Douglas A-1 Skyraider

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-1_Skyraider

The Douglas A-1 Skyraider (formerly AD) is an American single-seat attack
aircraft that saw service between the late 1940s and early 1980s. The Skyraider
had a remarkably long and successful career; it became a piston-powered,
propeller-driven anachronism in the jet age, and was nicknamed "Spad", after the
French World War I fighter.

It was operated by the United States Navy (USN), the United States Marine Corps
(USMC) and the United States Air Force (USAF), and also saw service with the
British Royal Navy, the French Air Force, the Air Force of the Republic of
Vietnam (VNAF), and others. In U.S. service, it was finally replaced by the LTV
A-7 Corsair II swept wing subsonic jet in the early 1970s.

The piston-engined Skyraider was designed during World War II to meet United
States Navy requirements for a carrier-based, single-seat, long-range, high
performance dive/torpedo bomber, to follow-on from earlier types such as the
Helldiver and Avenger.

Role Attack aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company
First flight 18 March 1945
Introduction 1946
Retired 1985 Gabonese Air Force[1]
Status Retired
Primary users United States Navy
United States Air Force
Royal Navy
South Vietnam Air Force
Produced 1945–1957
Number built 3,180
Developed into Douglas A2D Skyshark

In addition to serving during Korea and Vietnam as an attack aircraft, the
Skyraider was modified to serve as a carrier-based airborne early warning
aircraft, replacing the Grumman TBM-3W Avenger. It fulfilled this function in
the USN and Royal Navy, being replaced by the Grumman E-1 Tracer and Fairey
Gannet, respectively, in those services.[9]

Skyraider production ended in 1957 with a total of 3,180 having been built. 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.

Specifications (A-1H Skyraider)

General characteristics
Crew: One
Length: 38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)
Wingspan: 50 ft 0¼ in (15.25 m)
Height: 15 ft 8¼ in (4.78 m)
Wing area: 400.3 ft² (37.19 m²)
Empty weight: 11,968 lb (5,429 kg)
Loaded weight: 18,106 lb (8,213 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 25,000 lb (11,340 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-3350-26WA radial engine, 2,700 hp (2,000 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 322 mph (280 kn, 518 km/h) at 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
Cruise speed: 198 mph (172 kn, 319 km/h)
Range: 1,316 mi (1,144 nmi, 2,115 km)
Service ceiling: 28,500 ft (8,685 m)
Rate of climb: 2,850 ft/min (14.5 m/s)
Wing loading: 45 lb/ft² (220 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (250 W/kg)

Armament
Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) M2 cannon
Other: Up to 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of ordnance on 15 external hardpoints including
bombs, torpedoes, mine dispensers, unguided rockets, and gun pods.




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