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Douglas Skyraider
The Douglas A-1 (formerly AD) Skyraider was a U.S. single-seat attack bomber of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. A propeller-driven anachronism in the jet age, the Skyraider had a remarkably long and successful career well into the space age, and inspired a straight-winged, slow flying jet powered successor which is still in frontline service today, the A-10 Warthog.
It carried various nicknames including: "Spad" (a bi-winged airplane flown in World War I), "Able Dog" (phonetic AD), the "Destroyer," "Hobo" (radio call sign of the USAF 1st Air Commando/Special operations Squadron), "Firefly" (602nd ACS/SOS), "Zorro" (22nd SOS), "The Big Gun," "Old Faithful," "Old Miscellaneous," "Fat Face" (AD-5/A-1E version, side-by-side seating), "Guppy" (AD-5W version), "Q-Bird" (AD-1Q/AD-5Q versions), "Flying Dumptruck" (A-1E), "Sandy" (Combat Search And Rescue helicopter escort) and "Crazy Water Buffalo" (South Vietnamese nickname).
Type: Carrier based Attack aircraft
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
Maiden flight: March 18, 1945
Production span: 1945–1957
Number built: 3,180
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Users: Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, France, Gabon, South Vietnam, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam
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Specifications: A-1H
Powerplant:
Model: Wright R-3350-26WA
Type: Radial
Number: One Horsepower: 2,700
Dimensions:
Length: 38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)
Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.25 m)
Height: 15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
Wing area: 400.31 ft² (37.19 m²)
Weights:
Empty: 11,970 lb (5,430 kg)
Loaded: 18,030 lb (8,180 kg)
Max takeoff: 25,000 lb (11,340 kg)
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Performance:
Maximum speed: 320 mph (520 kph)
Cruise speed: 295 mph (475 kph)
Range: 1,315 mi (1,142 NM, 2,115 km)
Service ceiling: 28,500 ft (8,660 m)
Rate of climb: N/A
Wing loading: 45 lb/ft² (220 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (250 W/kg)
Armament:
Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon
Ordnance: Up to 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of ordnance on 15 external hardpoints including bombs, torpedoes, mine dispensers, unguided rockets, or gun pods
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Sources:
Wikipedia: A-1 Skyraider
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