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| Description (photo's above taken 31 May 2009) | |||
| Manufacturer: | DOUGLAS | ||
| Designation: | AD5W, then later EA-1E | ||
| Version: | |||
| Nickname: | SKYRAIDER | ||
| Type: | Ground Attack | ||
| First Flew: | March 18, 1945 | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Length: | 40 ft. | M | |
| Height: | 15 ft. 9 5/8 in. | M | |
| Span: | 50 ft. 1/4 in | M | |
| Empty Weight: | lbs | Kg | |
| Gross Weight: | lbs | ||
| Max Weight: | 24,872 lbs. | ||
| Armament: | Four 20mm cannons and a wide assortment of bombs, rockets, mines, grenades, flares and gun pods. | ||
| Cost: | $414,000 | ||
| Propulsion | |||
| No. of Engines: | 1 | ||
| Powerplant: | Wright R-3350 | ||
| Horsepower: | 2,700 hp. | ||
| Performance | |||
| Range: | 1,500 miles | Km | |
| Cruise Speed: | 240 mph | Km/H | Kt |
| Max Speed: | 325 Mph | Km/H | Kt |
| Climb: | Ft/min | M/min | |
| Ceiling: | 26,200 Ft | M | |
The history of the Skyraider began during WW II when Douglas submitted a design to the U.S. Navy for the XBT2D-1 as a replacement for the famous SBD dive-bomber. The result was a new airplane designated as the "AD" which made its first flight on March 18, 1945. For the next 12 years there was constant improvement in the airplane up through the AD-7, and 3,180 Skyraiders were delivered to the Navy, many of which were used during the Korean War. In 1963, the U.S. Air Force began a program to modify the AD-5 Skyraider for service in Vietnam and redesignated it the A-1E. Because of its ability to carry large bomb loads, absorb heavy ground fire, and fly for long periods at low altitude, the A-1E was particularly suited for close-support missions.
The above photo is from a book on the USS Midway that shows what our aircraft would have looked like. The photo caption read: "VAW-11 Det Alfa AD-5W Skyraider in tension on the waist catapult on 13 December 1958. The waist catapult was removed during the 1966 - 70 reconstruction at Hunters Point, USN."
The Museum's EA-1E
This aircraft arrived at the museum on 11 May 2006 from Oshkosh, WI; it is on loan from the U.S. Navy. Although the specific history of this aircraft is yet to be researched, the exterior painted markings indicate the squadron was VAW 11 and that this aircraft was an EA-1E, the carrier airborne early warning version of the A-1. Click here for additional information on our EA-1E.
The above photo was taken on 17 May 2006. Notice the missing panel of the rear cockpit. A new one was fabricated by museum volunteers. The aircraft's right wing was not able to be attached until new brackets were fabricated. The result of all the repairs and a new paint job are seen below.
(photo above taken 31 May 2009)
