Douglas NA-3B Skywarrior

The Douglas NA‑3B Skywarrior was a massive, carrier‑based jet bomber created by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the United States Navy during the early Cold War. First flown on 28 April 1952 and entering service in 1956, the NA‑3B was the heaviest aircraft ever designed for catapult launch from an aircraft carrier, with a maximum take‑off weight exceeding 70,000 lb. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney J57‑19W turbo‑jets, it could cruise at 590 mph and carry up to 12,000 lb of bombs, nuclear weapons, or later, fuel for aerial refueling missions. The design featured a shoulder‑mounted wing, a spacious 48‑ft fuselage that accommodated a crew of three, and a robust steel structure that tolerated the harsh carrier environment. Originally built as a strategic naval bomber, the Skywarrior proved adaptable: variants served as electronic warfare platforms, reconnaissance aircraft, and the A‑3 tanker, extending the range of carrier strike groups. Its longevity—remaining operational in various roles until the early 1990s—demonstrated the versatility of Douglas’s engineering. The NA‑3B’s blend of size, power, and multi‑mission capability marked a pivotal step in carrier aviation, influencing later carrier‑borne aircraft such as the F‑14 and modern multi‑role jets.

Douglas

Douglas NA-3B Skywarrior

Classification

Design & Classification