Douglas A2D Skyshark

… with I think a Buick Slylark?!
Rob

Yes, looks to be one of the limited production 53 Skylarks…a very expensive Buick with custom styling touches (note the cut down windscreen and wire wheels) done at the factory.

A year or two ago, someone on this forum was saying something along the lines of “What is needed is a turbine Skyraider”. Well the Navy and Douglas thought of that a very long time ago.
Too bad the engine/gearbox wasn’t developed (the US wasn’t a fan of counter rotating props, I can’t think of a single American production type that used them) because the idea of a turbine attack aircraft had merit.
In the end, rather than lugging around a heavy prop and gearbox, a pure jet attack type was built, the great A4D Skyhawk.

Yes, though it grieves me to say it you are right. Everything new has to be learned somewhere somehow.

I knew there was something familiar about that shape. It’s basically a Skyraider fitted with a turboprop instead of a radial and a few feet taken out aft of the cockpit. Should have left it alone

To be fair Mike it was considered at first to be a straight forward conversion of a Skyraider airframe but utilising a new state of the art engine layout, but to be able to make the most of the increased power from the Allison coupled turboprop engine it ended up being a totally new airframe – bearing only a similarity in appearance.
Also remember that this was a relative first for the Americans in producing a viable turboprop attack aircraft – just as the Wyvern was for the British, and with ever changing specifications etc its appearance suffered as a consequence.

Anyway as a fan of the type I’m still interested to know if anything else has survived of the twelve built?

Ps.. Lovely photos, Spiteful, especially the Skyshark with I think a Buick Slylark?!

Rob

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Even a boot is better looking than that. Compared with some French types though it suddenly becomes beautiful. If any nationality can lay claim to designing the majority of the world’s ugliest aircraft it has to be the French.

Skyshark, Gannet …… all gorgeous looking aircraft when compared to the Tupolev Tu-91 ‘Boot’……

http://gustavoadolfo.flogbrasil.terra.com.br/fotos/b/4/0/gustavoadolfo/1203800020.jpg

http://files.ruslet.webnode.cz/200003855-73121736c9/Tu-91_09.jpg

The Soviets may have been many things ….. but they knew how to design an ugly aircraft.

Even the Reporting Name seems singularly appropriate.

Ken

Is this the one that Ed Maloney had in his Claremont Museum?
Nice looking model in 1/48
From another website…What if…Could have been?

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I knew there was something familiar about that shape. It’s basically a Skyraider fitted with a turboprop instead of a radial and a few feet taken out aft of the cockpit. Should have left it alone.
J Boyle, some of us here think the Gannet is quite attractive, in a strange way.. At least the proportions of the Gannet look right.

Oh boy, did that hit every branch on the way down!

Adrian

Couldn’t agree more. Certainly not likely to win any votes for the world’s prettiest aircraft.

Oh boy, did that hit every branch on the way down!
Adrian

As opposed to the “world beating” Gannet? Now there’s a looker….

Looks hell of alot better than when I saw it at Chino in 1992, what a rarity.

Is this the one that Ed Maloney had in his Claremont Museum?
Nice looking model in 1/48
From another website…What if…Could have been?

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Thanks for the replies. Given the problems that the Allison T40 engine gave and its rarity I would of been stunned if this one was a runner.

Adrian – yes it’s monster of a thing and as a type was a complete failure, even though it could make 500mph. being a typical example of trying to couple a new airframe with a new engine (coupled) and a new gearbox. But in its favour I understand it did make a sizeable contribution to the development of more successful turboprop engines, such as in the C-130.

I wonder if any parts of the other completed examples have survived?

Rob

Oh boy, did that hit every branch on the way down!

Adrian

Restored to static display condition, now owned by Jim Slattery.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]238041[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]238042[/ATTACH]One of my favourite aircraft, this Skyshark was photographed in the static park at an airshow in San Diego.
As I have always thought there was only one example left – which last time I looked was unpainted and incomplete, what I’d like to know is if this is the same one has it been restored and does it have an engine fitted now?

Rob

This is the sole survivor of 12 built (#7). It was restored by Pacific Fighters in 1995.