Darren Roberts Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 I'm working on an OA-4M, and it occurred to me that I've never seen a picture of either the A-4M or the OA-4M out on the carrier. Did either of these ever make it out to the boat? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stefan buysse Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Hi, Darren. I do not think that it was a usual occurance. When I read your question, one image sprang up in my mind. In the movie "The right stuff", one of the candidate astronauts gets taken away from his usual job of flying naval aircraft. It's pretty much set up as a comedic scene, with one of the NASA/USAF guys who come to invite him getting seasick and the naval aviator just grinning at that. The Skyhawk he gets out off was an A-4M, 160245 of VX-5. The picture is in the "Navy Attack: Spads, Scooters and Whales" book by René Francillion and Peter Lewis. The caption says it was on the USS Coral Sea. I have no idea if VX-5 was doing some carrier flying or if it was brought aboard specifically for the movie. Cheers, Stefan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sabre Freak Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Great question. Never seen a photo of a USMC OA-4M or A-4M on a boat or come across well, anything for that matter, that indicated they kept up their Car Quals. Obviously that doesn't mean it didn't happen, just that I've never seen any evidence. Brazil, different story: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiD-q2j2-zmAhUaZc0KHVvzDJIQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com%2Ftheres-a-magical-place-where-a-4-skyhawks-still-fly-off-1594183306&psig=AOvVaw2liw6MzBEhHMNKp1lUNeH8&ust=1578322395447713 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
picknpluck Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 I've seen pics somewhere of VMA-214 doing CQ in their Ms. I think it was Coral Sea. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Stefan buysse said: Hi, Darren. I do not think that it was a usual occurance. When I read your question, one image sprang up in my mind. In the movie "The right stuff", one of the candidate astronauts gets taken away from his usual job of flying naval aircraft. It's pretty much set up as a comedic scene, with one of the NASA/USAF guys who come to invite him getting seasick and the naval aviator just grinning at that. The Skyhawk he gets out off was an A-4M, 160245 of VX-5. The picture is in the "Navy Attack: Spads, Scooters and Whales" book by René Francillion and Peter Lewis. The caption says it was on the USS Coral Sea. I have no idea if VX-5 was doing some carrier flying or if it was brought aboard specifically for the movie. Cheers, Stefan. That's one of my favorite scenes from The Right Stuff. The Right Stuff - Recruiting Alan Shepard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj06C0GzgHs Alan Shepard ( Scott Glenn): Sounds dangerous Jeff Goldblum and Harry Shearer : Very Dangerous! Alan Shepard (Scott Glenn) : Count me in. So cool! You are right that it was an A-4M and I have seen that picture from the book that you are referring to. Edited January 5, 2020 by JackMan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 OA-4M never made it to the boat from what I've read. The A-4M may have done CQ as indicated, but no units flew from any carriers as assignment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
okthree Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 I flew with a pilot who was a former USMC A-4 driver in M models. Other CQ in training he never went to the boat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I know all three of the then El Toro based A-4M squadrons(VMA-211, -214 & -311) would do CQ from time to time in the 80s. -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 According to the Flight Manual on the OA-4M here: http://aviationarchives.blogspot.ca/2016/10/douglas-oa-4m-skyhawk-flight-manual.html on pg 1-29 says the OA-4M is not approved for carrier operations. Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
picknpluck Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 Steve Terry pic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted January 8, 2020 Author Share Posted January 8, 2020 40 minutes ago, picknpluck said: Steve Terry pic NOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 Hmm. I learned something new today. Thanks guys! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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