Skyraider air-to-airs

Thanks guys for the update on the current status and scheme of the SPAD in my air-to-airs from a while back. It’s great to know she’s still active and well looked after.

I got to view this plane at the Lone Star Flight Museum on Wednesday this week. The Rose and M-16 artwork is still on the plane. However, the original words “Guns n Roses” has been replaced with “Uncle Ho’s Nightmare”. In addition, the name Marlene has been added to the cowl above the mentioned artwork and name.

Maybe new nose art NOW but in that link it’s also still ‘Guns and Roses’, a rose carrying an M-16 rifle…..but they probably have changed it by now.

Mark

Same paint…new nose art

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/a1registry/a1-126882.html

Well, then you’ll find this interesting….THIS is her! (Doan’s old machine) Check the N number…this is a shot I took of her in her old colors BEFORE they repainted her into her new camouflage colors and the the name ‘Guns and Roses’ on the cowling…and as I said, she just sold on to a guy/company in Houston, so she’s still flying as far as I know…I thought this Skyraider looked familiar from the air to air pics!

Mark

In answer to your query Corsair166b, the “SPAD” in my shots was laid down as Bu 126882, served with the French as No85, the Gabonese as 126882 then civilianised as N91945. Unfortunately Harry Doan was killed in this very machine when it overturned on landing and he was trapped in the cockpit. The aircraft was restored and sold. I believe it was (maybe still is) airworthy with the Marine Aviation Museum, Wilmington DE, USA. I’m not sure what scheme it now carries.

I just ask because we had a Skyraider out here numbered ‘409’ and in the same paint scheme….

Mark, the reason this VA-176 paintjob is so populair is because the real 137543/AK-409 is one of two MiG-killing Skyraiders. On October 9, 1966 this aircraft shot down a MiG-17 during a search-and-rescue mission.

And since VA-176 had far more spectaculair looks than VA-25 (which scored the other MiG, also a -17 in June 1965), i don’t think any Skyraider was ever painted up to look like 139768/NE-577. I did find a drawing how it looked though.

As for the fates of these aircraft: 139768 was shot down by small arms fire on March 17, 1967 when flying as NF-504 with VA-115 from the USS Hancock. I’m not sure what happened to 137543, but appearantly it was scrapped in the early 1970s. It’s definately not one of the flyers: all Spads mimicking 137543 are of the AD-4/A-1E variety, while it was in fact an AD-6/A-1H.

I just ask because we had a Skyraider out here numbered ‘409’ and in the same paint scheme….it then changed colors to camouflage and assumed the nose art ‘Guns and Roses’ and is now down in Houston after having been sold on last year…I wonder if it’s the same machine? Where did Doan’s bird end up? Is it still stateside or has it gone to the UK?

Mark

The Skyraider – big, beautiful, and BAAAD. Just look at the size of the pilot compared to the airframe in Franck66’s post.

Thanks for the photos all – loverly!

Answers to your queries

In answer to your queries:

(To Corsair 166b). My air-to-airs were taken over Florida when the Skyraider was operated by Harry Doan.

(To merlin 70). I was using Canon zooms attached to a Canon T90 on Kodak slide stock.

Great to see that another photographer got some a-a of a European based example, though I suspect a little more recently than mine. Ironic that the machine I shot in the USA once served with the French forces – had it not been for that air arm then the world would have far fewer airworthy Spads today.

Does anyone know how many are actually painted like that

Only one in France, we have actually 4 Skyraider, this one with the VA-176 color scheme, two with the french air force color scheme and this one :

Will you be joining the Forum meet at La Ferte Alias airshow

yes of course

Really populair, that VA-176 paintjob. Does anyone know how many are actually painted like that?

Franck

They are also great pics.

Will you be joining the Forum meet at La Ferte Alias airshow?

regards

tc

two of my Skyraider air to air photo, this is the AJBS Skyraider. I was in a Dakota in flight with a P-51, a T-6 and this Skyraider

Great photos.

What camera and lens were used if you don’t mind my asking?

Consul, where were these taken, in the US or UK? And if US, what state?

Mark

Another favourite of mine, thx for sharing Consul.
FlyPast had a focus on them recently that i really enjoyed.