Douglas A2D Skyshark
Carrier-based low-wing attack aircraft, U.S.A.

Overview ²

• Douglas A2D Skyshark
• Role: Attack aircraft
• National origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
• First flight: 26 March 1950
• Status: Canceled
• Primary user: United States Navy
• Number built: 2 × XA2D-1 prototypes + 10 A2D-1 pre-production aircraft (4 of which never flew)
• Developed from: A-1 Skyraider

The Douglas A2D Skyshark was an American turboprop-powered attack aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the United States Navy.

Design and Development ²

On 25 June 1945, the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) asked Douglas Aircraft for a turbine-powered, propeller-driven aircraft. Three proposals were put forth in the next year and a half: the D-557A, to use two General Electric TG-100s (T31s) in wing nacelles; the D-557B, the same engine, with counter-rotating propellers; and the D-557C, to use the Westinghouse 25D. These were canceled due to engine development difficulties, but BuAer continued to seek an answer to thirsty jets.

On 11 June 1947 Douglas received the Navy’s letter of intent for a carrier-based turboprop. The need to operate from Casablanca-class escort carriers dictated the use of a turboprop instead of jet power.

While it resembled the AD Skyraider, the A2D was different in a number of unseen ways. The 5,100-equivalent shaft horsepower (3,800 kW) Allison XT-40-A2 had more than double the horsepower of the Skyraider’s R-3350. The XT40 installation on the Skyshark used contra-rotating propellers to harness all the available power. Wing root thickness decreased, from 17% to 12%, while both the height of the tail and its area grew.

Navy test pilot Cdr. Hugh Wood was killed attempting to land the first prototype XA2D-1, BuNo 122988, on 19 December 1950, on its 15th flight. He was unable to check the rate of descent, resulting in a high-impact crash on the runway. Investigation found the starboard power section of the coupled Allison XT40A turboprop engine had failed and did not declutch, allowing the Skyshark to fly on the power of the opposite section, nor did the propellers feather. As the wings’ lift disappeared, a fatal sink rate was induced. Additional instrumentation and an automatic decoupler was added to the second prototype, but by the time it was ready to fly on 3 April 1952, sixteen months had passed, and with all-jet designs being developed, the A2D program was essentially dead. Total flight time on the lost airframe was barely 20 hours.

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, but Livingston successfully landed the airplane. The A4D was ready to fly by the summer of 1954, and the escort carriers were being mothballed, so that time had run out for the troubled A2D program.

Twelve Skysharks were built, two prototypes and ten pre-production aircraft. Most were scrapped or destroyed in accidents, and only one has survived.

Aircraft on Display ²

A2D-1 Skyshark, BuNo. 125485, is at the Gillespie Field Annex of the San Diego Air & Space Museum in El Cajon, California. It was restored for static display by Pacific Fighters.

Douglas A2D-1 Skyshark Specifications ²

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 41 ft 2.41 in (12.56 m)
• Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
• Height: 17 ft 0.75 in (5.2007 m)
• Wing area: 400 ft² (37 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 0012
• Empty weight: 12,944 lb (5,871 kg)
• Gross weight: 18,720 lb (8,491 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 22,966 lb (10,417 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 500 US gal (420 Imp gal; 1,900 L) main fuselage tank + 300 US gal (250 Imp gal; 1,100 L) (in up to 3 × 100 US gal (83 Imp gal; 380 L) drop-tanks)
• Powerplant: 1 × Allison XT40-A-2 turboprop, 5,500 shp (4,100 kW) equivalent - (5,100 shp (3,800 kW) + 830 lbf (3.7 kN) residual thrust)
• Propellers: 6-bladed Aeroproducts AD8664 FN-47, 14 ft (4.267 m) diameter contra-rotating constant-speed fully-feathering reversible-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 492 mph (792 kph, 428 kn) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
• Maximum speed at sea level: 477.5 mph (414.9 kn; 768.5 kph) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg)
• Cruise speed: 276 mph (444 kph, 240 kn)
• Stall speed: 100.5 mph (161.7 kph, 87.3 kn) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg)
• Combat range: 512 mi (824 km, 445 nmi) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg) at 338 mph (294 kn; 544 kph)
• Ferry range: 2,200 mi (3,500 km, 1,900 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 48,300 ft (14,700 m) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg)
• Rate of climb: 7,960 ft/min (40.4 m/s) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg) s.l.
• Wing loading: 46.8 lb/ft² (228 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.333 shp/lb (0.547 kW/kg)
• Take-off field distance sea level hot: 465 ft (142 m) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg)
• Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m): 940 ft (290 m) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg)
• Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m) hot: 1,350 ft (410 m) at 17,592 lb (7,980 kg)

Armament

• Guns: 4 × 20mm (0.787 in) T31 cannon
• Hardpoints: 13 with a capacity of 5,500 lb (2,500 kg)

References

1. Shupek, John. The Skytamer Photo Archive, photos by John Shupek, copyright © 2000 Skytamer Images (Skytamer.com)
2. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Douglas A2D Skyshark