Aussie A-4G Skyhawk Videos

Title	Size	Details
highWODcatMedQ.zip	3330 KB	The video clip from Graham Winterflood's collection shows an A4G Skyhawk launch with a very high WOD (Wind Over Deck) to ensure the aircraft with bombload can reach flying speed off the 100 foot catapault track. The Skyhawk has high lateral G loading to enable high G launches - sometimes at 6 G or above, to reach flying speed at the end of the catapault stroke
LastSkyhawkFlyBy DirtyNASnowra.zip	1341 KB	Video clip from Australian Museum of Flight of the last RAN Skyhawk "dirty" flypast at NAS Nowra. The date: 30 June 1984. Two trainers and two single seats are in a diamond formation, with the 2 seat trainers on either side
A4trapLSOviewHiQ2.zip	2120 KB	The clip shows the approach and arrest of an RAN A4G Skyhawk on HMAS Melbourne from an unusual vantage point - near the LSO platform. The first aircraft arrests with another following shown arresting in close up. The hook tip to ramp clearance is nominally 6 feet - perhaps in this clip this vertical distance looks less; but it is difficult to tell. One would have to watch the entire approach in slow motion to measure. The film was taken by Geoff Morton in the early 1970s
A4GlaunchStrop InWaterMedQ.zip	985 KB	Here we see an early (1969) A4G launch. The holdback can be seen clearly falling away; after the aircraft clears the bow the launch strop can be seen falling into the water. HMAS Melbourne did not have a "strop catcher" until after repairs were done to the bow after she collided with USS Frank E. Evans in June 1969. Film provided by Graham Winterflood
Approach886 hungUpArrestLoQ.zip	2008 KB	RAN A4G 886 making an approach to HMAS Melbourne in 1969 (note the straight refuelling probe and colour scheme for VF 805 at that time). After arrest it gets 'hung up' requiring many hands to get it unstuck. The FDO walking backwards and forwards is LCDR Colin Patterson. Film provided by Graham Winterflood
HalfSingleSeat A4GsFlyByMelb.zip	1863 KB	Half of the complement of 16 single seat A-4G Skyhawks in the RAN flypast HMAS Melbourne. Clearly there are a mix of smoky and 'smokeless' engines in the formation. Clip from Geoff Morton collection.
3xA4GsDirtyFlyByHiQ.zip	2131 KB	Two of the A-4Gs in formation in a 'dirty' flyby (meaning with all the gear down) low past HMAS Melbourne have smoky J52-P8A engines while most likely the third aircraft has the modified (for this smoke) J52-P8B engine installed. Likely this third A-4G is from the 2nd batch of A-4Gs bought second hand from the USN. Clip from collection of Geoff Morton
A4GminipanLandOn.zip	288 KB	A-4G landing on HMAS Melbourne from the mini-pan camera
A4Gs & HMAS Melbourne History.zip	3016 KB	Shows the era of 60's & 70's Jet and Propeller aircraft operated from HMAS Melbourne including A-4G Skyhawks.
A4Trap&Roll.zip	903 KB	A-4G Traps on HMAS Melbourne then rolls onto the drop tank. (needs QuickTime)
A4G_roller_T&G.zip	889 KB	Classic A-4G 'touch and go' runway landing, perhaps better described by some as a 'bump & go' or the unkind as a "crash and dash". Being a carrier-capable aircraft the A4 can carry out "No flare" landings, a normal operational landing is conducted this way. You will notice that the speed brakes are retracted during the "go-round" actions of 'Full Power, retract speed brakes'. The undercarriage is capable of 800 feet per minute rate of descent landings
4A4GfanBreakLeft.zip	939 KB	Four A-4Gs 'Fan Break Left' gaining correct landing interval during the 'break'. A more usual 'Break Left' into the circuit would have the aircraft flying straight ahead for 3 seconds each before "breaking left", thereby guaranteeing a suitable interval downwind
A4GLaunchCycle.zip	2642 KB	This video shows the "classical choreography" of a catapult launch. Chief directs the A-4G precisely onto the catapult, often with hilarious minute hand signals to fine tune the precise location of the nose wheel on the catapult track. Otherwise if the wheel is too far off line there is a problem. Catapult crew check the 'catapult strop' which connects A4 to catapult shuttle and give a "thumbs up". Pilot salutes, Catapult Officer hits the deck with his signal flag and a few seconds later the catapult fires
EchelonRt3secBreak.zip	2810 KB	Four A-4Gs use a Three Second interval standard Echelon Right Break Left into the circuit at NAS Nowra down Runway 26
ColdCatStory.zip	2501 KB	A compilation of Barry Evans (some time later?) entering an A4G on deck, (then) cold cat shot, and Barry back on deck after rescue by planeguard Wessex helicopter. 8th November 1973
NightArrestA4G.zip	371 KB	Under deck "moonlighting" (very faint minimal light on deck - with dim landing area marking lights) an A4G arrests. The camera is fixed due to very low light conditions. Later the A-4G is taken down to the hangar deck via the lift.
TA4GfieldArrest.zip	2500 KB	TA-4G makes a 'short field landing/arrest' on Runway 26 at NAS Nowra. The pullout of the single wire is much longer than the carrier wire(s). Here it is about 800-1,000 feet or less as a guess. The arrestor gear is BAK 9 ?which allows some latitude for off centre engagements, and it can be used at the other end for aborted takeoffs.
A4FastLand.zip	1849 KB	A4G landing on HMAS Melbourne. Taken from a underwing camera
3A-4G sTakeOff NasNowra.zip	1240 KB	3 A-4Gs with "Checkmate" tails take off in close formation from Runway 03 at NAS Nowra circa late 1970s
A-4G -arrest-&-Bolter.zip	1007 KB	A-4G 886 does an ordinary arrest on HMAS Melbourne but the hook gets "hung up" and the deck crew rush to free the hook from the arrestor wire. The second A-4G was close behind (seen right at beginning of clip) but it is too high and misses all the wires (with the hook down intending to arrest) so this is called a "bolter". The A-4G closes speed brakes and goes to full power to climb away for another approach. The first A-4G would have closed speed brakes and gone to full power momentarily but has caught the wire - so then the power is reduced to idle
A4LateWaveoff.zip	267 KB	A4G pilot has either initiated his own 'lateish' WaveOff or has been told "Wave Off, Wave OFF, WAVE OFF" by the LSO and the pilot has been slow to react. Sometimes a Wave Off is given as a practice for the pilot to respond to the control of the LSO, even if the landing will be OK and the deck is clear
edGoodCATbadCat.zip	961 KB	A good catapult launch immediately followed by a "cold cat shot". The pilot survived the ditching. The story is long but suffice to say that the pilot attempted to eject but used incorrect primary handle technique. He then jettisoned the canopy as the A4 drops off the bow. He stayed inside while A4 scrapped down the side, he was waiting to clear the ship propellers. He then bobbed up in his Mae West and was picked up by Wessex plane guard
NiceA4trap.zip	980 KB	This is the same 886 arrest where the hook is freed by the deck crew. It may appear that the A4 drops sharply right before touchdown causing the heavier than usual landing/arrest but there are other possibilities like ship movement and such
NowraAirDayFAST.zip	385 KB	A quick compilation of RAN FAA aircraft in the late 70s. A-4G Skyhawks, MB 326H Macchi trainers, Sea King helicopters, S-2 Trackers (piston), and 4 Wessex helicopters at the end
TA4toA4buddy Refueling.zip	320 KB	Initially we see 2 A-4G s "buddy refuelling", the hose with the shuttlecock receptacle "basket" emerges from the A-4G centreline buddy refuelling drop tank. Then we necessarily see from the camera in the rear seat of a TA-4G the moment of contact when the TA-4G refuelling probe makes contact for refuelling. Pilot technique is to imagine putting your right boot (probe tip) into the basket. The probe and basket will lock automatically once good contact is made. Then we see outside again with the A-4G making contact with the hose "whipping a little" due to the slight forward speed to make good contact. The tanker pilot can then transfer fuel. Contact is broken by the receiver reducing power to move back from the basket which will disengage due to the force involved. Instead of original straight refuelling probes the A4s changed over to the bent probe to reduce the likelihood of fuel entering the intake during aerial refuelling
3A-4G breakWith TA4landing.zip	2000 KB	The 2 A-4Gs? break first with TA-4G last in an unusual break combination, with the TA-4G using aerodynamic breaking (holding the nose wheel off in an unusual high attitude) after main wheels touch down. The spoilers (unseen) then open once the nose wheel touches runway, then normal wheel braking would be used to slow down. An early 80's video at NAS Nowra. The Aussies really should have got those drag Chutes ;-)
BlindedByTheLight.zip	1600 KB	A-4G lands on HMAS Melbourne
A4sAroundMt Kozy&Snowy.zip	1400 KB	A-4Gs flying over the Snowy Mountains in NSW.
TA-4G early80s LoNowra.zip	1016 KB	TA-4G low pass
2A-4G traps.zip	1835 KB	2 A-4G arrests where the first one has a "hung hook" which needs to be freed by the deck crew. The 2nd arrest shows how the "pullback" of the arrestor wire - while the pilot hits the brakes - enables the hook to release without deck crew intervention.
3A-4G launchCycle.zip	1906 KB	Video showing and A-4G being directed onto the catapult track, nose-wheel alignment corrected, catapult strop connecting aircraft to catapult shuttle, A-4G powered up before launch and 3 quick launches.
DuskA4Garrest.zip	850 KB	An atmospheric dusk A-4G arrest, briefly the 'Approach Light System' can be seen Click here for a more detailed explanation.
WideAngleA4Gt&g.zip	915 KB	Wide angle view from above the deck (from FlyCo) of an A4G touch and go.The A4 is left of the centreline, which would attract a lot of (adverse) comment from the LSO. The A4 looks to be touching down in a good place for the target No.4 wire however. Lineup (on the centreline) can be an issue for carrier approaches (amongst other things). There is wind over the deck (hopefully down the centreline) and the often 20 knot forward speed of the carrier, coupled with the 5.5 degree angled deck, makes for an oddly moving touchdown zone.
underA4G approachT&G.zip	1120 KB	Shows a low angle shot from the deck of an A4G approach for a touch and go deck landing on HMAS Melbourne. The deck is moving, also watch the plane guard destroyer astern. Watch the A4 drop right wing (could be turbulence from the island and smoke stack) but most likely a late line up correction
A4GaerialRefuel.zip	1830 KB	Quick sequence of A4G/TA4G buddy refuelling from the refuelling hose/basket deployment to the plugin. Good sequence from below both aircraft for the moment of contact of the probe and basket
anRANa4Gpilot.zip	490 KB	The anonymous RAN A4G pilot in his flight gear, notice black suede, side zipper, steel toe capped flying boots, especially introduced when Sea Venom ejections could result in a "toenail cutting". The zippers were for quick water release of boots, but they also had ordinary long bootlaces. In his left hand the pilot is carrying his knee clipboard, in his right hand is a "dilly" bag for odds and ends. Correctly this pilot is not carrying his helmet by the helmet strap
FrontOnTA4G takeOff.zip	1860 KB	2 TA4Gs take off from Runway 26 at NAS Nowra. The front on view is taken beyond the threshold of Runway 08 looking back down the runway. We see the first TA4G on its side of the runway, with the 2nd TA4G out of view on the other half of the runway, in a staggered takeoff. One can see the "bowl" topography of the airfield, the high sides being the thresholds of RW 26-08 and the low point the threshold of RW 03. This "crossing" runway threshold can be seen as the grey area midway down the takeoff runway. The threshold of RW 21 is another high side of the "bowl", near the Australian Museum of Flight at RANAS
A4spoilers.zip	655 KB	An unusual A-4 'no flare landing' [SOP] with spoilers but nose wheel held off. Must be a long runway (or no brakes).
AroundPidgeon HouseA4s.zip	1400 KB	Shows the valleys and tablelands in the Moreton National Park south of Nowra with the "Pidgeon House" mountain in the left of the frame at the end, with the A-4G s scootering there