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U.
S. Military Aircraft Douglas F3D SKYKNIGHT Photo By Coll B. Thouanel |
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At the end of 1945, the US Nave decided to procure a modern turbojet powered night fighter, and a Douglas submission produced an order for three prototypes. These had straight flying surface with hydraulically folding wings, nose radar, pressurized accommodation with an escape tunnel to the underside of the fuselage, and tricycle landing gear. The first XF3D-1 flew in March 1948 with 3,000-lb thrust J34-WE-24 turbojets. Production of the F3D-1 totaled 28 aircraft, which were followed from 1951 by 128 examples of the improved F3D-2. This was to have been powered by the 4,600-hp thrust J46-WE-3, but retained the J34 in more powerful form. The Skyknight was soon phased out of naval service, but saw considerable use as a land based type by the US Marine Corps, which scored the majority of the naval air victories of the Korean War (1950-53) with it. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | SpecificationsFirst Flight: March 1948 |
| Manufacturer: Douglas | Length: 45 ft. 6 in. |
| Height: 16 ft. 0 in. | |
| Model: 2 | Wing Span: 50 ft. 0 in. |
| Crew: Two | Wing Area: 400.0sq. ft. 26,850 lb. |
| Nickname: Skynight | Empty Weight: 18,160 lb. |
| Basic Role: Carrier borne all weather fighter. | Max. Weight: |
| Other
Versions: F3D-1 initial model, later F-10A.
F3D-1M conversions for trials with the Sparrow AAM later MF-10A. F3D-2 improved model, later F-10B. F3D-2M conversion with Sparrow AAMs, later FM-10B. F3D-Q conversions for electronic countermeasure, later EF-10B. F3D-2T trainer conversion. F3D-2T2 radar operator trainer conversions, later TF-10B. |
Armament: Four 20-mm cannon. |
| Principal User: USA. |
Propulsion |
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Performance |
Power Plant: Westinghouse J34-WE-36/36A turbojet. |
| Range: 1,200 miles. | Horsepower: 3,400-lb thrust |
| Max. Speed: 565 mph. | No. Of Engines: Two |
| Ceiling: 38,200 ft. | |
| Climb Rate: 4,000 ft. per minute. |