Scooter: The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Story Hardcover – September 21, 2011

One suspects that this book had gone through much of the editorial and production process before Specialty Press left the publishing business and became a distributor only. It gives every hint of being a Specialty product even though it was ultimately published by Crecy in the UK.This book reads like a greatly expanded version of one of Thomason's Ginter Naval Fighters monographs. The Ginter monographs were of one off or very small production run aircraft and could be dealt with in depth in a limited number of pages. The A-4 was produced over 25 years and 3000 copies; nothing less than a full length book would suffice.The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (thankfully we were not subjected to cringe inducing descriptions like McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk or (shudder) Boeing A-4 Skyhawk) has a legendary reputation not only as a very effective combat aircraft but as an almost supernatural design. It is inevitably cited as what could be achieved if a designer is sufficiently "serious" or "ruthless". Myths of how Heinemann produced an aircraft that weighed only half of what the Navy said it should are told and retold.Thomason as always puts all of this in its proper context and perspective. The A-4 design and what made it what it was and how it stacked up to its contemporaries (and successors) over the years is gone into in thorough detail. Along the way we are treated to outstanding graphs, tables, and photographs that perfectly complement the text. One can hardly read any section of the text without the perfect illustration appearing right beside it. There are also some interesting chapter notes that appear in the back. Some are referential but other expand on the text.In short, this book cannot be recommended highly enough. Thomason is a brilliant and engaging writer and I cannot imagine that there are many people who could read this book without learning a great deal about the Skyhawk in particular, or carrier aviation, or Navy bureaucracy, or cold war strategy, or any number of other subjects in general. Finally, Thomason has a very understated witty style that brings out a smile on almost every page.

Tommy Thomason's "Scooter" offers a full history of one of the more important aircraft of military aerospace history. The Skyhawk was ahead of its time in a number of ways, both conceptually and aerodynamically. It should come as no surprise that the designer, Ed Heinemann, went on to play a leading role in the development of General Dynamic's F-16, which incorporated many of the same principles of the Skyhawk (small size, light weight, simplicity, 'talied delta' configuration, impressive range/payload, agility).My only major criticism is the lack of first-person accounts of flying the aircraft in combat. There were pilot testimonials, but for all the action this aircraft saw in Vietnam, the Middle East, and even the South Atlantic, I would have like to have seen some first-person accounts of actual combat missions.A minor criticism I also have is the lack of detail on the matter of Israeli modifations. They were the largest user of the type outside of the U.S., and also one of the longest users; their weapons trainers are in the twilight of their service in the IDF even today. In particular, passing reference is given to the "Crystal" upgrade carried out on most Israeli Skyhawks, but no detailed descriptions is given as to what this consisted of. I would like to know this, so if anyone reading this has more information on this topic, I sure would like to know.Otherwise, an excellent volume, however. I was quite amazed in particular at reading about what the New Zealanders were able to do with this aircraft in terms of getting the full potential out of the design.

One of the best books ever written on the A-4. Just when you thought there was little else to be revealed about this famous attack aircraft, a book like this comes along and opens your eyes again.As with Mr. Thomas' other books, this is written with a goodly amount of detail, yet in an eminently readable style. Also, unlike too many books on a particular aircraft, this books tells its story "warts and all". It talks about the brilliance of the design and what it does, but also is open about where the problems were. It shows the A-4's capabilities to great advantage, and also honestly discusses why it was replaced in naval service (the A-7 may not have been as much fun to fly in a good pilot's hands, but it was a considerably better attack aircraft--of course it was also newer). The myriad models and stillborn variants are clearly covered in detail, and there are enough "war stories" included that this doesn't just end up as some dry tome.This book is highly, HIGHLY recommended.

This book would have to be the number one to have on you shelf about the Douglas A4 Skyhawk, covering every aspect from the weight of ejector seat the design - the early concept and mockups with drawings and photos to match .You then go through its trials and testing the prototype and comparing it to the other possibles and some of the madcap idea's they were thinking about in the mid to late 1950s again very well illustrated in design drawings and photos .We then progress further well until is the aircraft gos through its carrier trials and introduction to its operational deployment then going through it career . Also added is the many countries who used the scooter - this book with a whooping 272 pages in hi-quality gloss print with many hundreds of colour photos , you won't be disappointed .

Superb book. Lots of detailed relative and interesting accounts of how this phenomenal attack aircraft was engineered and developed. I am about half way through the book but thoroughly enjoying it and looking forward to the rest.The book itself is quality glossy paper with lots of crystal clear photos and diagrams.If you want to know how the A-4 was designed and developed this is an excellent book.

When I was 8, my uncle gave me a book on aircraft recognition, whilst obsessively studying every aspect of each aircraft with the focus only an 8 year old can muster I fell in love with the SR-71, The Lightning, The U2 and the A-4 Skyhawk.There is a wonderful simplicity to the aircraft, designed to deliver a single nuclear device to some unfortunates from a US carrier and something totally against the common US aircraft aesthetic of a brick with massive engines. Moving beyond its original function as an attack aircraft, it became a dog fighter training US pilots to face off against enemies that had different tactical doctrines.This book takes the reader through the A-4's entire life cycle, from the development, deployments in Vietnam, its use by Argentina in the Falklands war to its current use by Israel and Indonesia it presents a superb history of this wonderful aircraft, and left me thinking that the $6 Million one is on sale for on controller.com is quite reasonable.

If you are into aircraft for any reason or other then this is a book for you. I bought it because the A5 has always been a favourite of mine and this book just ticks all the right boxes.I let a work mate have a look through it at lunch time one day and that night went home and ordered his own copy what more can you say. It has info that I have not seen elsewhere.To sum up for me it is just a brilliant book full stop.

Everything you wish to know about the Skyhawk and more. Brilliant reference book and well presented.

The book is well documented, it contains detailed description as weell as good profiles and nice pictures; it is ideal for modelers.