DOUGLAS A-4M SKYHAWK USN VF-126 BANDITS NAS MIRAMAR CA 1992 - CORGI US37405 1/72

Fighter Squadron 126 (VF-126), the Pacific Fleet Adversary Squadron, was known as the "Bandits". Adversary operations involve friendly aircraft mimicking the tactics and characteristics of enemy forces to enhance the relevance of combat training. VF-126 started providing the adversary mission in April 1967 from Miramar. The Skyhawk was chosen as the bandit aircraft because of its maneuverability and smokeless trail, just like a MIG. A-4M Bu No. 158413, was the last of several ex-USMC Skyhawks assigned to the US Navy adversary unit VF-126 "Bandits" and co-located Naval Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun), at NAS Miramar. These aircraft served with VF-126 alongside a motley collection of A-4E/Fs and TA-4F/Js until the "Bandits" were dis-established on 1 April 1994. Bu No. 158413 was then placed in storage within the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. Later that same year it was one of 36 surplus A-4Ms sold to the Fuerza Aerea Argentina (Argentine Air Force).

Douglas A-4M Skyhawk

Designed to replace the antiquated, propeller-driven AD Skyraider, the A-4 Skyhawk was first flown on June 22, 1954. Douglas exceeded the original design requirements by delivering a carrier-capable aircraft that was only half the Navy's weight specification and so compact that it did not need folding wings. The A-4 was the first to use "buddy" air-to-air refueling (an A-4 could refuel other aircraft of the same type), which was helpful when operating in remote locations where dedicated tankers were impractical. The A-4 served the US Navy until 2003 and remained the preferred warplane for the Marine Corps until the 1980s, even after the introduction of the A-7 Corsair II.

Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series

The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honoured.

Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:

• Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
• Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
• Poseable presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
• Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
• Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
• Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
• Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
• Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.

• Listing Information

  Listing Type	Gallery Listing
  Listing ID#	228544311
  Start Time	Thu 24 Apr 2025 05:08:50 (EDT)
  Close Time	Run Until Sold
  Starting Bid	Fixed Price (no bidding)
  Item Condition	New
  Bids	0
  Views	5
  Dispatch Time	More than 4 Days
  Quantity	1
  Location	United Kingdom
  Auto Extend	No