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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1891.PDF
Douglas XA3D Skywarrior (a prototype, fitted with two Westinghouse J40, is shown). Military Aircraft 1954 Carrier-borne Strike 5,500 e.h.p., driving two three-blade Aeroproducts co-axial, contra-rotating airscrews through a common gear-box. Endurance may be protracted by shutting down one of the two units, as in the Double Mamba-powered Fairey Gannet, described under Ship-Borne Anti-Submarine. The power plant being partly below the cockpit, the pilot is placed well for ward and has an excellent view over the nose. Built-in armament is four 20 mm guns, and external provision is made for three streamlined 2,000 lb bombs (with which the aircraft is 50 kt faster than with three of the earlier, more crudely designed, bombs), or the same number of Tiny Tim rockets, torpedoes or fuel tanks of 150 or 300 U.S. gallons. Provision is made out board for eight rockets. Douglas A3D Skywarrior. This very notable carrier-borne strike machine is primarily a bomber, but is suitable for high or low-level attacks with a wide variety of weapons, including torpedoes. Considerably larger than the Canberra, it is nearly twice as heavy, and is intended for operation (in conjunction with the British-developed steam catapult) from the new Forresial class carriers. It has a high-aspect wing and is powered, in pro duction form, with two Pratt and Whitney J57-P engines. The wing and the vertical tail surfaces fold hydraulically. A point of incidental interest is that, except for an electric tail-trimming jack, the Skywarrior uses all-hydraulic auxiliary power. The various pumps and generators are mounted on one big gear-box in the fuselage, driven by an air turbine supplied by compressor- bleed air. In addition to the usual advantages of this arrange ment, the turbine and gear-box are accessible from the crew compartment, so that the various valves and switches can be operated manually. A slide-type escape chute—similar to that used in the F3D Skyknight—is built in. The internal weapons bay is said to carry "the largest-type bombs, torpedoes or other munitions the Navy is expected to utilize in striking actions from carriers" and defensive armament is two 20 mm remotely con trolled guns, in a tail barbette. Speed is well over 600 m.p.h. Douglas A4D Skyhawk. A delta-wing strike aircraft of excep tional interest, the Skyhawk is so small that its wings—of 26-28ft span—do not fold for carrier stowage; and it is lighter than many present-day shore-based fighters. The power plant is a Wright J65-W-2, and supersonic speed will be attainable in the dive, though not on the level. Construction—of aluminium-alloy— is very light, and the A4D is claimed to fly faster, over longer distances, and with a more powerful strike load than any odier aircraft of its class. Radius of action is said to be greater than for present piston-engined attack machines, and operation should be possible from all sizes of U.S. Navy carriers and from short land ing fields. North American AJ-1 and AJ-2 Savage. In these heavy, multi-seat, multi-engined aircraft is seen the germ of the Sky warrior formula, though the power plant is two Pratt and Whimey R-2800 Double Wasp piston engines plus one Allison J33-A-10 turbojet. Early Savages are now used as tankers. In the attack role a bomb load of about 10,000 lb can be carried. North American AJ-1 Savage (two Pratt and Whitney R-2800-44W and Allison J33-A-10).
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