A-1 Skyraider
| A-1 Skyraider | ||
|---|---|---|
 
| ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Naval attack aircraft and airborne early warning aircraft | |
| Crew | 1 to 4 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 38 ft 4 in | 11.7 m |
| Wingspan | 50 ft | 15.2 m |
| Height | 17 ft 6 in | 5.3 m |
| Wing area | ||
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 10,508 lb | 4,766 kg |
| Loaded | 13,924 lb (as scout) 18,030 lb (as bomber) | 6,316 kg 8,180 kg |
| Maximum take-off | ||
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | One Wright R-3550-24W engine | |
| Power | 2,500 hp | 1,900 kW |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | ||
| Combat range | ||
| Ferry range | ||
| Service ceiling | 23,800 ft | 7,300 m |
| Rate of climb | ||
| Armament | ||
| Guns | Two 20 mm M-3 cannons | |
| Bombs | One 2,000 lb (450 kg) bomb on fuselage, two 2,000 lb (450 kg) bombs on wings | |
| Depth bombs | One 650 lb (300 kg) depth bomb on fuselage, two 650 lb (300 kg) depth bombs on wings | |
| Torpedoes | One MK 13-3 on fuselage, two MK 13-3 on wings | |
| Mines | One 2,000 lb (900 kg) mine on fuselage, two 1,000 lb (450 kg) mines on wings | |
| Rockets | Two 11.75 Tiny Tim or 12 HVAR on wings | |
The Douglas AD-1 (later A-1) Skyraider was a US single-seat attack bomber of the 1950s and 1960s, a propeller-driven anachronism in the Jet Age with a remarkably long and successful career.
The Skyraider was originally designed in the 1940s by Ed Heinemann of the Douglas Aircraft Company, as a simpler alternative to the XBTD-1. At the time of the first prototype's flight on 18 March 1945, it was the largest production single-seater aircraft. The low-wing monoplane design started with a Wright R-3350 radial engine, later upgraded multiple times. Its distinctive feature was the presence of seven hardpoints on each wing, enabling it to carry a tremendous amount of ordnance for its size.
Although the Skyraider came into production too late for World War II, it turned out to be of great value in the Korean War, since its weapon load and 10-hour flying time far surpassed the jets that were available.
It went through seven versions, starting with the AD-1, then AD-2 and AD-3 with various minor improvements, then the AD-4 with a more powerful R-3350-26WA engine. The AD-5 was significantly widened, allowing two crew to sit side-by-side (this was not the first multiple-crew variant, the AD-1Q being a two-seater and the AD-3N a three-seater); it also came in a 4-seat night-attack version, the AD-5N. The AD-6 was an improved AD-4B with improved low-level bombing equipment, and the final production version AD-7 was upgraded to a R-3350-26WB engine.
Production ended in 1957 with a total of 3,180 built. However, in 1962 the existing Skyraiders were redesignated A-1D through A-1J and later used by both the USAF and the Navy in the Vietnam War.
In addition to serving during Korea and Vietnam as an attack aircraft, it was modified into the first airborne early warning aircraft to see service off aircraft carriers. It served in this function in the USN and Royal Navy, being replaced by the E-1 Tracer and Fairey Gannett respectively in those services.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Units Using the A-1 |
Variants
Units Using the A-1
USAF Squadrons
USN Squadrons
USMC Squadrons
Fleet Air Arm
ArmÃÂée de l'Air
Republic of Vietnam Air Force
External Link
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Related Development | |
| Similar Aircraft | |
| Designation Series | A-1 - A-2 - A-3 - A-4 |
| Related Lists | List of military aircraft of the United States |
| List of aircraft - List of aircraft manufacturers>Aircraft manufacturers - Aircraft engines - Aircraft engine manufacturers - Years in Aviation |