Douglas F4D Skyray

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_F4D_Skyray

The Douglas F4D Skyray (later redesignated F-6 Skyray) is an American
carrier-based fighter/interceptor built by the Douglas Aircraft Company.
Although it was in service for a relatively short time (1956-1964) and never
entered combat, it was the first carrier-launched aircraft to hold the world's
absolute speed record, at 752.943 mph, and was the first United States Navy and
United States Marine Corps fighter that could exceed Mach 1 in level flight. It
was the last fighter produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company before it merged
with McDonnell Aircraft and became McDonnell Douglas. The F5D Skylancer was an
advanced development of the F4D Skyray that did not go into service.

The Skyray was designed to meet a Navy requirement issued in 1947 for a fighter
aircraft that could intercept and destroy an enemy aircraft at an altitude of
50,000 ft (15,240 m) within five minutes of the alarm being sounded. The Navy
also wanted an aircraft that followed the designs and research of the German
aerodynamicist Alexander Lippisch, who moved to the U.S. after World War II.

The F4D Skyray was a wide delta wing design with long, sharply swept, rounded
wings. The design was named for its resemblance to the manta ray. The thick wing
roots contained the air intakes feeding a single turbojet engine. Fuel was
contained both in the wings and the deep fuselage. Leading edge slats were
fitted for increased lift during takeoff and landing, while the trailing edges
were mostly elevon control surfaces. Additional pitch trimmers were fitted
inboard near the jet exhaust, and were locked upwards on takeoff and landing.

The Westinghouse J40 turbojet was the intended powerplant, but Douglas took a
conservative view and designed in contingency options for other power plants.
The J40 proved troublesome and was eventually cancelled, and the Skyray was
fitted instead with the Pratt & Whitney J57, a more powerful but larger engine.

Production aircraft were not delivered until early 1956, while the United States
Marine Corps received their first in 1957. In total, 419 F4D-1 (later designated
F-6 in the unified designation system) aircraft were produced.

Its unique design also played a part in making the Skyray one of the best-known
early jet fighters. It was affectionately known as the "Ford" (after the "Four"
and "D" of its designation). In 1953, Edward H. Heinemann was awarded the
Collier Trophy in recognition of his design work on the F4D.


Role
Fighter aircraft

Manufacturer
Douglas Aircraft Company

First flight
23 January 1951

Introduction
1956

Retired
1964

Status
Retired

Primary users
United States Navy
United States Marine Corps

Produced
1950–1958

Number built
422

Developed into
Douglas F5D Skylancer

In April 1956, VC-3 was the first squadron operational with the F4D-1. This unit
was later redesignated VFAW-3 and assigned to NORAD, as the only United States
Navy fighter squadron in what was predominantly a United States Air Force and
Royal Canadian Air Force organization. VFAW-3 was permanently based at NAS North
Island in San Diego.

The U.S. Marine Corps also flew the Skyray. When the Department of Defense
adopted a uniform aircraft designation system patterned on the U.S. Air Force
aircraft designation system in September 1962, the F4D was redesignated as the
F-6A Skyray. In addition to multiple Navy and Marine Corps squadrons, Naval Air
Reserve and Marine Air Reserve squadrons VF-881, VF-882 and VMF-215 also flew
the Skyray. The last operational squadron was VMF(AW)-115, which flew the Skyray
until February 1964.

The Skyray was designed exclusively for the high-altitude interception role,
with a high rate and angle of climb. It set a new time-to-altitude record,
flying from a standing start to 49,221 feet (15,003 m) in 2 minutes and 36
seconds, all while flying at a 70° pitch angle. As a dedicated interceptor, the
F4D was unsuited to the multi-mission capabilities soon in demand, so it had a
short career in Navy and Marine Corps service, the last aircraft being withdrawn
from service in 1964. Four aircraft were used by NACA (soon to be NASA) until
1969.

Under the new 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system, the
F4D-1 was redesignated the F-6A. The F4D (old designation) should not be
confused with the F-4D (new designation) – the latter being the "D" variant of
the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II operated by the U.S. Air Force.

Specifications (F4D-1)

General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 45 ft 3 in (13.8 m)
Wingspan: 33 ft 6 in (10.21 m)
Height: 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Wing area: 557 sq ft (52 m2)
Empty weight: 16,024 lb (7,268 kg)
Loaded weight: 22,648 lb (10,273 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 27,116 lb (12,300 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney J57-P-8, -8A or -8B turbojet Dry thrust: 10,200
lbf (45 kN)
Thrust with afterburner: 16,000 lbf (64.5 kN)


Performance
Maximum speed: 722 mph (627 kn, 1,162 km/h)
Range: 700 mi (610 nmi, 1,100 km) combat
Ferry range: 1,200 mi (1,040 nmi, 1,900 km)
Service ceiling: 55,000 ft (17,000 m)
Rate of climb: 18,300 ft/min (93.3 m/s)
Wing loading: 41 lb/sq ft (198 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.71

Armament

Guns: 4 × 20 mm Colt Mk 12 cannon, 2 each just aft of the wing leading edge,
mid-wing, underside, with 65 rounds/gun
Rockets:
6 pods of 7 2.75 in (70 mm) unguided rockets or
4 pods of 19 2.75 in (70 mm) unguided rockets

Missiles: 4 × AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles
Bombs: 2 × 2,000 lb (907 kg) bombs

Avionics

APQ-50A radar
Aero 13F fire-control radar




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