In the royal town of Kuala Kangsar in Perak state is an unusual Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Douglas A-4PTM Skyhawk attack aircraft monument (PTM = Peculiar To Malaysia!). It kind of resembles a Skyhawk on an aircraft carrier deck. Now this is nothing unusual for some operators of the A-4 but Malaysia has never operated an aircraft carrier!
Malaysia purchased 88 former US A-4C/L aircraft (25 A-4C/63 A-4L) in 1982 for refurbishment and upgrade. 40 of them were upgraded to the A-4PTM standard which added a Hughes AN/ASB-19 Angle Rate Bombing System, air refueling capability and increased weapons payload (originally 60 were to be upgraded but budget constraints came into play).
The 40 were made up of 36 A-4PTM single seaters and 4 TA-4PTM two-seat combat trainers (the latter were constructed from single seat airframes by adding a section to lengthen the fuselage, to accommodate the instructor’s cockpit – similar to US TA-4 aircraft with a tandem cockpit canopy). The rest remained in storage in the US (intended for spares) and were never used by the RMAF.
The first A-4PTM entered service in 1984 and they flew with RMAF No. 6 & 9 Squadrons until 1995 when they were replaced by BAE Hawk 208 light attack aircraft. The RMAF Skyhawks uncharacteristically suffered serviceability issues and the RMAF suffered a high accident rate (5 were lost between 1985 and 1992 including a two-seater) – hence the short service period.
The monument is actually a fountain but given its state of disrepair, it obviously hasn’t been functioning for a while. This is a pity as I have seen photos online from when the surrounding trees were just saplings. Back then it was in its heyday, when the fountain flowed like a waterfall from the platform on which the Skyhawk sits, to pools below (now empty). That was what I was expecting to see – It was once very nice! The slightly ajar cockpit canopy is also a worry in regards to preservation!
With the closure of the RMAF Museum in Kuala Lumpur (they are constructing a high rise on that location with no known replacement museum at the time of writing! I hope the old collection is safe in storage on a base somewhere? I was looking forward to seeing an ex-RAAF CAC Sabre jet in RMAF livery and markings!), there are unfortunately very few places to see former RMAF inventory outside of the Armed Forces Museum in Port Dickson and a small number of aircraft in museums in Malacca. Hopefully the government will allocate funds some day to return this place to its former glory and also open a new air force museum…
Aces Flying High 
It will be a real tragedy if these old aircraft are just allowed to deteriorate beyond repair.
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Yes it’s a sad sight when it happens
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It already IS a tragedy. Malaysia’s official Air Force Museum had a pristine Skyhawk once. A few years ago it was moved out of shelter, then the canopy left open by the civil defence agency who borrowed it for “training” on site. Immaculate cockpit became a rusted mess.
The same has undoubtedly happened to this one.
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I don’t doubt it. A pity
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That is inspired! Thanks for noting Malaysia has no aircraft carrier force–curious 🙂
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It’s quite something!
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I certainly DO hope they preserve them. Building a high-rise, jeez, it sounds like south Florida here!!
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I was disappointed when I found out!
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I can well imagine!!
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Interesting and inspired presentation of the aircraft.
I really wish those museums who have A-4 Skyhawks on display would all equip theirs with oleo locks so the distinctive nose high stance of the aircraft is preserved. An A-4 with a completely compressed nose gear leg just doesn’t look right.
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Indonesia is a place to see that
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I do hope it’s saved and made available to the public once more. It’s would be a great shame to lose it!
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It’s apparently the plan
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I’ve read your post more fully now and wanted to detail the fate of the museum aircraft at the former Sungai Besi Air Base.
The museum aircraft have been towed a few yards to the former police air wing site next door and for the foreseeable future will sit in the open. Access is not permitted. The police air wing has itself moved to Subang airport and the former site will eventually be redeveloped, but no new site for the museum has not been found.
In Malaysia the custom is for acquirers of government land to pay for land and construction of replacements. In this case the acquirer was ex-PM Najib Tun Razak’s 1MDB. 1MDB is now dissolved following the greatest financial scandals in history and work on the project has stalled indefinitely, and with it the prospects of a new museum.
The rest of the air force base has moved to Sendayan, in Negeri Sembilan state (at government’s not 1MDB’s expense) but no new museum was detailed.
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Thanks for the update, much appreciated! I had not been able to find any concrete info. Such a shame, that whole 1MDB debacle will haunt Malaysia for decades…
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These A-4’s were taken out of storage near Davis-Monthan and modified by Grumman St Augustine Corporation. I worked on this project in the mid 80’s.
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