A-4K Model???

[Dave Homewood]

I note on Kiwi Aircraft Images, Phil says the A-4K was referred to in the RNZAF as the 'Model' and TA-4K the 'T-bird'.

The latter is correct, T-bird was the common nickname. However, I don't ever recall anyone ever referring to it as the Model as a nickname. It was always known as the Squawk or Sharpie (as opposed to Blunty) in the various bases I served at.

Does anyone else recall hearing it called the Model? If so, why did it get that nickname?

I also never heard it ever referred to as the Scooter, which i've seen Americans refer to their's as. But I have seen NZ enthusiasts call A-4K's Scooters. Did anyone in the RNZAF use the Scooter tag?

[Calum]

model was pretty common when I worked on them. As for why.. dunno, just what peopel called it when I arrived.

Hardly ever heard it called a Squawk by people I worked with and never heard it called a Sharpie......

Never heard it called a Scooter

It was called T Bird, model, Skyhawk, heap of crap, sh^thawk, A-4..

[Dave Homewood]

Hmmm, interesting.

Sharpie only seemed to be a Wigram nickname (I think because mainly Ohakea thought they were the Sharp End with the fighter planes). It wasn't as common as Squawk which was also prevalent at Wigram when I was based there, but I heard that elsewhere too.

I never heard Model anywhere, not even when I worked at OH. I did hear Shitehawk often. Never, never heap of crap - one of the pilots yes, the plane, no. hehe

Did the Maachi ever get a nickname?

[phil]

The Macchi? Lemon.

But no, it never got a real nickname.

I never heard the A4 called a Sharpie, but then blunties were a bit before my time as well.

Different era, different names.

I never heard RNZAF pers refer to it as a scooter very often, if at all. But we knew it was an American nickname, just not one we used.

Squawk was sometimes used, but mostly by other people around base.

[Calum]

Macchi were just. macchi''s.

Squawks ... that one used a fair but, but not by people who worked on them.

FOr us mainly it was T-birds and models

[corsair67]

Maybe the A-4s were called Models because aircraft are always referred to in feminine gender; and as Lord Flashheart said in Blackadder Goes Forth "Treat your kite like you treat your women - get inside them five times a day, and take them to heaven and back!"?? ;-)

[Dave Homewood]

I only ever worked on Tech Squadrons and Tech Wings (Maintenance Support Squadrons) so i guess I wasn't with the 'in crowd' who referred to them as Models.

Maybe the name derives from their small size compared with previous 75 Sqn aircraft like the Canberra (and Stirling). They were dinky little planes by comparison to some strike fighters and attack aircraft.

[Calum]

I think your theory Dave (re the size) is likely the reason