Israeli A-4E Ayit any one know much about them?

[SaintsPhil]

Evening BMers,

Does anyone know much about the IDF scooters? Namely the E's the bought to replace lost aircraft? I fancy building on from the Hasegawa kit for the GB. I don't fancy trying to get hold of the CE conversion set, which I think is designed for the M (larger canopy?).

I've seen renders of E's with no hump, and some with, which I assume is the same hump as the N/H. This is I believe slightly different to the US style hump. I quite like the idea of a humpless E with an extended tail pipe but I'm not sure this is a real combo.

Any experts out there or better still pictures of the real thing??

Thanks

Phil

[Sundown]

Hi Phil,

The US government sold 60 surplus F-4E's to IAF in 1969, they were operated by the "Knights of the North" and "Flying Wing" squadrons. Most had the hump but some didn't, they were repainted in Israeli standard scheme using green FS 34227 which was different to the green FS 34258 used on the newer H and N models. The E's had serials beginning with a 2 and in 1973 were changed to have serials beginning with 8.

After losing a number of aircraft to heat seeking missiles during the Yom-Kippur war the tail pipes were extended. The "Golden Wing" squadron was formed with aircraft from the above squadrons and included aircraft with and without the hump. A-4E 874 had no hump, featured the extended exhaust, brake-chute and curved refuelling probe but wasn't fitted with the 30mm Defa guns.

Hope this helps,

Sean

[SaintsPhil]

Sean that's exactly the info I was after thanks very much! Now I can start looking for pictures of a specific airframe which makes life 10x easier!

[Tom Cooper]

Ahem... (regarding 'surplus')...

A-4Es were delivered as 'reward' for Israel accepting a cease-fire that ended the 'War of Attrition' against Egypt, in August 1970 - instead of provoking Soviets even more.

Now, it's truth that all the A-4Es in question have previously served with the USN, but that with 'surplus' is a matter of standpoint. The fact was that they were withdrawn from service because of being replaced by A-7 Corsairs. Prior to their delivery to Israel, all were overhauled and upgraded to 'Rugby D' standard, and they arrived not only wired for AIM-9 Sidewinders (unusual for USN), but together with plentifull supply of AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-62 Walleye PGMs.

From modell-builder's point of view, this all means: no need for humps or anything else. Just check your IDF/AF A-4E to have proper RWR aerial and parachute housing below the exhaust pipe.

Starting in August 1971, the IDF/AF initiated a programme to upgrade all of its A-4E/Hs to A-4N standard (sometimes called 'Skyhawk II', but foremost known as 'Crystal' standard in the IDF/AF). This primarily saw the introduction of the hump (necessary for additional avionics), HUD and DEFA cannons calibre 30mm in place of Colts calibre 20mm. Some say that larger intakes (necessary for higher-rated engines) and larger cockpit hood were added, but I'm not sure if this was really the case. First proto of an A-4H Crystal was completed in 1972, and priority for corresponding upgrades was initially given to older A-4Hs (delivered to Israel in 1968). That's why the IDF/AF still operated two squadrons equipped with 'vanilla' A-4Es, during October 1973 War.

Additional A-4Es were delivered during the October 1973 War.

The tail-pipe extension was added only in reaction to experiences from the October 1973 War, and stood in no direct relation to Skyhawk II/Crystal upgrade. Correspondingly, a number of A-4Es did receive such extensions while otherwise remaining in their original form (no hump, small intakes, small cockpit canopies), during the mid-1970s. Most of them appear to have been operated by No. 149 Smashing Parrot Squadron. Known serials of 'extended-tail-pipe/humpless' A-4Es are 611 and 866 (ex-266), for example.

Edited August 30, 2013 by Tom Cooper

[SaintsPhil]

Thanks very much Tom that backs up the info I was given previously, plus what I've found trawling the net. I've kindly been donated some decals, now all I need is that extended tail pipe to be in stick somewhere and I'm away to build one for the skyhawk GB!!

I'm glad you mentioned weapons as that's one other thing I needed to know...wonder if I've got ont shrikes in the spares....

[Tom Cooper]

Glad to be of help, Phil.

Regarding weapons: basically, the Israelis used whatever was available on their Skyhawks. Surely, primary armament consisted foremost of various combinations of Mk.82s (usually with Mk.15 Snakeye retarding fins), and they can be seen on most of photos. But, especially during the 1973 War, Mk.7 Rockeyes, French-made SAMP 100s, BLU-27 napalm canisters, pods for 2.71in unguided rockets, and AIM-9B and AIM-9D Sidewinders were as often. AFAIK, although available since 1971 and deployed in combat by Israeli F-4Es during the same year, AGM-45s and AGM-62s were deployed by Skyhawks only during later stages of the October 1973 War.

The only thing I do not remember to have seen hanging from any of Israeli Skyhawks on photos from that period are US-made M-117 GP-bombs and little known CBU-55s (which at the same time were used - and then in huge numbers - by other US allies around the world, like South Vietnam, Ethiopia, Iran etc.). Perhaps M-117s were 'reserved' for F-4Es, and CBU-55s not even delivered to Israel, no idea here.

[SaintsPhil]

Thanks again Tom!

[Don McIntyre]

Great stuff, Tom, thanks for the info.