACTERISTICS	(US)	(FR)
LENGTH	40 ft 3 in	12. 8 m
WINGSPAN	26 ft 6 in	9. 92 m
HEIGHT	15 ft	4. 57 m
WEIGHT	10 465 lb (min)/ 24 500 lb (max)	4 746 kg (min)/ 11 111 kg (max)
MAX SPEED	670 mph	1 078 km/h
MAX RANGE	2 000 miles	3 218 km
POWER	11 200 lb	5 080 kg

sources - acknowledgements:
Air FAN N°226
Cols Bleus N°2375
Jean-Pierre Dubois
"Avion Marins" Luc Berger - Dassault Aviation - 1998.
"Dassault Etendard IV & Super-Etendard" Alain Crosnier & Jean-Michel Guhl - SupAir publications - 1984.