This dashing, study of 805 sqdn’s A4G Skyhawks climbing out above a sparkling blue sea during the 1970’s gives a great impression of speed as they formate over HMAS Melbourne. It is a reproduction of one of several David Marshall paintings that hang in Australia’s Museum of Flight.

The Douglas Skyhawk was a satisfying machine to fly because it had the “old fashioned” direct physical connection of the control surfaces to the stick, so the stick-loads were real and the pilot really felt part of his aircraft. Designed by Ed Heinemann in the 1950’s, this brilliant lightweight bomber had so small a wing that it did not need to fold to fit below decks in a carrier. Nearly 3,000 were constructed.