AD-2 Skyraider

The Douglas AD‑2 Skyraider was a single‑engine, propeller‑driven attack aircraft that entered service with the United States Navy in 1948. Developed from the earlier AD‑1 prototype, the AD‑2 incorporated a more powerful Pratt & Whitney R‑2800‑22W radial engine, a strengthened airframe, and a larger internal fuel capacity that gave it a combat radius exceeding 1,000 miles. Its hallmark was an enormous payload capability: the airframe could carry up to 8,000 pounds of ordnance on external pylons and internal bomb bays, including rockets, bombs, torpedoes, and even nuclear weapons. The Skyraider’s low‑speed handling, long loiter time, and rugged construction made it ideally suited for close‑air support, counter‑insurgency, and carrier‑based strike missions during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Despite the rise of jet aircraft, the AD‑2 remained in active service well into the 1970s, proving that a well‑designed propeller plane could outperform jets in certain tactical roles. Its versatility earned it a reputation as “the flying truck,” and it influenced later attack aircraft concepts that emphasized payload, endurance, and survivability. The AD‑2 Skyraider thus stands as a pivotal bridge between prop‑driven WWII designs and modern jet‑powered attack platforms.

Douglas

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