Douglas A2D Skyshark

The Douglas A2D Skyshark was the company’s first post‑World War II carrier‑based attack prototype, developed to replace the aging SB2C Helldiver and to meet the Navy’s demand for a high‑performance dive‑bomber/ground‑attack aircraft. Design work began in 1945, and the single‑engine prototype first flew on 24 April 1946, powered by a 2,300 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine. Its all‑metal, low‑wing airframe featured a large, deep fuselage that accommodated a crew of two and a substantial internal bomb bay capable of carrying up to 8,000 lb of ordnance. The aircraft incorporated a robust hydraulic dive‑brake, reinforced wing spars for steep dive attacks, and a hinged bomb‑release door that allowed rapid, in‑flight re‑arming. Although the A2D never entered full production under that designation, the design proved so successful that it evolved into the AD‑1 Skyraider, an aircraft that served the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force for over two decades, seeing combat from Korea through Vietnam. The Skyshark’s significance lies in its pioneering integration of heavy payload capacity, long‑range endurance, and durability, establishing a template for future carrier‑borne attack platforms and cementing Douglas’s reputation for innovative, versatile military aircraft.

Douglas

Douglas A2D Skyshark

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Design & Classification