Retired RMAF / TUDM Skyhawks At Kuantan Air Base

Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) or Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia (TUDM) was formed at late 1958 equipped with Scottish aircraft. Since then they upgraded themselves with modern aircraft few times following jet era, expanding from supporting role to fully utilize the advantage of air combat role. In 1985, under modernization of air industrialization, RMAF's 34 A-4 PTM and 6 TA-4PTM of No. 6 and No. 9 Squadron in Kuantan was equipped with around 40 Skyhawks from USA (80 bought, 40 left as replacement parts, all at RM8million each). These Skyhaws were actually USN stocks of A-4C and A-4L and refurbished by the Grumman Corporation at its St. Augustine plant. However, due to high accident rate including fatal accident than claimed the life of a few TUDM pilots involving this aircraft, majority of the Skyhawks were grounded since 1999 and currently classified as war reserved. 6 of the Skyhawks that were converted as air refueling aircraft served until 1999 before being retired. Now, dozens of these legendary Skyhawks can be seen grounded next to the bushes as kind of cool classic assets of the past.



Source
http://www.uswarplanes.net/skyhawk.html
http://www.ma-files.it/p_articles/RMAF/malesian-article.htm
http://a4skyhawk.org/6e/html/malaysia-stored2.htm
http://www.paulooimodelworks.com/2013/12/the-jungle-scooter-malaysian-a4-ptm-skyhawk/
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