Nice to see that someone is operating Scooter's (A-4K's):

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/draken ... 1749193650

You can always buy your own.

A friend Built this a few years back. Incredible Ride.

http://www.platinumfighters.com/#!ta-4j ... terpage_37

Good video!

The OLD trainer taxiing by the NEW trainer

I got an experimental type rating in the Collings Foundation's TA-4J when I got the job with ATAC (mentioned in the Draken article). They use to be the 800# gorilla in the CAS world. I wonder if Draken has edged that market? They have some big backers/names in tht company and I do like the look of those A-4Ks! ATAC flew A-4Ns leased from ATSI and a few A-4Ls like I flew before we lost one in May 2010 at Fallon. Must be VERY expensive though to maintain those radars!

I tell you - - if I had more time available - I'd try to get back into that business part-time. ....but alas......

I am a contractor for Draken.

We do have a CAS contract with the USMC at Yuma and Cherry Point. I think that will switch to the ME 339 in time, but for now they are doing it with the Scooter. I say "they" because I've been MIA from Draken since becoming the director of ops in my ANG squadron.

Great bunch of guys and the scooter is a blast to fly.

Ben -

I was in on the initial CAS contract with the Marines at 29Palms. It took some doing, but we went through the proving phase of actually getting FAA approval to drop Mk-76s. Are you guys performing sim CAS or actually dropping?

Funny how perceptions change, then come back from the dead. I was in the first squadron to get the TA4Js, VT 21, down in Kingsville. The Grumman TF9J had been the mainstay up until that point but, if your grades were up in Basic, after air to air gunnery and carquals, you could request assignment to VT21. The TA4 was so much easier to fly, particularly in Instrument Phase, that they had to come up with an arbitrary adjustment factor to level out the grades come fleet assignment time. It was also more economical to operate and better supported, being newer, and the F9 guys had a real chip on their shoulders. It turned out the A4 was no match for the F9 in ACM and the Cougar drivers would be jumping A4s whenever they had the time and fuel.

Fast forward several years and the Navy decides the A-4 is too complex to fly and maintain and they need a newer, simpler, easier to fly trainer-the T46 Goshawk. To which I reply "HOGWASH"! I remember thinking if the A4 is too complex for you, you probably shouldn't be flying front line combat aircraft.

The A-4 was, to me, more fun to fly than the Phantom, although nowhere as combat capable. Going through the F4 RAG at Miramar, they were using the stripped out A4F Mongooses (Mongeese?) from Topgun for adversary work and they would get your attention if you didn't treat them seriously. I can imagine the M version, which I think had a 1:1 thrust to weight ratio, must have been even more of a hoot. Glad to see outfits like this Draken are continuing to keep the breed alive.

I know the Draken owners and they do a little airshow every july 4th over my friends house. They have some very qualified pilots- a few top guns and thunderbirds, and around 80 planes! awesome formation work over monmouth beach NJ last summer!

Thanks for sharing the memories Steve.
Great to hear from the *old timers*

Surprised about what you said regarding the A-4s and ACM though.
Maybe they just didn't have enough time figuring out how to properly employ this little attack jet in the fighter arena; because years later - as you say at the end of the post - you learned to quickly respect the little 'Scooter' and not sleep on it when you came to an merge of opportunity (especially)

They are actually dropping now. Working out very well so far.

Interesting, when I PCS to Nellis in a few weeks, Draken will be my contractor. I'm excited to work with them!

Good bunch of guys. Stretch Scott is running the Nellis operation, he's a firecracker and a darn good pilot. He has a Mooney so be sure to give him some grief if you speak with him. You can always say "Evil told me to!" if you need a bailout.

Good bunch of guys. Stretch Scott is running the Nellis operation, he's a firecracker and a darn good pilot. He has a Mooney so be sure to give him some grief if you speak with him. You can always say "Evil told me to!" if you need a bailout.

Brian, I'd say about half the instructors in Advanced Jet at Kingsville were A-4 drivers and they all agreed the F-9 would put a serious hurt on an A-4 in a turning engagement. The thrust to weight advantage of the Scooter wasn't enough, especially if the F-9 was light. I never tried it out but I was assured by the instructors it was not a good idea to jump a Cougar.

The Mongoose was a terrific simulator for the Mig 17 vs a Phantom and that was its mission at Miramar. Below 400 KIAS it could actually out accelerate a Phantom in full burner. Of course, compared to the F-4 anything could turn on a dime. The Mongoose wasn't as good as a training adversary for the F-14 which was also a great turning machine. The F-14 RAG preferred to use the TA4Js from the Instrument Rag, VF126, with their functioning slats, when they wanted to impress on nugget pilots the importance of avoiding low energy, turning fights.

Good bunch of guys. Stretch Scott is running the Nellis operation, he's a firecracker and a darn good pilot. He has a Mooney so be sure to give him some grief if you speak with him. You can always say "Evil told me to!" if you need a bailout.

Would love to go, just can't get away with the DO gig now. Since I can't be full time in the ANG and do Draken, not much point in me going. I'm trying like hell to keep my foot in the door for post-retirement though!