“The Blue Angels acrobatics team also flew used the agile aircraft from 1974 to 1986, replacing much faster but clumsier F-4 Phantoms.”
I don’t think this is quite right. I remember seeing the Blues flying Phantoms is Cubi Point in the early ‘70s.
Stationed at NAS Albany GA in the early ‘70s...primarily A-5 Vigilantes, a couple of Hueys, one COD, an A-4, even some B-52s on the far side that hardly ever did anything and eventually left. The A-4 was somebody’s toy...base or airwing commander...can’t remember. I do remember many of the Vigilantes didn’t come back from Viet Nam.
Awesome article and comments. Though, with no malice implied, it reminds me of my favorite aircraft joke:
(I know the subject of the article is A-4s...regardless...)
“How many former A-6 pilots does it take to change a light bulb? “
“Three. One to change the light bulb and two to talk about how great the ol’ light bulb was.”
If Øbama tried that, he'd stall the aircraft!
“should inspire renewed respect for the combat pilots of aircraft like the Skyhawk, who routinely undertook dangerous missions and suffered heavy losses that today would be deemed unacceptable”
I have all the respect in the world for Vietnam attack pilots, and nothing but scorn and damnation for the politicians who wouldn’t let our military win.