This aircraft was originally operated the US Navy. The fleet for the RMAF arrived in Kuantan on December 28, 1984. They were refurbished by Grummans Corporation to Malaysian specification, hence the PTM -- Peculiar To Malaysia -- designation.
The Skyhawks were purchased as part of the Armed Forces "Perista" development programme, to provide the RMAF with strength in numbers. Thus 80 Skyhawks mothballed at Davis Monthan AFB were selected for purchase with a plan to refurbish some 60 aircraft. However, only 40 were actually refurbished.
Maintenance and spares problems soon plagued the aircraft with a few falling off the sky. Meantime, a replacement programme was in being and a combination of BAe Hawk 100's and 200's, MiG-29's and F/A-18's were approved for purchase to take the RMAF into the high performance and high tech era of fighter aviation.
Last update : 29 November, 2002
