French Skyraider becomes a real “Sandy”

Douglas AD-4N Skyraider F-AZHK ( construction number 7802) has recently been painted in a Vietnam era colourscheme. In the past weeks the Avignon based warbird lost its Armée de l’Air (AdlA, French Air Force) livery with serial 125716 and code 20-LN.

Owner Christophe Brunelière chose to give his bird the colours of “37002” with tailcode “TC”. This tailcode was carried by Skyraiders flown by the 1st ACS/SOS USAF that operated from Bien Hoa, later Pleiku in Vietnam (1963 to 1967) and from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB form 1967 to 1972.

The Skyraider was a very popular plane amongst its pilots and the type therefore received many nicknames: Able Dog, Sandy, Spad, Hobo, Firefly, Zorro, Big Gun, Old Faithful, Old Miscellaneous.

Out of these, Christophe Brunelière chose the name “Sandy” for his F-AZHK!

Photos: Association Photographes Aéronautiques / Bruno Faure