A2D Skyshark

Infobox Aircraft
name = A2D Skyshark

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caption =
type = Attack aircraft
manufacturer = Douglas Aircraft Company
first flight =1950
introduced =
retired =
status = Cancelled
primary user = United States Navy
more users =
produced =
number built = 12 (4 never flew)
unit cost =
developed from = A-1 Skyraider
variants with their own articles = The Douglas A2D Skyshark was a turboprop-powered attack aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the United States Navy.

Design and development

In 1947 the Navy issued a letter of intent to Douglas Aircraft for a turboprop to be carrier-based. The need to operate from Casablanca class escort carriers dictated the use of a turboprop instead of jet power. [Heinemann and Rausa 1980, p. 177.] The advantages of turboprop engines over piston was in power to weight ratio and the maximum power that could be practically generated. The advantage over jets was that a turboprop ran at near full RPM all the time, and thrust could be quickly generated by simply changing the propeller pitch. While resembling the AD Skyraider, the A2D was an entirely different airplane. Engine development problems delayed the first flight until May 1950. Allison failed to deliver a "production" engine until 1953, and while testing an XA2D with that engine, test pilot C. G. "Doc" Livingston pulled out of a dive and was surprised by a loud noise and pitch up. His windscreen was covered with oil and the chase pilot told Livingston that the propellers were gone. The gearbox had failed. Livingston successfully landed the airplane. By the summer of 1954, the A4D was ready to fly. The escort carriers were being mothballed, and time had run out for the troubled A2D program. [Heinemann and Rausa 1980, p. 183.] Due largely to the failure of the Allison T40 program to produce a reliable engine, the Skyshark never entered operational service.

Twelve Skysharks were built. Most were scrapped or destroyed in accidents, and only one is believed to have survived. One was sighted at the airport at Idaho Falls, Idaho, in September 2006,Fact|date=June 2008 and is not in airworthy condition.

pecifications (XA2D-1)

aircraft specifications
ref=Encyclopedia of American Aircraft [cite web|last=Baugher|first=Joe|url=http://home.att.net/~jbaugher4/a2d.html|title=Douglas XA2D-1 Skyshark|work=Encyclopedia of American Aircraft|date=2001-10-24]

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

crew=1
length main=41 ft 3 in
length alt=12.58 m
span main=50 ft 0 in
span alt=15.24 m
height main=17 ft 1 in
height alt=3.68 m
area main=400 ft²
area alt=37 m²
empty weight main=12,900 lb
empty weight alt=5,864 kg
loaded weight main=18,700 lb
loaded weight alt=8,500 kg
max takeoff weight main=22,960 lb
max takeoff weight alt=10,436 kg
engine (prop)= Allison XT-40-A-2
type of prop= turboprop
number of props=1
power main=5,100 shp
power alt=3,800 kW
max speed main=435 knots
max speed alt=501 mph, 813 km/h
range main=1,900 nm
range alt=2,200 mi, 3,520 km
ceiling main=48,100 ft
ceiling alt=14,664 m
climb rate main=7,290 ft/min
climb rate alt=37 m/s
loading main=47 lb/ft²
loading alt=230 kg/m²
power/mass main=0.27 hp/lb
power/mass alt=440 W/kg
guns=4× 20 mm (0.787 in) T31 cannon
* Other: up to 5,500 lb (2,500 kg) on 3 external hardpoints

ee also

aircontent
related=
*A-1 Skyraider
similar aircraft=
*Westland Wyvern
*Fairey Gannet
*Tupolev Tu-91
lists=
*List of attack aircraft
*List of military aircraft of the United States
see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Heinemann, Edward, H. and Rausa, Rosario. "Combat Aircraft Designer". London: Jane's Publishing Co., 1980. ISBN 0-7106-0040-2.
* Markgraf, Gerry. "Douglas Skyshark, A2D Turbo-Prop Attack (Naval Fighters Number Forty-Three). Simi Valley, CA: Ginter Books, 1997. ISBN 0-942612-43-4."

External links