Douglas F5D
| Douglas F5D Skylancer | |
|---|---|
 A NASA F5D-1, 1971 |
|
| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
April 21, 1956 |
| Production time: |
1956 |
| Number of pieces: |
4th |
The Douglas F5D Skylancer was a further development of the F4D Skyray for the US Navy . It originated from the all-weather version of the F4D-2N . The design has been revised and better adapted to the J57 engine.
When the differences to the F4D became too great, the aircraft was renamed the F5D . Most of the fuselage parts were completely redesigned and the aircraft was 2.4 meters longer. Only the wing shape was largely retained, although the wing thickness was reduced. The main goal was to increase flight stability at high speeds.
Although it had four 20mm cannons in its wings, its main armament was missiles. It could carry either four AIM-9 Sidewinders or two AIM-7 Sparrow as well as a battery of 72 uncontrolled 51 mm missiles.
Nine test machines were ordered, followed by 51 series machines. The first flight took place on April 21, 1956 . On this supersonic flight the machine showed good flight characteristics and excellent performance. After four machines were built, the US Navy canceled the orders. They ordered the Chance Vought F8U Crusader instead . Some aviation historians believe that this was for political rather than objective reasons; Since Douglas already produced many US Navy aircraft, other manufacturers should also come into play.
The four machines were used in various military test programs. Two machines were taken out of service in 1961. The other two went to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to serve as a test for supersonic passenger aircraft. The findings were also incorporated into the European Concorde program. One aircraft was retired in 1968. The second aircraft also flew for the X-20 DynaSoar space glider program , which, however, had been abandoned on December 10, 1963.
An airplane still exists today in the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta . Astronaut Neil Armstrong flew this aircraft on the Dyna Soar program.
Technical specifications
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| Parameter | F5D-1 data |
|---|---|
| Span: | 10.21 m |
| Length: | 16.40 m |
| Height: | 4.52 m |
| Wing area: | 51.7 m² |
| Empty weight: | 7,912 kg |
| Takeoff weight: | 11,088 kg |
| Engine: | a Pratt & Whitney J57- P-8 (7257 kg) |
| Crew: | a pilot |
| Top speed: | 1,590 km / h |
| Range: | 2,148 km |
| Summit height: | 17,500 m |
| Armament: | four 20 mm cannons, 4 × Sidewinder or 2 × AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, 72 × 2 51 mm missiles |
Web links
Images of the aircraft on NASA's website
Individual evidence
- ^ Roy F. Houchin: US Hypersonic Research and Development: The Rise and Fall of 'Dyna-Soar', 1944-1963. (= Space Power and Politics ). Routledge Publishing, 2006, ISBN 0-415-36281-4 .