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Fighter / Attack:
   Bell P-39 Airacobra
   Bell P-63 Kingcobra
   Brewster Buffalo
   Chance-Vought F-4U Corsair
   Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
   Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
   Douglas A-1 Skyraider
   Douglas A-26 Invader
   Douglas SBD Dauntless
   Fairey Firefly
   Focke-Wulf Fw 190
   Grumman F4F Wildcat
   Grumman F6F Hellcat
   Grumman F7F Tigercat
   Grumman F8F Bearcat
   Grumman TBF Avenger
   Hawker Hurricane
   Hawker Sea Fury
   Lockheed P-38 Lightning
   Messerschmitt Bf-109
   Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen
   North American P-51 Mustang

   Polikarpov I-16
   Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
   Supermarine Spitfire
   Yakovlev Yak-3
   Yakovlev Yak-9


Trainers:
  
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (C-45)
   Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
   Boeing / Stearman PT-17

   Commonwealth CA-25 Winjeel
   Commonwealth CA-1 Wirraway
   DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk
   DeHavilland DH-82 Tiger Moth
   Fairchild PT-19 Cornell
   Hunting / Percival Provost
   Meyers OTW
   Nanchang CJ-6
   Naval Aircraft Factory N3N
   N. Am. BT-9 / BT-14 / Yale
   N. Am. T-6 Texan / SNJ / Harvard
   N. American T-28 Trojan

   Piaggio P149
   Ryan PT-22 Recruit

   Scottish Aviation T1 Bulldog
   Vultee BT-13 Valiant
   Yakovlev Yak-11
   Yakovlev Yak-18
   Yakovlev Yak-52


Bombers:
   Avro Lancaster
   Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
   Boeing B-29 Superfortress
   Bristol Blenheim / Bolingbroke
   Consolidated B-24 Liberator
   Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

   Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
   DeHavilland Mosquito
   Fairey Swordfish
   Heinkel He-111 / Casa 2.111

   Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon / Ventura
   Martin B-26 Marauder
   North American B-25 Mitchell


Transports:
   Beechcraft C-45 (AT-11)

   Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter (KC-97)
   Curtiss C-46 Commando
   Douglas C-47 Skytrain / Dakota
   Douglas C-54 Skymaster

   Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
   Fairchild C-123 Provider
   Grumman C-1 Trader (S-2)
   Lockheed C-60 Lodestar
   Lockheed C-69 Constellation


Utility / Observation / Special Duty:
   Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper
   Aeronca L-16 Grasshopper
   Antonov AN-2 Colt
   Auster AOP 6/9
   Avro 652 Anson
   Avro Shackleton
   British Taylorcraft I-V
   Cessna L-19 / O-1 Bird Dog
   Cessna O-2 Super Skymaster
   Cessna T-50 / UC-78 Bobcat
   Consolidated PBY Catalina

   DeHavilland U-6A / L-20 Beaver
   Fairey Gannet
   Fairey Swordfish
   Fieseler Fi156 Storch
   Grumman S-2 Tracker (C-1)
   Grumman HU-16 Albatross
   Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
   Junkers Ju 52/3m

   Lockheed P2V Neptune
   Max Holste M.H.1521 Broussard
   Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun

   Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman
   North American L-17 Navion
   N. Am./ Rockwell OV-10 Bronco
   Piper L-4 Grasshopper
   Stinson L-5 Sentinel
   Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
   Westland Lysander


Jets:
   Aero L-29 Delfin
   Aero L-39 Albatros
   Aermacchi MB-326
   Avro Vulcan
   BAC Strikemaster
   Blackburn (BAC) Buccaneer
   Canadair Tutor
   Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
   DeHavilland Vampire
   DeHavilland Venom
   English Electric Canberra
   English Electric Lightning
   Folland Gnat
   Fouga CM-170 Magister
   Gloster Meteor
   Grumman F9F Panther
   Hawker Hunter
   Hispano HA-200 Saeta
   Hunting Jet Provost
   Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
   Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
   McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
   McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom
   Messerschmitt Me-262
   Mikoyan MiG-15
   Mikoyan MiG-17
   Mikoyan MiG-21
   N. Am. F-86 Sabre / FJ-4 Fury
   N. Am. F-100 Super Sabre
   N. Am. / Rockwell T-2 Buckeye
   Northrop T-38 Talon / F-5
   PZL / WSK TS-11 Iskra
   Saab J35 Draken
   Soko G-2A Galeb
   Temco Pinto & Super Pinto


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Douglas A-3 Skywarrior

(Variants/Other Names: A3D; E-3A/B; EA-3A; ERA-3B; NA-3B; NRA-3B; RA-3B; TA-3B; VA-3B; KA-3B; EKA-3B)



(Photo source unknown. Please contact us if you deserve credit.)

History: In the 1949, a whole new class of aircraft carrier was under development by the US Navy: the Forrestal-class "supercarrier." To capitalize on the enormous size and launching capability of these new ships, a huge new attack bomber was developed by Douglas Aircraft. The world's largest and heaviest carrier-borne aircraft when it was designed, the A3D first flew in October 1952, and entered service in 1954. Because of its size, it was quickly christened "The Whale" by its crews. In its vast internal bomb bay it could carry up to 12,000 lbs. of various weapons, and it carried radar for blind bombing.

In 1962 the Whale's designation was changed to A-3. Eventually, the airplane was updated with more powerful engines and an aerial refueling probe.

As time went on, many other uses for the aircraft were developed, resulting in many variants, including the KA-3B (aerial refueling), EA-3A/B (electronic reconnaissance), ERA-3B (electronic countermeasures), RA-3 (photo reconnaissance), TA-3B (radar training), EKA-3B (combined tanker/countermeasures/strike), test work (NA-3B and NRA-3B), and even a VIP transport model (VA-3B).

The Skywarrior saw steady action throughout the Vietnam War, and a few even served in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Today, though they have retired from active duty, a few still serve in civilian roles with the California-based Hughes/Raytheon company, where they are used for defense contract work.

Nicknames: Whale; Electric Whale/Queer Whale (A3D-1Q/2Q electronic warfare models); All 3 Dead (A3D) (Due to having no ejection seats).

Specifications (A-3B):
        Engines: Two 10,500-pound thrust Pratt & Whitney J57-P-10 turbojets.
        Weight: Empty 39,409 lbs., Max Takeoff 82,000 lbs.
        Wing Span: 72ft. 6in.
        Length: 76ft. 4in.
        Height: 22ft. 9.5in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed: 610 mph at 10,000 ft.
            Cruising Speed: 520 mph
            Ceiling: 41,000 ft.
            Range: 1,050 miles
        Armament: Two 20-mm radar-controlled cannon in rear turret; up to 12,000 pounds of various weapons in internal weapons bay.

Number Built:  280.

Number Still Airworthy:  ~6.

Links:
A-3 Skywarrior.com -- The definitive site for A-3 information!


 

 


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