Why doesn't the A-4 Skyhawk require rudder in coordinated turns like on other Century Series aircraft?

Question

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a subsonic jet aircraft design from the early fifties.

Usually, in order to make a coordinate turn without skidding or slipping , the pilots of the other types of aircrafts must move the rudder to the side where they want to turn alongside with the ailerons and elevators. However, the A-4 does not require any rudder movements . Use of the rudder is allowed only in cross winds at landing according to a navy pilot writing on a message board:

An every day use would be during takeoff and landing in a crosswind to control the strong tendency for the A4 with the large tail fin to point its nose into the cross wind. This could be disastrous if not brought under control with the large rudder being very effective at slow airspeeds. And of course the spoilers dumping lift on landing so that aircraft weight went on to the main wheels for more effective braking and less tendency to weathercock.

In my day learning to fly with the RAAF - before rejoining the Navy (FAA) - we learnt to fly on Winjeels where all kinds of spins were allowed and practiced. In the Vampire NO. Spins were forbidden - this is where we learnt the 'feet on floor' technique. In the Sea Venom it was a similar situation but by this time we were also flying Vampires in the Navy (1969-70) the technique was ingrained to not use rudders in flight and now not in the Skyhawk.

Is it because of the shape of the wings or the rudder position?

Answer 1

Based on the included quote, this probably because of the effectiveness of rudder control on the A-4. If it's effective enough at low speed to control against a high crosswind component for takeoff or landing, it's way too much when at operational speed.

That is to say, if the pilot were to apply proverse rudder in a common turn, he'd push the airplane into a skid by overpowering the applied bank. The required deflection to coordinate the turn would be so small as to be nearly impossible to apply -- and the A-4 is too old to have computer-managed controls that give more authority at low airspeed and less when fast. Hence, once clear of the ground, clean, and up to normal operational speed, feet flat on the floor is the order of the day.