Royal Malaysian Air Force
Point of Contact - Squadron Duty Officer (SDO)
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Royal Malaysian Air Force 6 and 9 Squadrons.
TUDM (TENERA UDARA DIRAJA MALAYSIA)
1982: Eighty-eight surplus Skyhawks were contracted for purchase from the United States in 1982, for use by the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM, or Royal Malaysian Air Force) ordered 88 A-4s (25 A-4Cs and 63 A-4Ls), delivery starting in 1984. The TUDM wanted these planes refurbished into 54 single-seaters and 14 two-seaters. Thus we assume 20 /ac for parts, included the need for two cockpits for the TA conversions. The aircraft were designated A-4PTM and TA-4PTM (Peculiar To Malaysia was a moniker attached in the U.S., "PTM" does have a meaning in Malaysian). TUDM purchased the 88 surplus ex US Navy A-4C and A-4L Skyhawks and Grumman Bethpage refurbished 40 of the air-frames into the PTM configuration.
1985: From Sean Campbell, who worked on the conversion to PTM: "I happened upon your website. I worked for Grumman on the A-4 PTM project. The 38 or so single seaters were completely restored at the Grumman facility in St. Augustine, Florida with Joe Walters as President. The two operational trainers were stretched at Grumman Beth Page on Long Island, New York. These modified forward sections were then shipped to St. Augustine for assembly.
You know, for some reason I only remember delivering 2 trainers, but the photo of this trainer was the contract completion photo. The TA-4 is clearly numbered #6. You can just see the top of my head and dark sunglasses just below the DANGER stencil on the intake. In the aircraft #40 image you can see me standing center-right, next to the man in the plaid red jacket. The man kneeling front-center in the flight jacket is the Malaysian Air Force Test Pilot, Major Mohammed Alwi. The photos include members of the Malaysian Government and Air Force. I no longer remember their names, but I worked closely with them.
TA-4PTM BuNo 145104, M32-06, contract completion photo, St. Augustine, FL, 1985. I'm standing far left. Photo from Sean Campbell.
TA-4PTM BuNo 145103, M32-06, contract completion photo, St. Augustine, FL, 1985. You can just see the top of my head (Sean Campbell) and dark sunglasses just below the DANGER stencil on the intake. Photo from Sean Campbell.
A-4PTM BuNo 149608, M32-40, in the paint hangar, St. Augustine, FL, 1985. Photo from Sean Campbell.
A-4PTM BuNo 149608, M32040, contract completion photo, St. Augustine, FL, 1985. You can just see me (Sean Campbell) standing center-right, next to the man in the plaid red jacket. The man kneeling front-center in the flight jacket is the Malaysian Air Force Test Pilot, Major Mohammed Alwi. Photo from Sean Campbell.
Grumman Plaque
Only 40 PTM Skyhawks, 34 single seat versions and six two-seat trainers, were delivered. The six two seat trainers were converted from single seat versions and look similar to TA-4F. The remainder were kept in storage in the United States awaiting delivery. But It seems that when Malaysia came to claim the remainder of the Skyhawks they could not provide proof of ownership, and so the undelivered Skyhawks remained in the U.S.A. at a storage yard. See Marana Regional Airport.
Y2011 update: The Marana stored Skyhawks have now gone to museums and to restorers who intend to fly them. With 34 single and 6 two seaters delivered to Malaysia; and with the two seaters utilizing two each single seat cockpits; it is assumable that a total of 46 a/c were used in the creation of the 40 a/c delivered. 88 ordered minus 46 utilized leaves 42 a/c untouched and left in the U.S.A and stored at Marana. Marana also had Skyhawks unrelated to the Malaysia deal stored there.
With 34 single and 6 two seaters delivered; and with the two seaters utilizing two each single seat cockpits; it is assumable that a total of 46 a/c were used in the creation of the 40 a/c. Known BuNo delivered: 145078: 19SEP77 A-4PTM M32-?? Display Kuala Lumpur 145092: 19AUG77 A-4PTM M32-14/19 147782: 19AUG77 M32-30 PTM Museum 147807: 29MAY78 A-4PTM M32-29 148479 M32-09 148555: 25MAY78 A-4PTM M32-39 148588 M32-23 149594 M32-07 149630: 29MAY78 TA-4PTM M32-01 Total 9 Suspected BuNo delivered 145065: stricken from inventory 25MAY78 145101: 29MAY78 145103: 29MAY78 145104: 29MAY78 145114: 29MAY78 145121: 29MAY78 145141: 29MAY78 147703: 19AUG77 147706: 19AUG77 147736: 19AUG77 147780: 04JAN78 147796: 19AUG77 147798: 19AUG77 147802: 29MAY78 147827: 29MAY78 148306: 29MAY78 148436: 25MAY78 148479: 19AUG77 148588: 29MAY78 148611: 25MAY78 149497: 01JAN79 149505: 09JUL73 149518: 29MAY78 149536: 29MAY78 149551: 29MAY78 149573: 29MAY78 149583: 29MAY78 149588: 29MAY78 149594: 29MAY78 149607: 29MAY78 149608: 29MAY78 149626: 29MAY78 149633: 29MAY78 Total of 33 |
If of the 88 ordered, 46 were used to create the 40 delivered; then 42 were left in the U.S.A. and never delivered. Probable BuNo originally allocated but not delivered: A-4C 145064: Stricken:29JUL74, N128AT ATW Aviation 14SEP04. 145131: wing went on 149606 147726: cut up for art. Count of 3 Charlies. A-4L 145076: Stricken:10MAY71, N129AT sold TX. 145119: 29MAY78 marked as Malyasia. 145128: went to A-4L LLC and was lost. 147669: Stricken: 29MAY78, N135AT sold USA. 147671: Stricken:29MAY87, N142AT sold USA. 147690: N143AT to A-4L LLC 147696: Stricken:15MAY73, N144AT sold in USA. 147754: Stricken:29MAY78 parts for Malaysia, N145AT in restoration USA. 147761: N146AT to A-4 LLC 147768: N147AT to A-4 LLC 147793: Stricken:29MAY78, N148AT Raptor Aviation 147807: our data marked as Malyasia. 147815: N153AT 147836: N154AT to A-4 LLC 148307: Stricken:29MAY78, N156AT sold USA. 148316: Stricken:29MAY78, N157AT sold USA. 148446: Stricken:29MAY78, N130AT sold USA. 148500: 29UL74, Dross Metals N159AT in USA. 148502: Stricken:29JUL74, N203AT USA. 148509: Stricken:15MAY73. N204AT 148555: our data marked as Malyasia. 148573: Stricken;29JUL74, to ATW then SFDAM. N250AT 148576: tail went to 149606 148581: N207AT A-4 LLC 148590: Maran forward fuselage 148597: Stricken:15MAY73, N214AT sold in USA. 148600: A-4L t Watkins? 148602: Stricken: 29MAY78, , sold USA N215AT for parts. 149500: Stricken:29MAY78, N218AT sold USA. 149502: Stricken:29MAY78, N219AT sold USA. 149531 29MAY78, marked as Malyasia. 149540: Stricken:29MAY78, N220AT ATW Aviation sold USA. 149550: Stricken:29MAY78, then N224AT sold United Kingdom. 149555: Stricken:29MAY78, N225AT Raptor Aviation 149575: Stricken:15MAY73, then N226AT sold in USA. 149581: Stricken:15MAY73, then N227AT, sold France. 149591: Stricken;29MAY78, N228AT, sold USA. 149595: Dross Metals N229AT sold USA. 149606: Stricken 04JUL76 civilian N2262Z, wing from 145131, tail from 148576,to Titusville Museum. 149620: Stricken:29MAY78, N233AT sold in USA. 149636: Stricken:19AUG76, then N230AT sold in USA.. 150581: Stricken:15MAY73, then N235AT A-4C marked only as being restored. 150585: Marana A-4C / 01AUG77, marked as Malaysia. 150593: Marana A-4L / 29MAY78, marked as Malaysia. 44 LImas +3 Charlies total count of 47 |
Suspected BuNo IF any of the listed here are not correct. A-4L 149506 A-4L stricken at davis. 149604 A-4L stricken at davis. 2 count |