Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (1954-1979): Another successful attack aircraft from the Ed Heinemann team at Douglas was the A-4 Skyhawk. Designed for carrier operations, the Skyhawk was America’s smallest combat jet. Known as “Heinemann’s Hot Rod,” “Scooter,” and the “Mighty Midget,” it reversed the trend toward bigger and more complex aircraft in favor of durability and reliability. The A-4D first flew on June 22, 1954, demonstrating combinations of high performance and lightweight, with speed and maneuverability never before seen in an attack jet. After 1962, the joint service designation was changed to A-4. Behind the AD Skyraider, the A-4 Skyhawk was the most numerous postwar combat aircraft built by Douglas. During its long service career, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and the air arms of six other nations flew the A-4 The Skyhawk saw combat in Vietnam, the Middle East, the Falkland Islands, and the Persian Gulf. For 12 years, from 1974 to 1986, the A-4 Skyhawk served with the Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team. In 1979, twenty-five years after its first flight, the last of 2,960 A-4s was delivered. Two-seat trainer versions included the TA-4F, TA-4J and the TA-4K Series. In addition to its primary role as a jet trainer, the TA-4 retained the A-4’s combat capabilities with bombs, rockets, missiles and guns. The TA-4 series had a slightly longer fuselage but carried less internal fuel than the A-4 attack bomber series. The first of the A-4 jet trainer series was delivered to the U.S. Navy in February 1966. A total of 555 TA-4 jet trainers were built. An additional 23 TA-4s were modified from A-4 airframes.