Douglas Aircraft Company of Long Beach, California built 226 TA-4J Skyhawks at an initial cost of $860,000 each. The TA-4J Skyhawk was a two-seat, lightweight, high-performance aircraft with a modified delta wing whose primary role was training carrier pilots. It was 42'7" long, had a 27'6" wingspan, stood 14'11" high, weighed 10,602 lbs empty, and had a maximum takeoff weight of 24,500 lbs. Its maximum level speed was 675 mph, its cruising speed was 587 mph, its maximum range was 2200 miles, its service ceiling was 38,700 feet, and it was powered by a Pratt & Whitney J52-P6A engine with 8500 lbs. thrust. The aircraft first flew on December 17, 1968 and was retired from active service in May, 2003. The Navy Blue Angels used it during the 1970's for ariel demonstration.