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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0211.PDF
15 February 1957 213 SPOILER BRAKING-PARACHUTE STOWAGETURRET EQUIPMENT ACCESS DOOR REAR-FUSELAGE FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT POINTS FOR 12 R.A.T.O. BOTTLES TAIL BUMPER AFTER-FUSELAGE COMPARTMENT: AMMUNITION. ELECTRONICS. TURRET EQUIPMENT Douglas A3D-1 Skywarrior (two Pratt and Whitney J57-P-6 turbojets each rated at 11,0001b): Span, 72ft 6in; overall length, 73ft 6in; height on ground, 22ft 9in; gross wing area, 730 sq ft; net wing area, approximately 680 sq ft; weight empty, approximately 38,000 Ib; normal gross weight, 70,000 Ib; overload weight. used in conjunction with twelve 4,500 Ib-thrust RATO bottles, 73,000 Ib; maximum level speed, about 630 m.p.h. or Mach 0.85, whichever is the lesser; operational ceiling, about 45,000ft; landing speed, 145 kt (carrier), 150 kt (airfield) or 170 kt (emergency); normal operational range, approx. 2,000 miles with std. tankage. the aircraft can be controlled—albeit with appreciable musculareffort—during circuit flying and landing. For combat purposes the Skywarrior is also fitted with hydraulically operated spoilers,which are brought into play whenever aileron control-force exceeds a comfortable limit. At high spe»d the spoilers multiplythe maximum attainable rate of roll by a factor of four or five. Trie flaps are N.A.C.A.-type slotted units, running out on externalhinge brackets. Aerodynamically-opened leading-edge slots are provided, and the entire vertical tail folds to starboard (for carrierstowage) to lie along the top of the variable-incidence tailplane. The Pratt and Whitney engines are suspended from forged lugsat the foot of the "main spar" of each nacelle pylon, and a steady point is provided at the rear. Starting is pneumatic, compressedair normally being supplied through a hose by an AiResearch gas-turbine /compressor trolley. Stainless piping is used insidethe A3D to carry bleed air at high pressure and temperature (the J57 engine has a maximum pressure-ratio of 12.5:1) to the acces-sory bay in the lower part of the forward fuselage. Here the air is used to drive air-turbine motors which provide shaft-powerfor several of the main systems. The whole bay is compact and is protected by armour and flak-curtains. Provision is made for a crew of three: pilot, co-pilot/bom-bardier and navigator/gunner. The flight deck is spacious and comfortable and the fact that virtually the whole area is glazed Ahead of the weapons bay is an anti-buffet rake; note also the flush intake, crew door, weapons-bay doors and fuelling socket. makes flying in the A3D particularly pleasant. The front of thecanopy is carried well ahead of the instrument panel in an acute vee windscreens and visibility is excellent. A ditching hatch isprovided in the roof and emergency escape in the air is effected through a smooth-walled chute leading to a ventral exit. Aregion of relatively dead air around the chute exit is provided by the powered door, hinged at its forward edge. General performance of the Skywarrior is better than that of
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