![]() ![]() Project Bullet: 1957 – John Glenn, first American astronaut to orbit the earth, planned and piloted a flight he named “Project Bullet” from California to New York that established a new trans-continental speed record. Her last flight was April 8th, 2003, flying from NAS Roosevelt Roads, VC-8, Puerto Rico, to Alaska Airlines maintenance facility, Oakland, CA and was subsequently towed to the USS Hornet Museum. This aircraft was one of the last active Skyhawks in service. Navy fleet service began in late September 1956 and spanned more than 47 years. The active duty life of the venerable Skyhawk in U.S. The VC-8 TA-4Js were retired from active service in May 2003. Most recently the command was named by the CNO as the overall Search and Rescue Award winner. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards), and the Humanitarian Award (two awards). The squadron has been awarded the Battle “E” for Operational readiness (seven awards), the Meritorious Unit Commendation (three awards), the U.S. In 1997, VC-8 obtained Level II Adversary Qualification, becoming the US Navy’s only Active Duty Adversary squadron. The TA-4J Skyhawk missions include adversary air combat, towing banner targets, launching AQM and BQM drones, electronic warfare, missile profiles, raids, close air support, dissimilar air combat training, air intercept control, and radar calibration. The squadron was re-designated Utility Squadron EIGHT in 1960 and received it’s present designation in 1965. In January 1959, the squadron was transferred to US Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Dubbed the “Scooter” by its Navy and Marine pilots due to its legendary maneuverability and outstanding roll rate, the A-4 also became known as “Heinemann’s Hot Rod” in tribute to its designer.įleet Composite Squadron EIGHT (VC-8) was commissioned as Guided Missile Squadron TWO at NAS Chincoteague, Virginia, in July 1958. Several TA-4Js were used in support roles, including that of adversary aircraft. Many TA-4F airframes were converted to TA-4J configuration by removal of their offensive weapons systems. ![]() The primary role of the TA-4J was to train carrier pilots. It entered service with VT-21 in mid 1969. The TA-4J flew for the first time on December 17, 1968. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney J52 P6B and can carry a variety of external stores. It was manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company of Long Beach, CA, and was designed as a training aircraft capable of operating from a carrier or shore base. The TA-4J “Skyhawk” is a two-seat, lightweight, high-performance aircraft with a modified delta wing.
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