Douglas A2D Skyshark

1950

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Douglas A2D Skyshark

The turboprop engine offered to provide the power that early jets lacked. However, no manufacturer really achieved a successful turboprop combat aircraft before jet engines improved. A notable failure was the Skyshark, which was a satisfactory airframe design that suffered terribly from problems with the XT-40 engine. In particular, making the gearbox work reliably proved impossible. Other problems included bearing failures and overheated skin around the exhausts. When fighting intensified in Korea, the Navy and Douglas switched their priorities to the proven Skyraider. Development continued, marred by the loss of gearboxes or props on three of the five Douglas test aircraft. Twelve Skysharks were built, but only eight ever received engines. Meanwhile, jets had overtaken the turboprop and by 1954 Douglas was testing the XA4D Skyhawk, destined for over 50 years of service.

FACTS AND FIGURES

© The Skyshark's canopy gave a poorer view than the Skyraider's, but the pilot was at least equipped with an ejection seat.

© The propeller control mechanism consisted of 25 unreliable vacuum tubes in a black box about the size of a suitcase and gave constant trouble.

© On one test flight the propellers flew completely off. The pilot skilfully made a successful landing, having engine power but no propulsive force.

Douglas A2D Skyshark

Specification 
 CREW1
 ENGINE1 x Allison XT-40-A-2 turbo-prop, 3803kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight10417 kg22966 lb
  Empty weight5871 kg12943 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan15.24 m50 ft 0 in
  Length12.56 m41 ft 2 in
  Height5.20 m17 ft 1 in
  Wing area37.16 m2399.99 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed805 km/h500 mph
  Cruise speed443 km/h275 mph
  Ceiling14660 m48100 ft
  Range1025 km637 miles
 ARMAMENT4 x 20mm cannons, 2500kg of bombs

Comments
Michael Keister, e-mail, 19.05.2014 17:03

Not that it would be of any interest to anyone, but the test pilot who was killed tryin to land one of the prototype A2Ds (Lt. Cdr. Hugh Wood) was a close friend and classmate of my father's (in fact, Lt. Cdr. Wood as my dad's best man when my parents were married back in '43). Also interesting to note is the Lt. Cdr. Wood led the first dive-bombing attack on the Yamato (scored a couple hits too).

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Terry Haug, e-mail, 02.02.2014 13:46

I met Doc Livingston in the 70's at Rosamond, CA Airport, just a few miles west of Edwards AFB. He flew a Laister LP-46 sailplane, mine was an Laister LP-49. He did tell me of a flight when the props broke off the twin-prop A /C. He had control of the A /C and decided to land it at Edwards. I remember that he stated that touchdown was around 28d knots and that the props landed neat the base hospital. Forty years later, memory still fresh.

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Michael, e-mail, 07.01.2014 19:00

My father's best man and Annapolis classmate, Cdr. Hugh Wood, recipient of two Navy Crosses, was killed while test flying the A2D. Tragic end to what should have been a brilliant and successful career.

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Michael Wood, e-mail, 16.01.2022 Michael

Dear Michael,
This at least 7 years late but I am putting together an album about my father, Hugh Wood, and just found your 2014 text, I was 2 when he was killed and never knew him so can’t tell you how wonderful to hear he had a great friend in your dad! Thanks ,Mike Wood

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Terrence I. Murphy, e-mail, 17.02.2012 17:54

Not a very clean looking plane for the exclusive 500 mph club. I have my doubts if it ever actually made 500 mph?

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Jim Joubert, e-mail, 28.12.2011 19:18

It's a shame you haven't devoted some space to the original AD Skyraider. A work horse of an airplane that was very sucessful as a Navy attack aircraft, early warning and hunter killer combinations during the Korean war. A significant attribute of the AD was It carried as much ordinance as a B-17 did during WWII.

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bombardier, e-mail, 02.09.2011 11:29

Even if that ugly bird with the welded together engines had solved it's technical problems it would have been out of date by the time it entered service.

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Klaatu, e-mail, 17.05.2011 04:29

Another otherwise-promising aircraft spoiled by the powerful, complex and notoriously unreliable Allison XT-40 turboprop engine. in the immediate post-WW-II period the Navy expected great things of the XT-40. In addition to the Skyshark, it was installed in the Convair XFY Pogo, the Lockheed XFV Salmon, the Republic F-84H Thunderscreech, and the Convair R3Y Tradewind 4-engined flying boat. Of all of those aircraft, only the Tradewind ever progressed to the point of limited production, and they too were withdrawn from service after only a single year due to engine problems.

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Larry McMahon, e-mail, 05.04.2011 19:54

Was instrumentation engineer on A2D #480 at EAFB in 1953 while
working for Douglas Aircraft. Pilot was usually Doc Livingston. Lots of work maintaining flight recorders, strain gauges,and vibration instrumentation, but loved the flight test atmosphere.

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uncle-mac, e-mail, 10.03.2011 20:22

Flew the 5,6, and 7. On a trip in 2004 up Interstate 15 going to Montana, I saw a A2D in a airport yard, north of Salt Lake City, across from the IRS compound ??? no prop and didn't stop. Damn. Could this be the last?

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Erick Anderson, 23.03.2010 04:56

The XT40 engine was two T38 turboprops driving a single gearbox, so you could call it one engine or two and arguably be correct either way.

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Roy Gibbens, e-mail, 13.03.2010 23:21

If I remember right when I worked at Douglas the "Original" A2D I saw had "Two Westinghouse" engines driving the propellers through a gearbox. When did they change to the one engine?

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Roger, e-mail, 15.08.2008 18:59

What was the ejection seat used, manufacture and model number?

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