BoeingFan7879
Douglas XBT2D-1 Dauntless II {AD-1/A-1 SkyRaider}
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider, formerly known as the AD-1, is a single-seater, carrier-borne attack bomber aircraft with a unique design and features. It was designed for, but not flown during World War II, and it applied both operational lessons learned from the wartime service of Curtiss Helldivers and Grumman Avengers, making it a fascinating piece of military history.
The Skyraider's impressive service spanned from the 1940s through to the 1980s, a testament to its endurance and reliability. It served in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War, even as more versatile jet-powered aircraft were taking over the attack duties. The piston-engined Skyraider, with its enduring service, seemed like a throwback to an earlier age of military aviation. It earned the nickname "Spad," after the rugged French biplane from World War I.
The Skyraider was powered by the formidable Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone radial engine, one of the most powerful radial engines produced in the United States at the time. This engine, with its 18 cylinders in a twin-row configuration and supercharged design, provided the Skyraider with exceptional performance, a key factor in its success.
The Skyraider was not designed to be a dogfighter, so air-to-air combat was relatively rare. However, on October 9th, 1966, in the most famous mission involving an Intrepid Skyraider, Lt. (j.g.) William T. (Tom) Patton shot down a MiG-17 over Vietnam. This victory was an unusual instance where an older propeller-driven aircraft prevailed over a newer jet-powered fighter. This example is designated as an XBT2D-1 Dauntless II. It was one of the 25 prototypes built, but the program ended after WWII. Currently, this is the oldest surviving Skyraider in existence.
Douglas XBT2D-1 Dauntless II {AD-1/A-1 SkyRaider}
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider, formerly known as the AD-1, is a single-seater, carrier-borne attack bomber aircraft with a unique design and features. It was designed for, but not flown during World War II, and it applied both operational lessons learned from the wartime service of Curtiss Helldivers and Grumman Avengers, making it a fascinating piece of military history.
The Skyraider's impressive service spanned from the 1940s through to the 1980s, a testament to its endurance and reliability. It served in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War, even as more versatile jet-powered aircraft were taking over the attack duties. The piston-engined Skyraider, with its enduring service, seemed like a throwback to an earlier age of military aviation. It earned the nickname "Spad," after the rugged French biplane from World War I.
The Skyraider was powered by the formidable Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone radial engine, one of the most powerful radial engines produced in the United States at the time. This engine, with its 18 cylinders in a twin-row configuration and supercharged design, provided the Skyraider with exceptional performance, a key factor in its success.
The Skyraider was not designed to be a dogfighter, so air-to-air combat was relatively rare. However, on October 9th, 1966, in the most famous mission involving an Intrepid Skyraider, Lt. (j.g.) William T. (Tom) Patton shot down a MiG-17 over Vietnam. This victory was an unusual instance where an older propeller-driven aircraft prevailed over a newer jet-powered fighter. This example is designated as an XBT2D-1 Dauntless II. It was one of the 25 prototypes built, but the program ended after WWII. Currently, this is the oldest surviving Skyraider in existence.